Whether you seek luxury and beauty or an "alternative" address to surprise your sweetheart, this is the right guide: we recommend (and tell the story of) 10 places where romance goes hand in hand with taste.
It's quite amusing that the day celebrated worldwide every year on February 14, dedicated to lovers, probably originated from the Lupercalia, pagan rituals dedicated to Luperco, the god of fertility, and undoubtedly - given the propensity for orgiastic drifts - unsuitable to represent the pure idea of Christian love. We will never stop thinking that love, if truly such, does not need a symbolic date to be remembered. But you know, the world is all about business, and it is naive to be astounded by it.
It's also worth mentioning that all those places we'll suggest in a few lines, besides being open for Valentine's Day and also offering a solution for spending a night without having to drive home, are each different from the other. They range from the luxury five-star restaurant in the metropolis to the small tavern in a remote village, offering different gastronomic offers, but they have one fundamental thing in common: they provide a great experience, from the hospitality to the food (and you can also go there after February 14).
Materia | Spazio Cucina – Habitat Boutique Hotel, Catania
Let's start from Sicily, from a city whose charm has not yet been fully revealed: Catania is a place to explore and to know both for its historical and architectural aspects and from a gastronomic point of view. It's a relatively recent project, that of Marianna Nociforo and Antonio Spera, who recovered a historic building creating Habitat, a modern and comfortable boutique hotel a stone's throw from the Massimo Vincenzo Bellini theater, whose details, taken care of in every aspect, speak of Sicily.
If the rooms are spacious and welcoming and it's worth staying overnight (also to enjoy a remarkable breakfast), you cannot miss an experience with the dishes of Bianca Celano from Materia | Spazio Cucina, an elegant restaurant with a unique atmosphere that we greatly appreciated. Here, the chef tells her vision of Sicily with an unmistakable touch, made of colors, bright ideas, and a lot of taste: on Valentine's Day, you can choose à la carte. The wine tends to be natural, but of the right kind. For alternative romantics.
Zunica 1880 – Civitella del Tronto (TE)
Civitella del Tronto, dominated by the fortress at 600 meters above sea level, is an ancient village of rare beauty that absolutely deserves a visit. On clear days, from the main square, you can enjoy the spectacle offered by the Abruzzo mountains starting from the majestic massif of Gran Sasso. In the same square is the historic hotel of Daniele Zunica: along with comfortable rooms, this is a place where you can enjoy one of the most interesting cuisines of Abruzzo.
The brigade is very young, starting from the chef Frederik Lasso, born in Slovakia in 1991: he arrived in Italy as a boy, and among his experiences is one at Niko Romito's. In his kitchen, there are skillfully mixed references to local tradition and stimulating creative ideas. The wine cellar is also very well stocked. For February 14th, a rich seafood menu is planned, offered at 110 euros including drinks. For lovers of landscapes.
Hosteria il Grottino – Gualdo Cattaneo (PG)
Another village, as small as it is delightful, rises on a hillside at the foot of the Monti Martani and within 15th-century walls, it welcomes the idea of Giorgiana Guidi and Raffaele Tomaino, who were seduced by this Umbrian jewel that is Gualdo Cattaneo, with the idea of bringing it back to life, redeveloping the now abandoned areas. Thus, since 2020, Il Grottino has been an inn with rooms that is located in what once were the spaces of the rectory of the village, the Gualdum Captaneorum of Count Edoardo Cattaneo, dating back to 975 AD. Grottino Hosteria (there is also a bistro for a quick lunch) is a place of warm rustic informality with a large fireplace where chef Marco Micucci cooks selected cuts of meat with different dry-aged levels on the grill.
The menu features Umbrian tradition and other dishes made with care and genuine raw materials. For Valentine's Day, you can choose à la carte: desserts and pastries will instead be 'themed,' and in the rooms, you will find roses, chocolates, bubbles, and candles. For those who love the warmth of simplicity.
Imàgo - Hassler Hotel Villa Medici - Rome
The context in which Imàgo is located, at the Hassler hotel run by the Wirth family, is one of those that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Doing it as lovers will certainly enhance its already irresistible charm. The absolute elegance as a distinctive trait and the extreme kindness of the dining staff, starting from Marco Amato, the dining room director, and Alessio Bricoli, the Head Sommelier, are the prelude to an unparalleled view of Rome. From the large windows, you can admire, among monuments and domes, and just to name a few, San Giovanni in Laterano, the Quirinale, the Capitoline Hill, the Aventine, the Pantheon, the obelisk, and the Church of Trinità dei Monti.
