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Open March until December, 2025

Built into the peachy stone on the island of Ortigia, Hotel Lùme feels less like a hotel and more like the summer house you always wished you had. And maybe that’s because it started out this way. Prune, one of the hotel’s founders, was invited to visit friends in Ortigia, and immediately fell in love… with the place. She embarked on a search for her own summer house, ultimately settling on Via Larga 30.

Then, in 2021, Prune, originally from Paris, together with her Italian cousin Hanawa and his friend Ronan, opened the doors to Hotel Lùme. “Our philosophy is about making people feel truly welcomed,” shares the trio. “We want guests to feel at home, but also inspired, like they’ve discovered something special.” Spend a few hours here, and it’d be pretty hard not to feel like that.

All of the bedrooms and suites are unique—furnished with handpicked antiques, hand-painted tiles, handmade ceramics, and silvery mirrors. Sophisticated, yes, and filled with personality. The Quarta, for example, is like a ship cabin for the captain’s daughter: a fun mermaid print lines the bedframe, light pink tiles cover the bathroom walls, and two balconies provide outposts to observe all the happenings down below. The Prima, instead, feels like you’re staying with a Sicilian nonna, if she happened to be written into a Visconti film; delicate wooden chairs, marble decor, and a colorful quilt help curate this vibe. 

Mornings begin with breakfast on the seaview terrace, featuring local blood orange or kumquat jam, fresh sheep ricotta, roasted coffee from Mount Etna, crema di mandorle, plus homemade pastries courtesy of the in-house chef—all also available at their onsite café, Allùmettes. Right on this terrace is where you’ll want to end your day, sipping Etna wines or local beers alongside artisan cheeses and salumi, as the sun sets over the tiled roofs and Ionian Sea. 

In between, however, check out the property’s on-site gym and hammam, or sign up for a massage for a little extra rest and recreation. Or, you could spend your day as the trio suggests: boat rides, dining at their favorite spots, exploring the island of Ortigia, and swimming in quiet coves. “We’re lucky to say that we have a special spot nearby,” they tell us—and even though we often let you in on secrets, you’ll have to go straight to the source for this one. 

Plus, this compact island—just over one kilometer wide—is dense, full of ancient Greek ruins, medieval castles, Baroque palazzi, and a cathedral built directly atop a 5th-century BC temple to Athena. You’ll even find one of Europe’s oldest ritual Jewish mikvehs (baths) hidden underground. And ringing nearly the entire island is a sweeping lungomare, making for a top tier passeggiata. 

But when the sun starts to go down, you know where to be: what Prune calls her “cielo-terra home”—a house from heaven to earth: Lùme. 

A few more segreti (secrets) from Prune, Hanawa, and Ronan:

CHIODO – This self-proclaimed “showroom with a kitchen” has delicious food and a great vibe. With exposed concrete and wood accents, the industrial-feeling space has large, communal tables and an innovative menu, drawing crowds from morning to night. We’re partial to the cotoletta con patate paired with a good glass of wine. 

Cortile Verga – Inside a classically Baroque Ortigia building, this restaurant has an atmosphere as beautiful as its cocktails are delicious. You can nibble on some seafood antipasti with your Spicy Collins (Tanqueray, lemon-ginger syrup, rosemary soda, and angostura mountain pine) or Without a Name (Tanqueray and oyster tonic with a coriander & lemongrass oyster crust). Any stop in here makes for a lovely evening. 

Aglae Ristorante – This stylish restaurant is owned by a trio of sisters who each bring their own expertise to the table. Chef Gabriella, the youngest, spent a few years in Japan, creating a menu that mixes Japanese and Italian flavors and techniques. When it comes to pairing wine with your plate, you can trust Alessandra, the sommelier, to lead you in the right direction. And Adriana, the maître d’hotel, creates a warm, welcoming environment from the moment you step inside, and will always be around to offer advice on what to order.