Hotel Ristorante Porto Roca

We stayed here for three nights. I would say this is one of the best properties to stay in if you want the Cinque Terra experience. We were picked up at the train depot. The facility is well maintained. Too bad the weather was bad while we were there because our room had a big deck overlooking the harbor and it would have been ideal for drinking wine with one of the pizzas. Also the pool was closed due to the high winds and bad weather. The rooms are pretty up to date and clean. The breakfast buffet was stocked with the typical continental items but they also would allow you to order some items. We didn't eat in the main dining area but it has a great view of the ocean below. The hotel provides a shuttle to the bottom of the hill and that was convenient. Staff was very helpful.

Porto Roca is probably the best place to stay in Cinque Terre. The setting is on top of a cliff at a location that is right on the trail to the other villages, and the view of Monterosso and the Mediterranean is perfect. We decided to visit during "shoulder season" so the weather would be cooler for hiking and the crowds wouldn't be so large. Both were true. We did have a couple days with occasional rain, but the sunny days were great to hike the entire trail from Riomaggiore to Monterosso (we trained to Rio to start). The hike is more rigorous than you'd expect, but we did it at age 68! The staff at this hotel was great and helpful, and the restaurant was really good. The waiters were so helpful and congenial. At the desk, we got extra help from Giuliano, who spend an hour with us getting trail passes and train tix. We had a second floor ocean view room (about 500E per night), which was surprisingly basic with no closet (a rod to hang clothes above the side bureau), plastic cups and instant coffee. The worse was our last night when it got windy outside. We were situated below a third floor balcony and the patio furniture and other things blew around above us, making noise all night. Or, it could have been something else going on and we were afraid to ask! Luckily we were up all night so we could leave at 630am to take a train back to Firenze. Overall, this hotel is great if you're specific about room choice, and just what you would want for a visit to Cinque Terre.

There's no denying Porto Roca is a pleasant hotel in a great location, set peacefully just above the centre of Monterosso. However, the hotel needs to do a lot more to justify the prices it charges. We stayed in a top junior suite; it was clean and spacious but bland. The tea and coffee facilities consisted of (I kid you not): 3 Earl Grey tea bags, 2 sachets of Nescafe, a couple of plastic thimbles of pretend milk and 2 cardboard cups. I passed a couple of maids outside our room and asked one of them, politely and in Italian, if they had any regular black tea bags. She just shrugged "non" and went straight back to talking to her friend. They do have them in the kitchen, she obviously just couldn't be bothered. Elsewhere in the room were plastic cups covered in more plastic. I had to beg reception twice for real cups and glasses. We were paying 800 euros a night!! The terrace from the room was lovely: great views over Monterosso and the sea, but the loungers were horrible - really uncomfortable with no cushions. Breakfast was pretty good and staff, on the whole, friendly and helpful. I expect to pay a premium for somewhere like Monterosso, and to have a terrace with a sea view, but 800 euros was way too much for what we ere given. If you do stay, lower your expectations and take your own tea bags!

On a 25 day trip in Italy… 8 stops north to south. This was my wife’s favorite hotel. It is gorgeous & the view is 2nd to none. It’s very proximate to the little town. It has a nice pool & bar & restaurant. Only downside is that we checked in on our anniversary and they knew it, but did not provide any little gift or upgrades like the 7 other hotels did on our journey… that being said… We strongly recommend this hotel!

Best place to stay in Cinque Terre! Yes, it is expensive and although price does not match the room quality, its amazing views from room, pool and restaurant are worth the money . Breakfast buffet was the best in our 28 days tour of Italy, only surpassed by our Azamara 10 days cruise buffet. Restaurant has excellent food and wines. There are many names that I do not recall, but service in all departments was great!! During our 5 nights stay, any time we went to town, we requested the shuttle to come back to the hotel, always fast and happy. If you can afford it, go for it. You are in town but also out of town: in heaven. Thank you very much!!!