Hotel Il Pellicano

The hotel is aesthetically pleasing; however, the service provided is merely average and the costs are exorbitantly high. The shuttle service to a nearby village, located just 15 minutes from the hotel, is priced at 120 euros, which is quite unreasonable. Spa treatments exceed 300 euros and do not offer anything extraordinary. I have experienced superior spa hotels worldwide, none of which were as costly as this one.
Moreover, the presence of bees poses a significant inconvenience, as they prevent guests from enjoying breakfast or lunch at certain times. The bathroom is excessively humid and lacks proper ventilation, resulting in it becoming drenched after showering. Furthermore, the beds emit a damp odor. Given the premium pricing, the margin for error should be nonexistent; unfortunately, this standard is not met.

Il Pellicano is a dream. The property is stunning and exquisitely maintained. The views are breathtaking. The staff is most gracious. The perfect place for a peaceful and restorative getaway. We tried both dining options for dinner--the informal as well as the Michelin-starred dining room--and both were excellent. The latter was one of the best meals we've ever had anywhere, and we're serious food people who live in New York. We'll be back.

The setting was beautiful and the staff could not have been more friendly and charming. A truly spoiling stay in a special place.

I traveled to Il Pellicano with my 2 adult daughters. We stayed in a garden suite that was so spacious and comfortable and had a beautiful courtyard too. This is by far my favorite hotel. The service is exceptional. You don’t feel like you’re staying in a resort, but in your own villa. Within the first day the servers remember everything, what type of water you drink, what coffee you prefer, what sun lounger do you like? I mean, everything. The food is incredible. From the apertivo bites, to the beach side found to the restaurants it’s all delicious, fresh and expertly prepared. We did a cooking class where Chef Paolo taught us how to make pasta. We had the help of our server Christian who translated for us and we had so much fun. I hope to return here…. Many times !

Great experience. Lovely rooms
Staff cordial
Great gym
Pool v small. Long way down to sea side.
Make sure you book a chair
Had a massive run in with staff after I was given a chair by a staff member but then got told to move because someone else booked that chair!!
I had to move
No one used the chair!!

Very expensive food so be ready but quality v good

Last hour was very sad. Booked a transfer to Rome 500 euro. Small Mercedes came - couldn’t fit bags
Massive blow up with manager who said it was my problem
They wanted to charge me another 500 to move bags in seperate car!
After spending thousands on hotel I found this ordinary
Anyway - nice but wouldn’t go back

Beautiful — but missing heart and soul: Il Pellicano, Porto Ercole

There is no denying that Il Pellicano is a stunning property — iconic views, cinematic glamour, and a slice of old-school Italian seaside luxury. However, after staying at the Rosewood in Tuscany immediately before, our expectations were high — and Il Pellicano simply didn’t measure up where it matters most: service, comfort, and soul.

Despite the ultra-premium price tag and boutique size, the staff felt like a team of overworked seasonal hires — the same faces covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner service — exhausted and constantly forgetting our names and room number. For a hotel in this category, those small touches of warmth and personalization are everything, and they were noticeably absent.

The week we stayed was scorching, and the air-conditioning in our room never worked properly — leaving us sweating and waking repeatedly throughout the night. Plunging into the sea each afternoon was essential just to cool down — yet bizarrely, the hotel only had two foam noodles available for guests. For a property of this caliber, investing in a dozen so everyone can comfortably float in the sea on hot days seems like an obvious (and inexpensive) solution.

There was no appearance of the owner or even a general manager presence anywhere on property, which perhaps explains why the place feels like it’s running on autopilot.

Dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant was very good — but once again hampered by the tired, lackluster waitstaff. The requirement to pre-order the €60 Margherita pizza one day in advance at the lunch restaurant felt totally absurd (we skipped it).

Spa treatments were perfectly acceptable, but forgettable. The hotel boutique, however, is fabulous and absolutely worth a visit.

