Il Pellicano

Clifftop Dining on the Argentario Coast

The Maremma coastline in southern Tuscany occupies a quieter register than the Amalfi or Cinque Terre circuits. Porto Ercole sits at the southernmost point of the Argentario peninsula, and the village's relative obscurity has long protected it from the overcrowding that defines better-known Italian coastal destinations. When Il Pellicano opened here in the 1960s, the region was largely off the international travel map. Decades on, it remains that way in spirit, even as the property has accumulated credentials that place it firmly among Italy's reference-class hotels: ranked 26th on the World's 50 Best Hotels (2025) and scoring 98.5 points on La Liste Leading Hotels (2026), it competes in a peer set that includes properties like Aman Venice in Venice, Bulgari Hotel Roma in Rome, and Passalacqua in Moltrasio — properties where physical setting and dining programme carry equal weight.

Approaching the property along the cliffside road, the scale resolves slowly: stone terraces stepping down through centuries-old olive trees, the Tyrrhenian Sea filling the horizon, the Tuscan Archipelago visible on clear days. The architecture holds back rather than announces itself, which is itself a considered position. Italy's most decorated hotel properties frequently anchor themselves in dramatic interior design — the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze in Florence commands attention through its Renaissance palazzo bones, while Aman Venice leans into the weight of its Grand Canal address. Il Pellicano's distinction lies partly in its restraint: greenery, sea light, and the sound of water do the work that architectural statement would do elsewhere.

The Dining Programme: From Market Fish to Michelin

Two restaurants govern the food programme here, and they operate at meaningfully different registers , a structure that reflects how the most capable resort hotels now think about hospitality across a full day. The casual Pelligrill handles lunch, with a menu oriented around the day's catch and traditional Tuscan preparations. On the Argentario coast, where fishing boats still operate out of Porto Santo Stefano, sourcing genuinely fresh seafood is less a marketing claim than a practical reality of geography. Lunch at the Pelligrill is where the hotel's coastal character is most visibly expressed: informal, tied to season, and shaped by what came off the boats that morning.

The one-Michelin-starred Il Pellicano restaurant, also awarded a Michelin Key in 2024 , a designation Michelin introduced to recognise exceptional hotel stays, not just food , operates in a different mode. Chef Michelino Gioia leads the kitchen, and the reference point for the tasting programme is the percorso mare, a seafood-led menu format that positions the restaurant inside a broader coastal fine-dining tradition: rigorous sourcing, local ingredients as the editorial spine, and the format discipline of a tasting menu rather than à la carte choice. Within the category of Michelin-starred hotel restaurants in Tuscany, this is one of the stronger addresses. Properties like Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco in Montalcino or Borgo San Felice Resort in Castelnuovo Berardenga approach Tuscan cuisine through an inland, land-based lens. Il Pellicano's programme is consistently seaward.

The bar programme completes the picture. Mixologist Federico Morosi runs two distinct rooms: Bar All'Aperto, the outdoor terrace bar described by the hotel as an institution of the property, and Bar Roberto, an evening-oriented piano bar with a mid-century atmosphere that the hotel's own materials liken to Mad Men-era design. The detail matters because aperitivo culture in Italy, and particularly on the Tyrrhenian coast, is not simply a drinks service , it is a structuring ritual of the evening. That Il Pellicano formally treats it as such, with a named mixologist, a dedicated outdoor space, and cocktail recipe cards available at reception, signals the seriousness of the programme. Guests wanting to continue the experience at home can take the recipes with them , a detail that says something about the hotel's relationship with its returning clientele.

77 Rooms, Cottages, and the Logic of Repeat Booking

Property runs 31 rooms across the main building and a further 27 across six cottages, for a total configuration of 77 keys. The room vocabulary spans several typologies, but the sea view suites carry the strongest argument: terraces positioned for direct Tyrrhenian views, marble bathrooms, Illy coffee machines, and Brionvega Bluetooth radios , the latter a design detail that lands somewhere between retro-chic and genuinely thoughtful specification. Décor throughout skews away from the standard Tuscan template of ochre tones and terracotta; airy neutrals are punctuated by flashes of colour, giving rooms a personality that matches the property's broader sense of relaxed confidence rather than heritage pastiche.

Strongest measure of any seasonal resort's standing is the loyalty of its repeat guests. Il Pellicano operates from mid-April to late October and closes through winter. The practical consequence of this compressed season, combined with a guest base that frequently books the same cottage or room year after year, is a tight availability window: the hotel's own guidance is to reserve at least a year out for prime season positions. This places it in a different planning category from properties like Borgo Egnazia in Savelletri di Fasano or Il San Pietro di Positano in Positano, both of which are in high demand but draw from a broader catchment of first-time visitors. Il Pellicano's repeat-booking density reflects a specific kind of guest relationship: long-established, seasonal, territorial about favourite rooms.

