Book the Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino with VIP Benefits

Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino is one of the defining hotels of the Italian Riviera. It sits above Portofino Bay in a former 16th-century monastery, with gardens, terraces, sea views, and a sense of theatre that feels tied to the village below. The hotel has always been famous, but it now matters for a newer reason. After a major Belmond transformation, Splendido reopened on 7 June 2025 with redesigned rooms, suites, public spaces, restaurants, pool areas, a new bar, and Italy's first permanent Dior Spa.

This makes the hotel more than a nostalgic Riviera address. It is once again one of the most relevant luxury hotels in Portofino. The setting is still the main attraction: the bay, the hills, the harbor, the yachts, and the Ligurian light. But the renovation gives the stay a more residential and current feel.

For travelers comparing luxury hotels in Portofino, Splendido stands out for its hillside setting, bay views, redesigned rooms and suites, Belmond service, gardens, dining, spa facilities, and access to the village.

Portofino Hillside Location & Bay Views

The location is the first reason to book. Splendido is set on Salita Baratta, above the harbor and below the green slopes of Portofino Natural Park. Guests get the view and glamour of Portofino without being directly in the Piazzetta all day. Portofino is beautiful, but it is also small and highly visible.

The hotel gives guests a more private base. The village, harbor, boutiques, restaurants, and boats are close, while the gardens and terraces keep the stay calmer. A shuttle connects guests with the Piazzetta and with Splendido Mare, Belmond's sister hotel in the village. This creates two Portofino moods: hillside retreat and harbor life.

Genoa Airport is the main gateway, and the journey can take about an hour depending on traffic. Summer arrivals should allow extra time. Once in Portofino, movement is best planned around boats, walks, and hotel transfers rather than constant driving.

The best stay is unhurried. Use the hotel for mornings, pool time, spa, and terrace meals. Use the village for selected lunches, boat departures, shopping, and evening walks. Portofino rewards restraint more than schedule pressure.

Redesigned Rooms, Suites & Riviera Craft

After the renovation, Splendido is presented with 61 redesigned rooms and suites. The update by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio is meant to feel like a private Italian villa rather than a formal hotel set piece. Materials, colors, patterns, and craftsmanship draw on Ligurian houses, local culture, gardens, and the sea.

Rooms and suites now feel lighter and more residential than the older version of the hotel. Many categories have sea, garden, or bay views. The best choices are those with terrace or balcony space because the view is central to the stay. Portofino is not a destination where guests should feel shut inside.

Suites are important here. Larger categories suit longer stays, families, and guests who want privacy away from the public terraces. Signature suites, including the Baronessa Suite, express the renovated hotel's more personal style. They feel less like standard luxury rooms and more like lived-in Riviera spaces.

Room selection should be based on view, outdoor space, and how much time guests plan to spend on property. Splendido is not only a base for Portofino. For many travellers, the hotel itself is the reason for choosing Portofino.

La Terrazza, Splendido Grill & Baratta Sedici

Dining is central to the new Splendido. La Terrazza remains the fine-dining restaurant and one of the hotel's great stages, with views over the bay and a Ligurian sense of place. It is the restaurant for a proper Portofino evening, where the setting, service, and food all carry the mood.

Splendido Grill adds a more relaxed but still polished option. It suits poolside lunches, lighter dinners, and guests who want the food to feel connected to the coast without turning every meal into an occasion. This range matters because Portofino days can be social, sunny, and slow.

Baratta Sedici is one of the important new additions from the reopening. It brings a brighter cocktail-bar energy to the hotel and gives guests a place to enjoy the glamorous side of Portofino without leaving the property. A strong bar is essential here. It becomes the bridge between pool, terrace, dinner, and the village.

Guests should also use Splendido Mare and Portofino's harbor restaurants selectively. The best dining strategy mixes hillside views, a village evening, and one or two meals that let the hotel carry the full Riviera fantasy.

Dior Spa, Pool & Garden Wellness

Wellness is now a much stronger part of the hotel. Splendido introduced Italy's first permanent Dior Spa as part of the transformation. The spa is set within the gardens and uses indoor-outdoor spaces, Portofino views, and a softer relationship with the landscape. It is a major upgrade to the hotel's resort depth.

The pool remains one of the key places to spend time. It gives guests a quiet alternative to the busy harbor and beaches nearby. Portofino's coast is spectacular, but it is not always easy or private. The pool makes the stay easier, especially in high season.

Gardens are part of the experience. The hotel sits against Portofino Natural Park, and the grounds create a sense of shade, privacy, and movement. Guests can move from breakfast to the pool, from the pool to the spa, and from the spa to the terrace without leaving the hillside world.

For couples, the Dior Spa and pool add real romance. For families, they give the hotel practical structure. For returning guests, they make the reopened Splendido feel more complete than before.

Portofino, Boats & Riviera Strategy

Splendido works best when guests understand Portofino's scale. The village is small, beautiful, expensive, and often crowded in season. A hotel above the harbor gives guests the best of both worlds: access and distance. That is why the hillside location is so valuable.

Boat time is essential. Guests can explore the Gulf of Tigullio, San Fruttuoso, Santa Margherita Ligure, Camogli, or quieter coves with planning. The coastline is best seen from the water, and the hotel can help shape those days around weather and season.

Walking and hiking also matter. Portofino Natural Park adds depth beyond the harbor. Guests who only sit in the Piazzetta miss much of what makes the area special. A good itinerary uses sea, village, hillside, and hotel together.

The 2025 reopening also means guests should expect a more current product than older reviews or descriptions suggest. This matters because guests can expect a more current product while still getting the atmosphere of a classic Portofino address. Splendido is a classic address, but it is not standing still.

Who Should Book Splendido Portofino

Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino is a strong choice for travellers looking for a luxury Portofino hotel with bay views, a former monastery setting, 61 redesigned rooms and suites, La Terrazza, Splendido Grill, Baratta Sedici, Dior Spa, pool, gardens, and access to Splendido Mare in the village. It suits couples, families, Riviera regulars, design-minded travellers, food lovers, and guests who want Portofino with privacy and service.

It is less ideal for travellers who want a low-key fishing village stay, direct beach access outside the door, or a hotel hidden from the Portofino scene. Splendido is visible, polished, and iconic. That is part of the value.

Book Splendido when the goal is to combine Portofino glamour with a refined hillside retreat. The best stays use the terrace views, La Terrazza, Splendido Grill, Baratta Sedici, Dior Spa, pool, gardens, village shuttle, and boat days together. For a luxury hotel in Portofino with renewed design and landmark status, Splendido is again the essential address.