In short: Il Pellicano remains a gorgeous destination and an important name in Italian luxury, but it feels like a legend resting on its reputation. Without a stronger heartbeat, modern hospitality mindset, and refreshed leadership on site, it risks becoming a beautiful relic rather than a world-class experience.

Before arrival, check-in was postponed from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., but fortunately the room was ready on time.

For such a legendary hotel, a refresh is overdue. The suite had a breathtaking view, but felt dated — lighting, décor, minibar, and amenities all need modernisation. Other Italian properties manage to retain charm while upgrading; here, everything seems frozen in time.

Dining
Night 1: Excellent Michelin-starred dinner.
Night 2: Grill restaurant — good but far from exceptional for this category.

Organisation
“Club Med” approach: first come, first served for sunbeds or prime tables. Guests stake out spots at 7 a.m., leaving areas half-empty for hours. True dolce farniente is hard to enjoy when you’re racing for the best locations. Terraced sunbeds require walking to the bar to order drinks — a simple call button (as at Eden Roc) would be more fitting.

Positives
• Boutique with refined, fashion-forward items (though parasols shown online weren’t available on-site).
• Superb tennis court.
• Simple but efficient gym, too small at peak times.

Areas for improvement
• Room not up to luxury standards or the claimed authenticity.
• Aperitif bar plagued by burnt coffee smell used to repel insects — less intrusive options exist.
• Very limited non-alcoholic drink choice.
• Pianist plays indoors by the toilets while guests sit outside; a portable piano outdoors (as Belmond does) would create better atmosphere.
• General modernisation needed: furniture, outdoor seating, corridor carpets, bathroom amenities, minibar, welcome gifts, and aperitif tapas (currently large salami/parmesan chunks and uncovered burrata attracting bees).
• Spa waxing treatment was meticulous, but lacked proper lighting, ambiance, and audio system — plain décor, music via Bose speaker with “low battery” warning.

Other notes
Similar lack of modernity observed at sister property La Posta Vecchia two years ago — austere room, abandoned feel, though excellent fine dining.
On multiple occasions, non-hotel guests set up fishing rods and coolers right in front of us on the beach — surprising for a luxury property.

In summary
Il Pellicano has undeniable charm and an exceptional location, but an upgrade is essential to meet today’s international standards. Authenticity can be preserved while offering more comfort and service. Social media paints a dream, but the reality falls short.

I totally agree with Jason Whitholm review. The hotel, facilities and pool and beach are fabulous. Service in the restaurants is excellent.

The service at the pool and beach is non existent. Huge disappointment.

I am now at sister hotel Mezzatorre and it is outstanding and a highlight is the pool and beach service. Why not also at il Pellicano?

This was my third stay at Il Pellicano, and it continues to be one of the most special places I’ve ever visited. The setting is stunning, the atmosphere is peaceful, and the service is consistently warm and attentive.

There is a quiet luxury to everything here; never flashy, always intentional. It’s a place for those who want to slow down, reconnect with themselves or someone they love, and sink into something truly special.

We’ve already booked our return for next summer, and I suspect we’ll be coming back for many years to come. If you are looking for peace, romance, beauty, and world-class hospitality, Il Pellicano is heaven on earth.

The hotel is excellent. Staff are delightful. Nothing is too much trouble. Perfection.

How can a 5 star hotel dictate to you what to eat on a Monday.??
This highly rated and expensive hotel did.
Due to their own decision on sustainability they decide for the guests that no Meat will be served on a Monday.!!!!
They do allow you to ask for meat however,they have special vegetarian menus only.
Surely a hotel of this type should allow their gusts to decide what and when they want to eat and not be dictated to.
Apart from above the hotel was adequate

We just returned from a great stay at Il Pellicano but many things were lacking from a resort of this notoriety. First, the good: the rooms are great, the views from the property and the beach are incredible, the staff in the restaurants is superb and the food and presentation is great. A few criticisms: the service at the pool and at the beach is abysmal. You literally have to chase the staff down to get their attention. For a resort of this type, the service should be better. It’s simple. It’s just training. Also. It appears that not a dime is spent to improve the common areas. When we arrived at the pool, the umbrellas seemed old and rusty. Near the beach, it felt similarly uncared for. Most resorts spend a lot to keep the property clean, fresh and new. This place seemingly chooses to rest on its laurels. Finally, although the food was good, the menu was limited and the dinners felt repetitive. The meals were perfectly good but after four days I found myself sick of the same menu with limited choices. The pizza — that you have to order a day in advance — was fine but not worth the hype. No better than a typical pizza.

