DINING
Most restaurants in Costa Smeralda are outrageously expensive. They're also
outrageously delicious (Giovanni's is the best), but in Italy you don't have to pay a lot for good
food. However, in Costa Smeralda those places are difficult for tourists to find because they are off the beaten path. One such place is
La Vecchia Costa (tel.: tel. 39-07899-8688). It's inland, and is known as the best
pizza place in the area. It's also the
cheapest (a
margharita cost just €uro 3.50 [$4.50], which is why you'll find a line of locals out the door. La Vecchia Costa also
serves Terre Brune Carignano del Sulcis, Sardegna's best wine -- which can only be found on the island -- for just €uro 29 ($37).
CAFÉ SPINNAKERAnother reasonable restaurant that does not require a lot of driving is
Café Spinnaker. They too have excellent
pizza and
gelato. Café Spinnaker, Res. Alba Ruja – Liscia di Vacca – 07020 Porto Cervo; tel.: 39-0789-91226.
HOTEL CALA DI VOLPEThe 125-room Hotel Cala di Volpe is regarded as the best hotel in Costa Smeralda, and possibly all of Europe. In 2005 Condé Nast Traveler magazine listed it as "One of the World's Best Places to Stay in Europe." Be sure to have plenty of credit left on your card, because this place costs $2,500 a night in the high season.
Pulling up to the hotel with its traditional
architecture and colored tiles, you feel like you're visiting a
charming fishing village. If you can't manage to find a vacancy, at least have drinks on the patio overlooking
Cala di Volpe Bay. When
we were
there we
watched them
set up an
incredible ($1,000 a person)
dinner buffet,
at which Enrique Inglese performed
by the Olympic-size saltwater swimming pool.
Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo 07020; tel.: 39-0789-976111.
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