Portofino
All photos Courtesy of Fanny Castro
Portofino, expensive, yes, but absolutely breathtaking. A place I always want to return to when I’m in Moneglia.
It’s charming and almost unreal in its beauty, if you can look past the thousands of tourists. So if you get the chance, come here just before the season starts or at the very end, when you can actually enjoy Portofino with a little more space to breathe.
All photos Courtesy of Fanny Castro
Don’t miss these little hidden gems when you’re in Portofino
Al Faro di Portofino - La Portofinese has several different spots, all equally beautiful, and they’re all owned by a family that has lived in Portofino for what feels like a thousand years — so they truly know the village inside out. They’ve placed their restaurants and bars in the very best locations in Portofino.
Al Faro di Portofino is the white lighthouse at the very edge of the cliff, the one you spot as soon as you arrive by boat. Walk up here, grab a drink, and you’ll get one of the most incredible views over the sea and the bay. Pure magic.
Belmond Splendido Mare - Belmond has two hotels in the village — one down in the center of Portofino, and one up on the hill.
At Splendido Mare’s restaurant, DaV Mare, you can enjoy their incredibly good risotto with pesto while watching all the people passing by.
Bar Mariuccia 1954 - This is where you have your aperitivo or your morning cappuccino.
All photos Courtesy of Fanny Castro
Gelateria Bar San Giorgio - This is not where I order gelato, even though it’s apparently Kourtney Kardashian’s favorite spot for ice cream, and yes, the gelato is good.
But I go for their freshly squeezed orange juice instead, which is honestly incredible.
Beyond strolling through the village below, it’s absolutely worth walking just five minutes uphill to Chiesa di San Giorgio not only to step inside the beautiful church, but also to get one of the best panoramic views over Portofino from above. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous than a short uphill walk, I highly recommend hiking all the way to San Fruttuoso. It’s about a 2-3 hours hike and can be quite challenging in parts, but it’s an incredibly beautiful trail that leads you to a small hidden bay only accessible by boat or on foot. The water here is crystal clear and yes, it can get quite crowded with tourists, but it’s still absolutely worth seeing despite the crowds.
On the way there, you’ll also find Osteria dei Coppelli one of La Portofinese’s restaurants, with a truly magical view. So make sure to plan a lunch stop here on your way to San Fruttuoso.
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