SHG Hotel Portamaggiore

The terrace was the nicest part, with lots of seating and a bar. We sat there with drinks while waiting for the sun to go down. Staff were welcoming, and the location was decent, but inside felt dingy and uncomfortable. We didn’t try the hotel’s breakfast or other food, so can’t comment on that.

Antonio in the restaurant was especially wonderful, and every part of our four-night stay made me happy. The room was excellent and the whole place was very clean and convenient. Breakfast had plenty of choices each morning, and the coffee was amazing. We ate at the restaurant twice and were stunned by how good it was for a hotel restaurant. Five stars for the staff and the stay.

The neighborhood worried us at first, though appearances were misleading. There are several lovely restaurants nearby, including a family-run cellar restaurant around the corner, and the two bars and shops next door were handy. The hotel is a little out of the way, but cabs were easy to get and inexpensive. We’d stay again. It’s a lovely budget hotel, still being renovated but nearly finished. Our room and bathroom were fine, the beds were comfortable, and I liked being able to open the window. Water on the wall outside the bathroom caught my eye, and the shower doors were awkward. We were originally booked elsewhere, but changed because that hotel had no air conditioning. PortaMaggiore did, and I was glad we switched. The rooftop bar and dining area were lovely, check-in was easy, and breakfast was fine and worth the price. The elevator was small and slow, so we took the stairs. The women on staff were friendly and helpful. The men were often surly, indifferent, passive-aggressive, and lax.

The tram is so close that we made it everywhere on time. The staff were wonderful, and the front desk stayed helpful and accommodating even after checkout. Housekeeping kept our room looking better than it had the day before. The hotel itself is dated and could use some upgrades. The shower was tiny and usually sent water onto the floor, and the towels were so thin they weren’t much use the second time. We also bought the $25 dinner promotion, which we understood to include two entrees and a dessert. At the restaurant, the waiter said it covered just one entree. I forgot to raise it at the front desk because I was having a good time, but the sign should be corrected if it’s one entree, or staff should be told the right number if the sign is accurate.