Hotel Il Pellicano
the clifftop sea-view terrace at golden hour
Clifftop classicism with a lively golden hour—spritzes on the terrace, sea air, and a well‑heeled crowd drifting between bar and dining room. Service is polished but relaxed, and evenings stretch late under the stars. Request a high‑floor sea view and reserve tables and spa time in advance.
In Porto Ercole, Tuscany. Easy to fold into a morning or a longer afternoon; there's usually something else worth a stop within a few minutes' walk.
Hotel Il Pellicano is an iconic five-star clifftop hotel in Porto Ercole on Monte Argentario, in Tuscany's Maremma, built in the mid-1960s and part of Leading Hotels of the World. Its flagship restaurant, Il Pellicano, holds one Michelin star (2025 guide) under chef Michelino Gioia, serving innovative land-and-sea Italian cuisine on a sea-view terrace, backed by a ~1,700-bottle cellar. A second, more casual restaurant, Il Pelligrill, offers lighter grilled Tuscan fare for lunch and dinner, and breakfast is a lavish terrace spread. The crowd skews affluent couples and an international jet set; reviews are largely glowing on setting and service, with a minority criticizing portion size and value. The curator's notes about golden-hour terrace drinks, a well-heeled crowd, and advance reservations for tables and spa are well corroborated.