Two weekends ago, my family and I stayed at the Splendido Hotel in Portofino, Liguria. We normally stay with friends in Santa Margherita, Paraggi or at the Imperial Palace Hotel, but decided to try The Splendido, which is widely considered as the most fabulous hotel in the area. And fabulous it is.
Perched on top a hill overlooking the spectacular Portofino Bay, the view from the Splendido is a confirmation that you have arrived in a Mediterranean paradise. Get lost in the property's lush gardens? No problem. Why find your way when there are countless enchanting flowers and (palm) trees to gaze at all afternoon? And if you go when the flowers are in bloom, you will be dizzy from their sweet perfume. It's incredible.
Opened in 1902 (the original building dates back to the 16th century) the hotel is full of character and charm, its riviera style architecture is beautiful and chic. I personally love the flower-filled terraces that overlook the garden, infinity pool and the breathtaking sea. The interiors of the common areas are equally inviting. I wasn't overly impressed with the layout of our suite, but I have to say that the impressive hotel grounds made up for that shortcoming.
And how do they treat you? As a part of the Orient-Express group, the service is excellent and the staff very helpful and friendly. Children are welcomed to the hotel with amenities including a bathrobe, slippers and hotel mascot, kids club and children's menu (my husband will book a hotel based on the fact that they offer the children's robe and slippers, it's our mild obsession, lol). There is also a lovely tennis court with resident instructor to keep the little ones busy. And, like many other hotels of this caliber, you will definitely cringe when your little one shouts to show you something from the other side of the pool, where a posh English woman sips on a glass of rosé. But have no fear, because she will most likely smile at the little beast and comment that he or she reminds her of her 2, 4, and 6-year olds, who she misses to bits.
The food? Yummy! Breakfast and dinner or served at La Terrazza restaurant, overlooking the bay.
Here are our favorite things on the menu, tried and approved by my husband who is Ligurian:
- Linguine with "pesto" sauce, potatoes and french beans
- Homemade short pasta served with traditional "pesto" sauce
- Ligurian ravioli with vegetable and herbs filling, served with walnut sauce
Buonissimi! You must try.
For lunch, head to the pool restaurant. Make sure that you "big up" the maître d' who can be a little temperamental if you have an Italian accent or are opt for a watermelon lemonade instead of ordering an expensive bottle of wine with lunch (that's the conclusion that my husband and I came to after some not so welcoming treatment) .
For some much needed pampering, the Spa is such a treat. The staff is so sweet and fun, the treatments wonderful and the products are pretty impressive. I picked up a bottle of Nature's Harmony and Wellbeing Sun Oil "Arga" (Argan) SPF 30 which I'm really enjoying. And the nail polish used for my mani and pedi lasted a little over a week on my nails (Yah!). Please see the bottle below as I don't have a better picture of the label and can't share the name (sorry)!
And finally, when you've had enough of living it up at the hotel, take a walk along the nature path to visit gorgeous Portofino. Please enjoy the pics and have a wonderful weekend. xoxo, Tamu
And how do they treat you? As a part of the Orient-Express group, the service is excellent and the staff very helpful and friendly. Children are welcomed to the hotel with amenities including a bathrobe, slippers and hotel mascot, kids club and children's menu (my husband will book a hotel based on the fact that they offer the children's robe and slippers, it's our mild obsession, lol). There is also a lovely tennis court with resident instructor to keep the little ones busy. And, like many other hotels of this caliber, you will definitely cringe when your little one shouts to show you something from the other side of the pool, where a posh English woman sips on a glass of rosé. But have no fear, because she will most likely smile at the little beast and comment that he or she reminds her of her 2, 4, and 6-year olds, who she misses to bits.
The food? Yummy! Breakfast and dinner or served at La Terrazza restaurant, overlooking the bay.
Here are our favorite things on the menu, tried and approved by my husband who is Ligurian:
- Linguine with "pesto" sauce, potatoes and french beans
- Homemade short pasta served with traditional "pesto" sauce
- Ligurian ravioli with vegetable and herbs filling, served with walnut sauce
Buonissimi! You must try.
For lunch, head to the pool restaurant. Make sure that you "big up" the maître d' who can be a little temperamental if you have an Italian accent or are opt for a watermelon lemonade instead of ordering an expensive bottle of wine with lunch (that's the conclusion that my husband and I came to after some not so welcoming treatment) .
For some much needed pampering, the Spa is such a treat. The staff is so sweet and fun, the treatments wonderful and the products are pretty impressive. I picked up a bottle of Nature's Harmony and Wellbeing Sun Oil "Arga" (Argan) SPF 30 which I'm really enjoying. And the nail polish used for my mani and pedi lasted a little over a week on my nails (Yah!). Please see the bottle below as I don't have a better picture of the label and can't share the name (sorry)!
And finally, when you've had enough of living it up at the hotel, take a walk along the nature path to visit gorgeous Portofino. Please enjoy the pics and have a wonderful weekend. xoxo, Tamu
0 comments :
Post a Comment