The view from the hotel balcony was spectacular looking DOWN on people gawking at one of the world's great vistas, and UP at the chapel carved into the cliffs which hide Castelmola. We climbed the steps to both in a hard hour. The location is awkward for taxi access and a busy walk to the bus station. If you travel light and have towable luggage, try to time your access when Umberto, the famous fancy pedestrian shopping street, is relatively quiet, e.g., after the delivery trucks have gone and the tourist hordes are still in bed! The hotel artwork is exquisite. The staff is unfailingly patient and helpful.

Our room had a smaller balcony, but I could still glimpse a skinny crescent moon rising before dawn. I wish I'd invested in a room with a more expansive view and shall certainly do so if I visit Taormina again, definitely staying at Villa Mabel!

The location is fantastic. We were right on the Main Street Corso Umberto I ( right on top of dolce and Gabbana bar ) We booked 4 nights in this beautiful boutique hotel and at our arrival mimma the property manager upgraded us free of charge with a room with balcony and an spectacular sea view. The hotel opened 1 month ago and they did an amazing renovation job. The hotel is very clean and everything has been chosen with taste. The personal staff is very friendly. We cannot wait to come back.

Nothing everything was perfect.

Taormina and Castelmola are two amazing places and by staying in one you can enjoy both. From Isola Bella and the gourgeos beaches of Taormina to the cool mountaines of Castelmola you can enjoy the best of both worlds. And much more if you add the nearby locations on a hop-on-hop-off day trip. Villa Mabel is right in the center, next to Piazza IX April and it's a cool place, small rooms, but clean and, WITH ONE MAJOR EXCEPTION, welcoming.

I'm not sure if this are the standards around here, but from where I stand Villa Mabel straight up LIES about having free WIFI !! The WiFi does not work in the room, only in the lobby so it's useless if you wanna get something done while on vacation. There's no way. It's simply NOT TRUE thay they offer free internet - I had better, more stable connection on top of Mount Etna than with theirs in the Taormina city center. Villa Mabel NEEDS TO BE HONEST about NOT OFFERING WiFi to all the rooms so the customers can plan ahead, or else it can ruin the otherwise beautofull experience in this amazing place.

The location is perfect, overlooking the main square, and the view from my room was amazing. The room was really convenient, big enough, and the fridge worked well.

The staff was not welcoming, they would never say hello or even look at you when you came in. At check-in I was not given much information about the city or asked if I wanted it. The shared bathroom was usually a bit wet and smelled badly (probably because of the humidity, since there are no windows). The AC is very noisy. I only took 1 point on the rate because I think for this price in Taormina, you cannot be super demanding. And I was happy with my stay overall.

If you want the absolute perfect location to explore Taormina, this is it. Located on Corso Umberto, it’s a stones throw away to all the beautiful sights and shops. Touristy yes, but this is Taormina for you. The unit had a breathtaking view of the sea and Piazza IX Aprile from room 4. Bathroom was updated and modern.

There is no wifi on the second floor (where most of the private rooms are located). A table lamp in room 4 would have been nice as there was only the big ugly bright ceiling light at night. The bedding could have been a little more comfortable - the pillows are kind of flat.

We booked Hotel Mabel just two hours in advance and had a fantastic experience. The check-in process was smooth, and the reception staff was very attentive, providing all the necessary information in a clear and friendly manner. Communication was excellent, and the receptionist, a very pleasant girl, made us feel welcome right away. The location is perfect, right in the heart of Taormina, offering stunning views. The linen, towels, and overall cleanliness were impeccable. While the hotel and rooms are a bit old and could use some renovation, it’s great value for the price considering the excellent service and cleanliness. I highly recommend this hotel for a pleasant stay in Taormina!

I attended a language course and stayed for 3 weeks at Villa Mabel. As this was November I did not use AirCon. I did not book for breakfast either (and I think they do not offer breakfast off-season), so I can´t evaluate those 2 elements. - The obvious and major bonus of Villa Mabel is its location right next to the main square. 57 steps above it, to be exact. With a small balcony facing to the sea you could just spend hours sitting there and feel entertained by the people and the performers on the square. It does not get much better, when it comes to location. The room was small (I knew that beforehand) but clean and the staff was helpful with making me feel comfortable. I was given some cutlery and dishes as well as an electrical kettle to prepare my own coffee. Towels were exchanged quite frequently. Special Thanks to Patricia for enduring my rudimentary Italian!

Obviously Villa Mabel is an older building and it shows. I call it "quaint atmosphere" - others might (wrongly) think it is not well maintained. The water takes quite a while to warm up and water pressure can vary. So does WIFI-strength. The doors to the rooms are noisy. It did not bother me, as in November there were not too many guests. If during busier times it is fully booked, be prepared to hear each time your neighbours come home or leave their room. That may disturb your night rest. If you are physically challenged by stairs this is probably not your place, either. But then again, Taormina and its many (!) stairs will probably be a challenge, too. None of the mentioned "negatives" would stop me from coming back. This is more for the readers´ benefits.

Villa Mabel is located on the lively Porta di Mezzo and offers wonderful views of the Ionian Sea and the Giardini Naxos coast. Our triple room had a balcony with a wonderful view of the sea. The room has an Italian atmosphere, a bit old style, but this only adds to its charm. The room and private bathroom were very clean, cleaned every day. Beds very comfortable. Reception staff very helpful, smiling and friendly. Villa Mabel is a well-located hotel from which we can start our daily walks around charming Taormina. If you want to feel the Italian atmosphere, relax on the balcony overlooking the sea, admire the sunrise in the morning, this is a place I wholeheartedly recommend.

Located directly in the city center of Taormina. Very nice vintage-style Italian villa with retrofitted air conditioning unit, large shared balcony with glass-topped tables and great view over the bay and city. Refrigerator inside the room. City center, shops, bars and restaurants all in short walking distance. Very accommodating staff even with late check-in.

Only one shared bathroom available (if you cannot get a room with a private bathroom) that is on the other side of the villa (long walk if urgent and occupied), with individual toilet paper sheets that get torn up by the dispenser.

We were given a beautifully decorated large room with lovely communal terrace with garden which overlooked main piazza. The marble floor and high ceiling made the room cool during the hot days. Although Villa Mabel no longer offers breakfast we were given a kettle with tea bags for our room. The fridge in the room was also welcome for keeping snacks and drinks in. The location could not have been better being only a few steps from the historic centre with a lovely view over the bay. We extended our stay by a few days and were so glad to be able to remain in Villa Mabel in the same room.

Unfortunately there was building work going on from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday nearby which was very noisy ,especially when sitting on the terrace.