Belmond Splendido Mare

Belmond Splendido Mare stands directly on Portofino's celebrated piazzetta, facing the harbour and its row of pastel fishing houses, in the heart of the village on the Ligurian Riviera. It is the seafront sister to the Belmond Hotel Splendido on the hill above, and guests of the Mare share access to the larger property's gardens, heated saltwater pool, and spa, reached by a short shuttle ride. The hotel is intimate, with around fourteen individually designed rooms and suites dressed in a fresh nautical style of stripes, blues, and natural materials; many look directly onto the harbour and the comings and goings of yachts and fishing boats. Its standout address means the boutiques, gelaterie, and seafood restaurants of Portofino are quite literally on the doorstep. Dining centres on DaV Mare, a restaurant developed with the Cerea family of Da Vittorio renown, serving refined seafood and Ligurian dishes on a terrace at the edge of the square, while the adjoining bar is a prime spot for an aperitivo as the harbour lights come on. Breakfast can be taken on the terrace overlooking the piazzetta. Service is personal and attentive, with a concierge able to arrange boat trips, restaurant tables, and excursions along the coast. Because of its small scale, the atmosphere is more like a refined private guesthouse than a large hotel, favoured by couples and travellers who want to be in the thick of Portofino village life rather than secluded above it. From the door, visitors can stroll the harbour, walk up to the Church of San Giorgio and Castello Brown for views, or board boats to San Fruttuoso, Santa Margherita Ligure, and the Cinque Terre. The hotel operates seasonally and is among the most coveted addresses on the Italian Riviera.