At a Glance

• Location: Porto Ercole, Tuscany, Italy
• Star Rating: 5-Star
• Number of Rooms: 50
• Room Stayed: Superior Room Sea View (room 20)
• Dates of Stay: July, 2025
• Nightly Rate: From €1,100 in peak season
• Value For Money: Acceptable, but not good.
• Best For: Slow luxury, couples
• Would I Return? Possibly, but I would want to see the service levels improved

What It Does Well

• Setting and privacy
• History and legacy
• Beach club and coastal position
• Boutique
• Food quality 

Areas For Improvement

• Service does not match the price point
• Management needs to create a guest focussed culture, the staff seem disengaged and uninterested.
• Interiors feel slightly outdated
• The isolated location will not suit everyone

First Impressions

Perched along the Tuscan coastline in Porto Ercole, Hotel Il Pellicano has long been considered one of the jewels of the Italian Riviera. 2025 marked its 60th anniversary, and the hotel still feels very connected to its history. Over the years it has hosted the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Sophia Loren, Monica Vitti and, perhaps most iconically, Slim Aarons, whose photographs of the beach club still define a certain kind of European glamour.

There is no denying it: Il Pellicano is stylish. But it is a very particular kind of style, nostalgic, romantic, and rooted in tradition rather than modern polish.

Setting

Il Pellicano sits cliffside, with breathtaking views overlooking the Mediterranean. The location feels intentionally secluded. Outside of the property, there is little within immediate walking distance, so this is not the place for those looking to explore towns or nightlife. Instead, it’s suited to travellers wanting to slow down.

Arrival

Our arrival was not off to a strong start. We were travelling by boat and anchored around 200 metres off the hotel. The hotel arranged a tender for 12.00pm. At 12.20pm we were still waiting. When we called, they told us they had forgotten. The tender arrived shortly after.

Once we disembarked, we were handed our bags and shown to the lift to make our own way to reception carrying six pieces of luggage. I was quite incredulous that they left us to do this as it’s quite the walk. After raising it at reception, the team acknowledged it wasn't acceptable and offered us a complimentary lunch.

Another small operational note, WiFi requires a code which wasn’t shared at check-in, a small annoyance that feels unnecessary at this level.

The Room

We stayed in the main building which I would highly recommend. The property is quite spread out, and depending on your appetite for walking, proximity matters.

The room itself was bright and airy, with a beautiful outlook of the med and private terrace with a table and daybeds. The décor is minimal and relaxed, coastal Italian rather than luxury-led. It is not modern or particularly refined, but if you like understated and slightly nostalgic interiors, it works.

The bathroom was generously sized, with separate shower and bath, marble finishes and windows overlooking the rear of the property towards the tennis courts.

Dining

There are two restaurants on property: the Michelin-starred restaurant, which also serves breakfast, and Peligrill, the more casual option for lunch and dinner. There is also an outdoor bar overlooking the water.

We dined at Peligrill for lunch and dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was a highlight, authentic, fresh and unfussy, and one of the waitresses was particularly attentive. They also offer fresh pizza, however it needs to be ordered 24 hours in advance as the dough is prepared for each request. The pizza itself was good,but it seems ridiculous to expect guests to order 24 hours in advance, seriously it’s pizza not suckling pig!

Breakfast was buffet-style. It was fine. Not bad, but not memorable. A nice touch was the daily printed ‘newspaper’ left on the table, featuring the cocktail of the day, a quote, a dish highlight and a fun fact about the area.

Our bar experience was disappointing. Despite being seated and with only a few other tables occupied, we found ourselves going up to the bar to order more than once. Even after raising it, we still had to approach the bar ourselves on our first evening. Bar snacks arrived without cutlery and no one returned to check on us. The following night was better, with noticeably more attentive service.

After the service we experienced on check-in and at the bar, we did not feel confident committing to a long dinner service so cancelled our reservation in the Michelin-starred restaurant.

Facilities

The private beach club is beautiful, with direct access to the Mediterranean. On our first afternoon most of the daybeds were already taken, so the next morning we arrived around 9am and had our pick.

Service here, however, mirrored the issues we had experienced elsewhere in the hotel. It often felt like you were interrupting to ask for anything, as staff seemed largely occupied talking amongst themselves. Drinks were slow and empty glasses sat on tables for long periods without being cleared. Unless you actively approached staff, you were unlikely to be checked on, and after the first round we did not bother ordering again. The same lack of attentiveness extended to the water activities. No assistance was offered to guests using the water toys, and on multiple occasions I saw people clearly struggling to manoeuvre paddleboards on their own.

Other facilities include:

• Tennis court
• Gym
• Spa (I didn’t experience treatments, though I did spot a guest leaving with an excellent blowout!)

The hotel boutique deserves special mention, one of the best-edited hotel boutiques I’ve seen. Brands ranged from Eres swimwear to Paco Rabanne, alongside their own merchandise. The selection felt really well curated. The only slight inconvenience was that purchases are delivered in one batch later in the evening. After buying pieces in the morning, I had to call to request an earlier delivery.

Service

Service was the main issue throughout the stay. The hotel positions itself as relaxed and traditional, but at times this translated to inattentive and disengaged. There were moments of good service, but overall it lacked the consistency expected at this level. Some interactions were warm, others noticeably indifferent. In my opinion Management needs a stronger hand in ensuring a culture of guest focussed service. It is far too sloppy at times for a hotel at this quality and price point. 

Would I Stay Again?

I wouldn’t go out of my way to return, but if I found myself in Porto Ercole again and wanted a few days of sun and sea, I would consider it for a short stay.  

Final Thoughts

Il Pellicano has history, position and strong foundations. The setting is special and the atmosphere is calm and private. However, it could benefit from more consistent service and a touch of upkeep in certain areas.

For travellers looking for classic Italian glamour in a secluded coastal setting, it still holds appeal, just go with measured service expectations. It’s not really worth the hype but if they address the service standards it really has great potential.

If you wish to have us assist with any bookings email us at bookings@stripetravel.com or contact us here. By booking with us, you will likely receive the following additional benefits:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
• $100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilised during stay
• Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
• Complimentary Wi-Fi