Casa Cuseni

Of all the places we’ve stayed at, none can compare to Casa Cuseni. The hospitality we were given by Mimi, Franco, Maria and all the staff was unparalleled and truly unforgettable during our 3 night stay. We stayed in the Don Roberto room which was incredibly spacious with a comfortable bed (one in a million in Sicily!), sweeping views of Mt Etna and Taormina, excellent water pressure, and well equipped with top amenities such the TV and A/C unit. Furthermore, the entire room and house is a living, breathing, museum. Beyond the surface of a 5 star hotel lies something truly special, and that is Casa Cuseni itself. Entering into its grounds and gardens, you are immediately taken into a world of external and internal beauty that has held true since its creation by Robert Kitson, and its preservation for 50+ years by his niece, Daphne Phelps, and now from the children Daphne’s housekeeper and Gardner, Franco and Mimi. Stay at a place where the likes of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Ernest Hemingway, D. H. Lawrence, Tennessee Williams, Roald Dahl, Greta Garbo, Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein, Annie Besant, Coco Chanel, and Daphne du Maurier once stayed as well. If you are not staying at the hotel, it is still a must-see place and they typically offer guided tours at 11am sharp. The museum and story of Casa Cuseni will move anyone who hears it from Maria. Bear in mind you must make the reservation in advance as Casa Cuseni is a private museum. But fear not as when returned briefly to Taormina with my parents a second time, Maria had us on the books with barely a days notice. Additionally, the place is completely handicapped accessible from the parking lot all the way to the top floor of the house and hotel. I was able to see it be used for my Mom and was thoroughly impressed. That said, words cannot express our gratitude to our main hostess, Maria. It is rare to find someone with such a genuinely loving and kind aura of persona. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, Maria had everything arranged and added so many special touches that, by the time we left, I was teary eyed and wishing for more days. We came as travelers and left as part of the family. For that, Casa Cuseni has my deepest gratitude. To say I look forward to our next return is an understatement as Casa Cuseni will forever hold a special place in my heart. I am proud and honored to be able to contribute this review as minimum contribution back for all that was given to us by Casa Cuseni, Mimi, Franco, and Maria. Until next time❤️

My husband and I stayed at Casa Cuseni for one week to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We could have stayed so much longer, it’s the most beautiful place to visit. The house is a museum in itself with so much art history. The views from the house are all breathtaking, enjoy your morning coffee with the best views of the Ionian sea and Mount Etna. You’ll receive the warmest welcome from the owners and Maria, too, they couldn’t do enough to make sure we had the best stay, can’t wait to return next year!

A beautiful villa, with mostly original art, artefacts, literature and furniture, set within enchanting gardens.|Our wonderful guide brilliantly contextualised our visit, bringing the story of the villa, its contents and gardens to life, with her knowledge and passion for the subject. |All set against the stunning scenery of NE Sicily and the Ionian Sea. A jewel of a place and the highlight of our outings whilst in the area.

Case Cuseni is really a mixed bag. On one hand you have this gorgeous villa, on top of a hill, with stunning views and beautiful gardens. The smell of jasmine wafts into your room when you open the balcony and the house is a museum where celebrities , writers and artists have stayed in the past. ||||However, on the downside, the place is run down and uncomfortable. The room was large and the furniture (mostly ) was antique. But the basics such as the bed, sheets l, toiletries, towels and curtains etc are tacky and synthetic. We visited on one of the hottest days in July and the AC worked poorly. It was too small to cool a large room and the bed was the one of the most comfortable ones I’ve ever slept in. It seemed to tilt on one side resulting in very poor quality sleep, sadly. The overall look of things that have been recently replaced is cheap and tacky. Like the yellow plastic table covers in the breakfast area or the cheap towels and sheets. Clearly, Casa Cuseni’s best day days are in the past. Now it’s just a crumbling, beautiful building with tacky furnishings. ||||I would not stay here again or recommend this to anyone who is looking for a comfortable stay. If things like uncomfortable mattress and cheap sheets don’t bother you and you are satisfied with a peaceful place with great view, then this place is fine. Otherwise it’s not worth the steep climb up the hill or the price. ||

This doesn't feel like a hotel, you feel welcomed as a close friend. The hotel is set in beautiful terraced gardens and has a view which is absolutely breathtaking. The house itself is full of interesting art and artifacts and you really do feel the history as you walk through the rooms. The bedrooms are very clean, spacious and original. The staff were fabulous! Thank you for a wonderful stay.

Casa Cuseni was beautiful. The garden spectacular and the view’s breathtaking. We stayed in the Picasso room and the balcony was so lovely. The rooms were spotlessly clean. Mima and Francesco was so kind and helpful and the tour of the museum is a must see. Bf was lovely and tasty. The location was a short walk from center of Taormina but out of the way enough you weren’t in the thick of tourists. We would walk down to dinner and can back at night after wine and lots of food. There are lots of stairs and ramps to get from the street to the main lobby but then an elevator once you get to the main lobby. I had recently sprained my ankle but found the ramps up made it easier with my mobility issues. So manageable if you have similar constraints. I would recommend this over any hotel or Airbnb. You get the service of a hotel but the privacy of an Airbnb. There are only 4 rooms so you feel like you’re there alone. There were three adults in the Picasso room and we each had our own bathroom and living space. Beds were comfy too. Highly recommend Casa Cuseni.

Stayed here for 2 nights! Beautiful views of Etna and Taormina. Intoxicating perfume from the garden. Walking distance to the town. Most importantly our host, Maria was great with recommendations and stories of the property.

There is no other B&B in Taormina quite like Casa Cuseni. The spectacular gardens, rich history, artwork and story behind this "living museum" combines for a most memorable experience. Francesco and Maria went out of their way to cater to our needs--even preparing an early breakfast and helping us with parking to accommodate our schedule. The views from the rooms are glorious; the pool is sublime. We loved staying in The Greta Garbo Suite; our friends also loved their Daphne Phelps room. No detail is spared in this oasis!