All our 41 Deluxe rooms have a sea view, and some boast a balcony with a spectacular panorama across the bay. Each one is individually furnished in a classic, elegant style with exquisite contemporary touches; some form communicating pairs. The rooms have air conditioning, satellite TV, a direct telephone line, internet access and a safe. Wi-Fi and a non-alcoholic minibar are provided free of charge.All rooms are strictly no smoking.

The 26 superior rooms all have balconies and patios looking on to the garden that rises up to the foothills of Mount Portofino. It is such a peaceful setting: the view is balm for the soul, ranging over a flourishing natural scene ably tended by skilful hands. Some of the rooms form communicating pairs, and all have air conditioning, satellite TV, a direct telephone line, internet access and a safe. Wi-Fi and a non-alcoholic minibar are provided free of charge. All rooms are strictly no smoking.

The Miramare has five classic suites: four offer views over Tigullio Bay from the balcony; the fifth is more secluded, vaunting a magnificent panorama over the estate on the lower slopes of Mount Portofino from the terrace. The four sea-view suites can communicate with a deluxe room, also with sea view, as an extra second bedroom. All have a lounge with sofa bed. Suite 118 has a romantic story attached, starring a legendary Hollywood couple – Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, no less – who honeymooned here in 1947. Everything was all specially prepared in loving detail for the occasion. The suites have air conditioning, satellite TV, a direct telephone line, internet access and a safe. The Wi-Fi and non-alcoholic minibar are both complimentary, and an espresso machine is also provided.

Immersed in the leafy and enchanting Miramare grounds, the delightful little annex known as the Cottage is home to the two Junior Suites.The design and furnishings are in a contemporary style, with parquet floors, wood panelling, elegant pastel wallpaper, satin-finish brass lamps, and artworks adorning the walls.The two Junior Suites have independent entrances within the Cottage, and both have a private terrace with table and chairs. The suites feature a walk-in wardrobe, air conditioning, satellite TV, a direct telephone line, internet access and a safe. The Wi-Fi and non-alcoholic minibar are both complimentary, and an espresso machine is also provided.

This dual-aspect suite offers a terrace with panoramic views towards Villa Durazzo and the evocative little port of Santa plus a bedroom balcony looking on to the wonderful garden. In the lounge, over a beautiful purple velvet sofa, a contemporary artwork from Andrea Fustinoni’s personal collection takes pride of place. There are two Carrara marble bathrooms with bathtub and/or shower. A second bedroom can be added in the form of a deluxe room with sea view accessible through a connecting door.

The intimate lounge with the red sofa below the picture from the art collection leads to the sea-view terrace with sun loungers. The superb views on the Portofino side range from the sea, the pool and the Mediterranean garden across the estate to the highest point of the Sentimental Walk on the right. The grand marble bathroom features a generous-sized tub. A second bedroom can be added in the form of a deluxe room with sea view accessible through a connecting door.

This apartment’s stunning pièce de résistance is the wraparound balcony and the terrace with 180° views over Tigullio Bay from Santa Margherita all round towards Portofino: sea, as far as the eye can see. The French windows in the lounge and bedroom give easy access to the outside, for a sublime sensation of freedom. There are two marble bathrooms with a handsome bathtub and/or shower.

This is the only deluxe suite on the first floor. It is just above the Miramare’s grand panoramic terrace, where the celebrated scientist Guglielmo Marconi successfully transmitted the first ever radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony signal in 1933; he was staying right here in Room 105 at the time. The suite offers a bathroom with window and a lounge with sea-view balcony featuring a major work from the owner’s private collection. There are two marble bathrooms, the main one having a separate bathtub and shower.

Sky blue sets the mood in this Art Nouveau space that opens on to the terrace for panoramic summer views. This is the perfect setting for the culinary creations of Chef Claudio Fortuna, a cuisine of elegant simplicity that celebrates the finest ingredients through the cycle of the seasons, without ever overwhelming the palate. Served on impeccable linen tablecloths washed and ironed in house, his dishes blend the Ligurian tradition with interesting international influences, on an endless quest for original, supreme-quality products. The Vistamare welcomes guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner, except from June to September, when it is usually closed at midday for guests to enjoy the chance of a poolside lunch.

This exquisite haven of charm is a real joy for interior-design aficionados. The bar counter was made with altar panels in a colour that sets the tone for the rest of the décor. The columns that give the bar its name are a feature of the terrace area with the white wrought-iron tables and chairs. It makes an inviting spot for an aperitif or snack with magnificent views across the bay, from the headland of Punta Mesco – a cherished haunt of poet Eugenio Montale, with the Cinque Terre hiding behind – to Sestri Levante, Chiavari, Zoagli and then Rapallo. Close by, Punta Pagana with its castle and villa is the residence of the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller.

At the Miramare, the spirit of the place fills the air along with the fragrance of the sea and the gardens, like oxygen for the soul. This atmosphere reigns supreme especially at the poolside bar and restaurant. Guests can savour it from June to September at the wrought-iron tables while the large windows are open or in the shade of the climbing plants in the elegant pergola, the Berceau. The view takes in the spectacular pool, the glinting sea, and the Mediterranean garden in the background, with oleanders and succulent beds edged by low dry-stone walls. A dream oasis for a cocktail or summer lunch, the Pool Bar nestles harmoniously in its all-embracing natural setting.

Named after the glorious bathing beach and nightclub that raised the roof in the 1950s and ’60s, a favourite high-society haunt on the Italian and French Riviera, the Barracuda is now a contemporary piano bar with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and strictly after-dark mood. It is an ideal place for an aperitif, a glass or two of wine, or a nightcap for those times of year when outdoors is not the most inviting place to be. The wonderful setting bears the unmistakable signature of artist and set designer Lele Luzzati.

Heated when the season demands, the superb seawater pool with its unmistakeably 1970s curved form is immersed in a marvellous setting where the rugged vegetation-laced cliffs plunge into the azure of the waves. The Mediterranean garden provides the backdrop, with oleanders and succulent beds edged by low dry-stone walls. In pride of place, the Berceau, a shady pergola of intertwined American vines, is the ideal corner for cocktails or a light summer lunch, with the immaculate yet informal Pool Bar service. Open from 9 am to 6 pm from mid April to mid October, it offers comfortable loungers with sun umbrellas and terry towels, plus the attentions of its dedicated staff.

The e’SPAce spa and wellness center at the Grand Hotel Miramare takes relaxation to a whole new level. Sip on an herbal tea while ambient music plays in the oriental-inspired lounge with furnishings made of natural materials. Extensive spa treatments are available for both men and women, including aromatic facials, massages and body wraps. Unique spa features include a multisensory room (with a dry bath and sensory shower to equalize the mind and body), a Nuvola (floating bed) and a Proellixe (vibrating platform to realign muscle and joints). Outdoor massages are available in a gazebo situated at the heart of a lush Mediterranean park.

Historic bathing establishment known throughout the Riviera between Rapallo and Portofino, the “Bagni Miramare” are right in front of the hotel. For guests of the GHM, free access: the service includes sun lounger, umbrella and towel: the place is assigned daily, based on arrival.