Splendido, A Belmond Hotel is the most romantic place to stay in Portofino and has been the town's honeymoon favorite for generations. It sits on the hillside above the harbor in terraced gardens and olive groves, with views down over the rooftops and out across the Gulf of Tigullio. Its story began as a Benedictine monastery, then a 19th-century summer house for Baron Baratta and later a hotel that welcomed Elizabeth Taylor, Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner.
After three years of restoration led by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the hotel reopened with refreshed rooms, a Dior Spa and new places to eat and drink. It ranked on the extended list of The World's 50 Best Hotels. There are about 50 rooms and suites, a heated outdoor pool, La Terrazza for Ligurian cooking, the Splendido Grill and the Baratta Sedici Bar. A complimentary shuttle runs down to sister hotel Splendido Mare on the Piazzetta.
It suits couples who want classic Riviera glamour with privacy and are comfortable with some of the highest rates in Italy. Couples on a tighter budget can get a similar coastline from Santa Margherita Ligure for far less.
Highlights at a glance
- Former Benedictine monastery above Portofino harbor
- Restored by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio
- Heated outdoor pool in terraced gardens
- Dior Spa Splendido
- Shuttle to Splendido Mare on the Piazzetta
Why Couples Love Splendido
It gives you Portofino at its best and keeps the crowds at a distance. The harbor below is lovely but busy by day, with yachts and visitors filling the Piazzetta. Up at Splendido, it is quiet, green and fragrant with pine and rosemary and the view takes in the whole bay.
The history is part of the charm. Guests from the golden age of cinema stayed here and the hotel still has that sense of occasion: cocktails before dinner, pressed linen and long evenings on the terrace. The restoration has refreshed it without losing that character.
The shuttle to Splendido Mare means you can drop into the Piazzetta for an espresso or a boat trip and be back at the pool in minutes. Evenings on the terrace, with the lights of the harbor below, are what most couples remember.
Rooms and Suites to Book
Rooms range from about 22 to 39 square meters. Junior Suites run about 39 to 44 square meters, Suites about 60 to 78 and the five Signature Suites from about 55 to 127 square meters. Villa Beatrice is an independent villa meant for families or groups of friends.
For a honeymoon, a sea-view Junior Suite or Suite is the right level. The extra space and a terrace facing the gulf make a big difference, since you will want to spend mornings outside. The Signature Suites are the showpieces and some have very large terraces.
Some entry rooms face the gardens or the hillside. They are comfortable but miss the view that defines Splendido. If your budget is fixed, consider fewer nights in a sea-view room rather than more nights in a garden-facing one.
Food, Drink and the Spa
La Terrazza is the main restaurant, serving elevated and seasonal Ligurian cuisine on a terrace looking over the bay. Expect pesto made the local way, fresh fish from the gulf, focaccia and Vermentino. Dinner here at sunset is the hotel's signature experience.
The Splendido Grill is more relaxed and suits lunch near the pool. The Baratta Sedici Bar, named for the baron who once owned the house, serves sophisticated cocktails and is a lovely place for a nightcap.
The Dior Spa Splendido offers treatments using Dior products, with the garden setting of Le Jardin des Rêves Dior. A couples' treatment after a day of hiking the promontory is well earned. The heated outdoor pool, surrounded by terraced gardens, is the hub of daytime life at the hotel.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Walk up to Castello Brown and the lighthouse at Punta Portofino for the views. The longer hike to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, reachable only on foot or by boat, takes around two hours on a rugged path through the Portofino Natural Park. Take the boat back.
A private boat along the coast is the best way to see the area, with stops for swimming in clear coves. Boats also run to Camogli, a colorful fishing town and to Santa Margherita Ligure.
For a bigger day out, take the train along the coast to the Cinque Terre, about an hour away, or spend a day in Genoa, whose old town and palazzi are underrated. The hotel concierge can book restaurants in Portofino, where reservations are essential in summer.
Getting There
The nearest airport is Genoa Cristoforo Colombo (GOA), about an hour by car. Many couples from the United States fly into Milan Malpensa (MXP) instead, about 2.5 hours by car, or Nice (NCE), roughly 3 hours.
By train, the nearest station is Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino, about 20 minutes' drive from the hotel. Trains connect to Genoa, Milan and the Cinque Terre. The hotel can arrange a car from the station.
The road into Portofino is narrow and parking is limited and expensive, so a rental car is not necessary. Use the hotel's shuttle, boats and taxis. If you do drive, the hotel can advise on parking.
Is It Worth It?
For a short, special stay, yes. Splendido has a setting few hotels can match, a strong restoration and the polished service Belmond is known for. Two or three nights here, combined with time elsewhere in Italy, makes a memorable chapter of a honeymoon.
The price is the obstacle. Rates are among the highest in the country and dining adds up quickly. Couples who want the Riviera on a smaller budget can stay in Santa Margherita Ligure and visit Portofino by boat or bus, or choose Camogli.
The hotel is seasonal and usually opens from spring through autumn. May, June and September are the best months, with warm weather and fewer visitors than in July and August.
Insider tips
- Book a sea-view Junior Suite or higher for the terrace
- Hike to San Fruttuoso in the morning and take the boat back
- Reserve La Terrazza for a sunset table when you book the room
- Skip the rental car and use the hotel shuttle
