1. San Domenico Palace, Taormina

It would be remiss of us not to start where the latest series of White Lotus was actually filmed. The San Domenico Palace, managed under the skilled remit of the Four Seasons group, began life as a 14th Century monastery but has been a hotel since 1896. The views the Ionian Sea, Mount Etna and town’s Greek theatre are unparalleled, the entire place is scented by lavender and lemon trees and the 21 metre infinity pool is one of the best on the island. This is truly fantasy fulfilled stuff.

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2. Q92, Noto

While The Four Seasons may dazzle with its expansive style, the Q92 boutique hotel - there are just nine rooms, all of which have balconies - speaks of a quieter form of indulgence. Look carefully and you’ll see accents of traditional red, grey and cream tiles painstakingly salvaged from the Aeolian islands. You’re in the middle of the action with views over the Corso, the Small Luxury Hotels of The World manages the day to day with an assured hand and we love the courtyard garden with its plunge pool and honesty bar.

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3. Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea, Taormina

Seeing the word ‘Belmond’ in a hotel title implies an understated elegance. WYKYK as the kids might say. There are 71 rooms at the Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea but the cosy bar and lobby retains some semblance of intimacy - like you’re staying in a rich relo’s holiday home. The beach is freshly raked each morning, the onsite spa offers a Turkish bath and the common areas are scented with an amber, citrus blossom and prickly pear concoction from legendary local perfumers Ortigia Sicilia.

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4. Seven Rooms Villadorata, Noto

Seven Rooms Villadorata is where romance stays when it visits Sicily. Occupying its own wing of a Baroque palazzo, the beds are adorned with alpaca throws and cream silk while the bathrooms are laden with Villadorata’s signature line of body products. Your privacy is paramount here so everything you’ll need is already in your room. The communal breakfast table is a nice way to start the day and the coffee will is as good as any you’ll find in Melbourne.

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5. Monaci delle Terre Nere

If you want something a bit off the beaten track, Monaci delle Terre Nere is a bastion of eco sophistication that hunkers down on the easter outskirts of Etna. With the looming mountain as your scenic companion, the emphasis here is on food and wine - in fact, the hotel has its own six hectare winery and not one but two in-house sommeliers. Add a perpetually cool (in every sense) lava pool, cantilevered beds that seem to float on air and the Locanda Nerello restaurant which modernises peasant cuisine and you have one special property.

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6. Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia, Salina

Like Monaci delle Terre Nere, Capofaro Locanda & Malvasia taps into Sicily’s viticulture tradition. It too sits in a vineyard but the 27 cream cubes that dot the estate are minimalist masterpieces with terraces that look to the distant sea. Although the aesthetic is pared back, there is an undeniable sense of luxury to the amenities such as a freshwater pool, a mini tennis court, clubhouse and massage pavilion. The restaurant is something special with unwavering loyalty to hyper local produce - much of which is grown in a garden above the pool.

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Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, Taormina

Remember what we said about the word ‘Belmond’ before? It holds even truer at the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, which was first opened in 1873 as a five room guest house and has been welcoming glamorous creative types ever since. The location beside the 3BC Greek amphitheatre in town is perfect for exploring but when you want to get away from the inevitable crowds, the garden - complete with heated pool - offers bougie respite. There are 70 rooms here and if you can stretch it, we’d opt for those in the original villa with their sea and volcano rooms. Because who wouldn’t want to sleep in the room where DH Lawrence wrote Lady Chatterley’s Lover?

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Villa Igiea, Palermo

We have a proper soft spot for palazzo which were once family homes and are now hotels. This Art Nouveau example overlooks the Gulf of Palermo and is today under the purview of the always on point Rocco Forte Hotels group. The pool area is divine, there are 78 rooms to choose from and the Belle Epoque Florio restaurant is helmed by Michelin starred chef Fulvio Pierangelini. But perhaps what we love most is the thought that has gone into every facet of your stay. For example, the concierge team have created a series of itineraries to any of Palermo’s eight Unesco heritage sites.

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See also:

9 best beaches in Sicily.

Everything you need to know about Sicily.

5 best places to see in western Sicily.

The perfect 3-day stay in Taormina.