La Terrazza Restaurant is the signature restaurant of the legendary Hotel Splendido in Portofino. The hotel was originally a monastery, but was abandoned by the monks due to Saracen pirates already in the 16th century. Baron Baratta rebuilt the monastery into his summer palace in late 19th century and the property was sold to Ruggiero Valentini who in 1905 opened up the lavish luxury hotel that still is considered a must for everyone who is someone.

La Terrazza Restaurant offers one of the best restaurant views in the world. When dining at the terrace you have endless views of the Mediterranean and breathtaking views over Portofino Bay and the Tigullio Gulf. Lush greenery surrounds you when you sit at the terrace amazed by the unbelievable beautiful views. You can dine outside for most of the year, but the very best is during spring and early autumn. You can have a more formal dinner experience inside in the main dining room seating 120 guests as well, but we will never miss an opportunity to spend an evening at La Terrazza’s enchanted terrace.

Gorgonzola born Chef Corrado Corti had many years of experience from several hotels before he started to work for Hotel Splendido. The menu offers the freshest seafood thinkable and sticks close to the Italian classics and Liguria specialities. Little innovation and very traditional, but that is what to expect from a restaurant of La Terrazza’s calibre with a history and regular world famous guests that almost no one can match. One of the former regulars was Elizabeth Taylor and she got a delicious pasta dish named after her. The Spaghetti alla Elizabeth Taylor is a vegetarian dish with tomatoes from the three regions San Marzano, Sorrento and Pachino.

With hotel and dinner guests such as Sir Winston Churchill, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Steven Spielberg, George Clooney and Michael Douglas to just mention some it would be easy for Corrado Corti to be a bit sloppy and think that he already has the A list booked for years to come, but the Chef and his team deliver a high level of good Italian cuisine that will not disappoint. It is traditional and you have probably seen it and eaten it before, but combined with some of the best views anywhere, it is really difficult to leave La Terrazza Restaurant disappointed in any way.

Written by Andy