Hotel Gianni Franzi — Hotel in Vernazza

Went here six years ago and was excited to come back this time when I came back to Vernazza with my family. Unfortunately, I had about as bad of an experience as you can have. My sister and I were refused service on multiple occasions, seemingly simply for being American. After saying hello and asking for a table, we were told just “no” without any explanation. While the waiter seemed a bit short with us, we just assumed they were busy and went somewhere else for lunch.

Because we wanted to recreate a meal from our previous trip, we decided to go back after lunch to try to make a booking for dinner the next night. It was at this time that the waiter rudely walked up and firmly repeated his “NO” from before. We explained we had already eaten but just wanted to make a booking for later, and he looked at us, paused, and without saying anything asked the group behind us if they would like a table. We were a bit confused but just assumed they must have had a reservation (which we later learned from chatting with them that they didn’t), so we stayed in line assuming they just needed some time to get to us for a reservation. However, after fifteen minutes of patiently waiting and then serving multiple people behind us in line, it became clear that they were just ignoring us. It’s hard to say why for certain, but they seated a number of Italian and French speakers, and continued ignoring us and one Asian couple who came a couple minutes later.

At this point I was pretty irritated, not having dealt with this kind of clear discrimination in this country before, but I assumed it was just a couple bad servers who were stressed from rush hour (although by 2pm after our actual lunch they weren’t really that busy). So I approached what appeared to be the manager, explained we had been waiting a bit and just wanted to make a booking for later because we really enjoyed their food. He also was very short, and just said “it’s impossible” without even asking when I wanted a booking.

I would be lying if I said the food wasn’t great, but the whole staff was so incredibly rude and discriminatory that I feel obligated to document it. A couple clarifications for the skeptics - I had nothing to drink that day so alcohol had nothing to do with the treatment, despite being upset I never complained to them or yelled at them, I was well dressed at the time, and this is the first 1-star review I’ve left in all of my travels. From everything I could see, their refusal was based solely on who I was, not how I was. I understand other people have to deal with far worse all the time, but there is no place for service like this in the restaurant or tourist business.

For what it’s worth, the place next door had lovely servers and amazing food. Anyone who cares about good service or taking a stand against discrimination is encouraged to enjoy...

We stayed three nights at Gianni Franzi, and once again, just like last year, we completely fell in love with this place. The hotel combines everything you expect from a memorable stay: rooms with stunning views of the Mediterranean, extraordinary daily cleaning, and a building that is maintained with real care and attention to detail.

The staff deserve special mention. The reception team, located in the bar that shares the hotel’s name, treated us with warmth and even a maternal touch. The young lady who checked us in was especially attentive, and from the first moment we felt genuinely welcomed.

The rooms are standard in size (around 15 m²) but perfectly equipped: modern showers, spotless bathrooms with bidet, toilet and sink, and carefully designed lighting that gives a unique atmosphere. The décor is striking, with modern and extravagant art pieces contrasting beautifully with the floor, where original antique tiles are mixed with larger, more contemporary ones, creating both character and comfort.

Rooms in the upper part of the building have larger balconies. Last year we stayed in room 35 and were amazed by its spacious terrace. This year we had room 32, which also has a large balcony, though part of it was closed, limiting the access to one side. Perhaps this could be improved with a higher partition between rooms 35 and 32. Even so, the two smaller balconies were perfectly functional and offered unforgettable views of both the sea and Vernazza itself.

Breakfast is included and served at the Gianni Deck, a terrace space next to the hotel. The views are simply unbeatable – enjoying a morning coffee and breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean is an experience you don’t forget. The breakfast itself is varied, plentiful, and well-prepared, and the staff are attentive and friendly.

As for dining, the hotel’s restaurant is located in Vernazza’s main square, right where guests check in. Honestly, it may be one of the best places to eat in all of Cinque Terre. The cuisine is varied, fresh, and prepared in an open kitchen visible to the customers, which makes the experience even more trustworthy and authentic.

In summary, Gianni Franzi is the essence of Vernazza: a place where hospitality, tradition, and beauty come together. It allows you to enjoy the local gastronomy, the breathtaking landscapes, and above all, the feeling of being genuinely cared for by the people who run it. For us, it is an absolute 10/10 – a must-stay and must-visit for anyone wanting to experience the true spirit of Liguria and Italian coastal life.

Finally, it is also a pleasure to share the views and atmosphere with Gianni Viacava, a local artist whose creativity and refined taste add even more charm to this...

Arrived on a Wednesday (DO NOT DO THAT!). The restaurant controls the hotel so the reception is in the restaurant, however they’re closed on Wednesdays. When we tried to make a payment since we needed to leave VERY early the next day we were told that we couldn’t because the register was closed (doesn’t make sense why you wouldn’t be able to open it if you work for the establishment?). So of course this then threw off our schedule for the rest of the day.||Sadly due to the restaurant and the hotel being affiliated (and very strongly promoted as such), my older father thought he was getting a cheap hotel by the water and instead we had to walk up the top of town. Best to say he was suckered into this place.||I’m honestly still very confused with the whole restaurant and hotel thing, feels like a way to lore in tourists. And still very confused why the employee could not accept payment since we didn’t even pay with cash, we paid with hard; hence the register unable to be opened very well wouldn’t be the source of the issue.||Overall the room was nice and, if need be, I would stay here again. The room was very nice (minus the shower clogging) and the employees were all very kind, but whoever is running (or owns) the place isn’t...