Costa Smeralda Costa Smeralda Travel Guide: Best Hotels, Restaurants & Experiences

Hexagonal pavilions from the 1960s scatter across Mediterranean gardens, their modernist geometry softened by pastel interiors and views of a white-sand bay. The 150-room resort delivers substance for families: the Bee Happy kids' club runs twelve hours daily with cooking classes and play areas, while parents explore four on-site restaurants or the full-service spa with hammam and jacuzzi.

Forever linked to cinema through its starring role in The Spy Who Loved Me, this 1960s landmark commands one of the Emerald Coast's most photogenic bays. The architecture channels Mediterranean village whimsy, all terracotta and winding pathways, while the atmosphere retains a relaxed, flower-power spirit. Families find genuine welcome here: playgrounds, a daily kids' club, and summer football camps keep younger guests engaged.

Traditional stone cottages scatter across five hectares of juniper and holm oak forest above San Pantaleo, each converted into refined accommodations with private verandas and stone-clad bathrooms—some with heated plunge pools. A spa carved into natural granite grottos offers Oriental treatments, while chef Luigi Bergeretto's Michelin-starred restaurant draws from the property's organic farm. Views sweep across the Gulf of Arzachena to the Maddalena archipelago.

Conceived in the 1960s as a fantastical Mediterranean fishing village, this sprawling resort rises from the rocky Sardinian coastline in a cascade of archways, towers, and sun-bleached terraces. Guests retreat to a secluded private beach or one of the Mediterranean's largest saltwater pools, while the Japanese-inspired Shiseido Spa and Nobu Matsuhisa's bay-view restaurant add polish to the old-money glamour. The 121 rooms, each uniquely decorated with hand-painted furniture and whimsical frescos, suit families and couples seeking coastal extravagance.

Five lagoon-style pools cascade through the grounds, their waterfalls setting the rhythm for lazy Sardinian days before guests wander down to Piccolo Pevero's white sand, where dedicated beach attendants ensure effortless comfort. Rooms dressed in traditional tile floors and beamed ceilings keep the aesthetic grounded, while two restaurants showcase the island's seafood traditions. The Maddalena archipelago awaits by boat; Porto Cervo's boutiques, by foot.

Perched on a panoramic terrace at 7Pines Sardinia, this one-Michelin-starred restaurant captures the drama of sunset over Baja Sardinia's coastline. Campanian chef Pasquale D'Ambrosio delivers modern Mediterranean cuisine on refined Sardinian porcelain—his signature fusilloni with black lemon butter, mussel water, and spirulina 'caviar' demonstrates precise balance between acidity and richness. Three tasting menus reward those seeking a contemplative evening meal.

Set back from Porto Rotondo's marina, Deste commands sweeping views from its terrace—the prime seat for dinner. The kitchen works a modern register, balancing meat and seafood with equal confidence. Beyond the wine list, tea and kombucha provide refreshing counterpoints, while the house-distilled gin deserves attention. A Michelin Plate address with genuine personality.

Two brothers helm this beloved Costa Smeralda address, where the ritual begins at the daily-changing fish display—guests select their catch before it heads to the kitchen for Mediterranean preparation. The informal dining room buzzes with regulars who return season after season, though the new terrace-lounge, commanding sweeping coastal views, has become the preferred setting for sunset aperitifs and lingering digestifs.

Granite columns frame a terrace with sweeping views toward Porto Cervo and the Sardinian coastline, setting the stage for this family-run address now entering its fifth decade. The kitchen honors Gallura's culinary heritage through handmade chijusoni gnocchetti and inland flavors, while seafood dominates a menu rooted in classic preparations rather than contemporary flourishes.