Net net - we had a great time and am happy to have visited the resort for the first time, but I wasn’t as wowed as I expected to be.

Hotel Il Pellicano is every bit as magical as it looks — and as people say. From the moment we arrived, it felt like we stepped into a dream. The setting is stunning, the water is crystal clear, and the service is truly exceptional.

On our first night, we watched as the chefs graciously offer to make a carrot cake from scratch — just because the girls at the next table were craving it. Another couple requested a custom salad, and the very next day, it appeared as a special on the menu. It’s that kind of thoughtful, personalized service that makes this place feel unlike anywhere else.

There are plenty of loungers down by the sea, and the pool is just as lovely. Our room was closer to the hillside and did have a bit of a moth issue, but even so, everything about the property feels top-tier, from the design to the attention to detail.

Il Pellicano is one of those rare places that lives up to the hype — and then some.

Wow. Just great.

Everything about this gorgeous hotel was perfect, especially the view, location and staff. The breakfast far exceeded my expectations of presentation and was absolutely delicious. I will come back! I can say that about few hotels i have experienced . I adore the neon sign. We will never forget Christian and his impeccable service and anticipation of our needs. I felt like i was transported back in time!! It is a wonderful and timeless place .

This hotel is outstanding - it’s a legend!
There is everything as you imagine in your dreams. Design, location, food and staff. The location is just perfect and the view is breathtaking. The team is perfectly attentive and you feel like homw, It’s a journey into the Jetset of the 60th at its best!

If you ever have the good fortune to stay at this property, spare no expense. When the weather is good I'm convinced this is a slice of heaven on earth. A enchanting stay on a magical property. Simply unforgettable.

From the moment we arrived until we left we felt at home, a fantastic welcome from Angelo and his staff and a nice upgrade to a room with a sea view. The service was top notch throughout our stay, as was breakfast, lunch and dinner. We can happily recommend the restaurant, we ate the Michelin menu on the first day and the classic menu on the second day, both were really good. Unfortunately we were at the hotel just when they opened and due to the weather we couldn't sit outside and eat which was a shame as the view from the veranda is breathtaking. Otherwise the pool bar was very nice too with really good service, the indoor bar was also without any complaints. Something we definitely want to highlight is the gym, the gym is important in a hotel. 5 star Mediterranean hotels normally don't have any particularly fun gyms, Il Pellicano offers without comparison the best gym we have visited in a hotel - regardless of star rating. Good machines, friendly staff and order. Finally something important if you drive Italian, good parking with plenty of space where you don't have to worry about whether your car is still whole and clean the next day - Il Pellicano offers valet parking with a fantastically nice garage. We could write much much more, we can only recommend the hotel and will come back many times. We thank Angelo and his staff for two fantastic days and nights, the service was not only good it was going the extra mile.

A beautiful setting and a friendly and attentive staff. Rooms are super comfortable and the restaurant view of the sea, food and service is superb. Relax with delicious Rossini cocktails in the outside bar. Everything you want for a special and memorable holiday. Perfect!

This is a beautiful hotel with an excellent restaurant. We loved the easy lunch menu (the Italian version of a Cobb salad was divine) and enjoyed two exquisite dinners -- one with the traditional menu and one with their more formal eight-course tasting menu. Both were divine and the service was so kind and generous -- we felt spoiled and cared for. The joy that this staff brings to their work is incredible. Thank you!