The Property Below the Rooms

Infrastructure beyond the rooms and restaurants is more considered than a standard checklist of resort amenities would suggest. A lift descends to a private cove, where water-skiing, paddleboats, snorkelling, and sunrise yoga are available. Above, a heated seawater swimming pool sits at a cliffside position that the property's own materials describe as dramatic , a reasonable claim given the sightlines. The Pelliclub Health & Beauty spa is stocked with Lisa Corti textiles and Santa Maria Novella cosmetics; the product choices are deliberate and reflect the broader visual personality of the hotel rather than generic luxury-tier spa sourcing.

A boutique on-site, curated by creative director and vice president Marie-Louise Sciò, carries coffee table books, beachwear, and a corner dedicated to ISSIMO products , the group's own lifestyle e-commerce platform. Brand partnerships have included A.P.C. Paris and Birkenstock, which positions the retail offer in a fashion-literate rather than purely resort-souvenir register. A tennis court, indoor/outdoor gym fitted with Technogym equipment, covered parking, and private car service to the airport complete the on-property services. Riding is available nearby; golf at the Argentario Golf Resort falls within a 15-minute drive.

Children must be at least eight years old to stay at Il Pellicano , a policy that shapes the ambient tone of the property in practical terms. This is not a family resort in the mode of Borgo Egnazia, where children's programming is a centrepiece of the offer. Il Pellicano's guest profile skews adult, which reinforces the overall register: quiet, purposeful, and calibrated for guests who want the property itself , its food, its water access, its bar ritual , rather than a roster of structured activities.

The Wider Region and What the Area Offers

The surrounding Maremma region extends the case for staying at Il Pellicano rather than simply passing through Porto Ercole. Etruscan tombs and museums in Tarquinia, the Roman ruins at Cosa, the medieval hill towns of Pitigliano and Sorano, the Uccellina Nature Park, and the sulphur baths at Saturnia are all within day-trip range. The hotel produces its own what's-on newsletter, the Pellican Post Daily, and a staff-curated map of nearby restaurants and experiences. Our full Porto Ercole restaurants guide covers the broader dining scene in the area. For travellers who want to compare Il Pellicano against nearby options, La Roqqa is the other significant address in Porto Ercole itself.

Beyond the immediate peninsula, the Tuscan hotel circuit offers distinct alternatives depending on what a guest is prioritising. Inland wine-country properties like Castello di Reschio in Lisciano Niccone or Castelfalfi in Montaione deliver a different version of Tuscan accommodation , agricultural, landlocked, built around estates rather than coastline. Against those comparisons, Il Pellicano's sea-facing specificity reads clearly: this is a coastal property in the full sense, where water access, seafood sourcing, and marine light are not incidental but structural to the experience.

Planning Your Stay

Il Pellicano operates seasonally from mid-April through late October. Given the high proportion of returning guests who rebook the same accommodation year after year, reservations for peak-season weeks , July and August in particular , require planning well in advance, with the hotel's own guidance suggesting at least a year out. The property is a member of Leading Hotels of the World. The Google review score across 446 reviews sits at 4.7. For guests comparing properties at a similar tier across Italy, reference points include Casa Maria Luigia in Modena, JK Place Capri in Capri, Bellevue Syrene 1820 in Sorrento, and Borgo Santandrea on the Amalfi Coast. For those extending a European trip beyond Italy, Aman New York in New York City, The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City, and Amangiri in Canyon Point represent comparable calibre in different geographies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Il Pellicano more low-key or high-energy?

Low-key in volume, high in calibre. Il Pellicano, ranked 26th on the World's 50 Best Hotels (2025) and holding a Michelin star for its restaurant, keeps its atmosphere deliberately quiet. Porto Ercole is not a party town, and the hotel's adult-only policy (children must be at least eight) reinforces a calm register. The energy is concentrated at the pool terrace and during aperitivo hour at Bar All'Aperto , focused and social rather than ambient or nightclub-adjacent.

What's the leading suite at Il Pellicano?

The sea view suites in the main building are the most sought-after positions on the property, with terraces framing direct Tyrrhenian views. The hotel's awards profile , World's 50 Best Hotels #26, La Liste 98.5 points, Michelin 1 Key , and its high repeat-booking rate mean the leading rooms fill early, often a year out. Exact suite categories and current pricing are leading confirmed directly with the property, as availability fluctuates within the compressed seasonal window.

What's the standout thing about Il Pellicano?

The combination of coastal isolation and calibrated dining is the clearest differentiator. On the Argentario Coast, which remains significantly less visited than Amalfi or the Cinque Terre, Il Pellicano offers a Michelin-starred restaurant under chef Michelino Gioia, a private sea-access cove, and a rated aperitivo programme , all within a property ranked among the top 30 hotels globally in 2025. Porto Ercole itself offers little else at this level, making the hotel effectively a self-contained destination.

Should I book Il Pellicano in advance?

Yes, and considerably in advance. The hotel operates seasonally from mid-April to late October, and a significant proportion of guests rebook the same rooms or cottages annually, compressing availability further. For July or August, the hotel's own guidance points to reservations at least a year out. If Il Pellicano is fully committed for your dates, La Roqqa is the closest comparable address in Porto Ercole.