The responsibility of the kitchen lies with the young, very talented Andrea Antonini, the executive chef who knows how to perfectly harmonize technique and passion. For the February 14th dinner, a special nine-course menu is planned, offered at 320 euros excluding drinks, combining some of his most famous dishes with others from the current Imàgo X menu and the desserts of the pastry chef Luca Villa. For those seeking luxury and beauty.
Santa Elisabetta – Brunelleschi Hotel, Firenze
The dining room of the Santa Elisabetta restaurant, on the first floor of the Byzantine tower of Pagliazza, would deserve a visit only for its graceful beauty; a sort of paradox because the name of this building, erected in the mid-16th century after Christ which in the twelfth century was a women's prison, is taken precisely from the straw pallets on which the prisoners slept. We are in the historic center of Florence, with the Duomo just steps away, in the complex that houses the Brunelleschi Hotel, a comfortable four-star hotel that is worth a fifth one. However, the the cuisine of Rocco de Sanctis has earned him two Michelin Stars. Rocco is a Campanian chef with a gastronomic style of elegant refinement and great taste.
There is no specific menu for Valentine's Day, but you will certainly find something to enjoy with one of the three tasting menus and a cellar of excellent quality. For those seeking a luxurious intimacy.
I Carracci - Grand Hotel Majestic, formerly Baglioni, Bologna
Bologna, historic center, a few minutes' walk from Piazza Maggiore: the first time you step into the I Carracci Restaurant, inside the very elegant Grand Hotel Majestic, formerly Baglioni, you will be speechless. But it is guaranteed that even subsequent experiences will leave their mark, especially for those sensitive to art. Because the sumptuousness of the bright hall, with the magnificent ceiling decorated with sixteenth-century frescoes from the Carracci school, is unique.
The young chef Guglielmo Araldi, at the head of a brigade under thirty and with a cooking style that harmoniously and creatively combines the flavors of his Calabria and Emilia Romagna, conceived a special menu offered at 190 euros excluding drinks for Valentine's Day. Also here, with three hundred and fifty labels on the menu, you can drink very well. Live musical entertainment will not be missing for the evening. For those seeking taste and exclusivity.
Iris Palazzo Soave and Palazzo Reggiani, Verona
We recently spoke about how beautiful it was to return to enjoy the refined cuisine of Giacomo Sacchetto, who has recently arrived in Verona with the Iris project at Palazzo Soave, a gastronomic venue of remarkable elegance destined to grow with an even wider hospitality offer. In the heart of what is considered the most romantic city in Italy, it is the result of the wise restoration of Palazzo Boldieri Malaspina Bottagisio, a splendid fifteenth-century palace recovered from degradation. A special menu is planned for Valentine's Day, offered at 145 euros excluding drinks. A short walk will take you to Palazzo Reggiani. Owned by Iris, it is a 14th-century building in a very quiet strategic position that houses five luxury apartments, each more beautiful than the other and equipped with all comforts. On one or two levels, you can find yourself among coffered ceilings and ancient decorations that integrate perfectly with modern design furniture. For those who want to move around a wonderful city.
Roteo – Musa Lake Como, Sala Comacina (CO)
Sala Comacina is located on the shores of Lake Como. It is here that two very young chefs like Matteo Corridori and Robert Moretti, both with significant gastronomic experiences, have given life to a project of intimate refinement under the supervision and guidance of the Gray family, Australians in the tourism sector for almost forty years. Five-star luxury and twelve rooms, absolute comfort is guaranteed both by the small size and by the total attention to detail. The same goes for Roteo, a fine dining restaurant whose name is a play on that of the two main characters, where you can enjoy a creative and refined cuisine. On Valentine's Day, there will be a dedicated menu and dishes inspired by seduction, offered at 150 euros excluding drinks, accompanied by live musical entertainment with a harp, the most romantic instrument par excellence. Before dinner, it's absolutely worth being guided by the very talented Edoardo Felsini for an aperitif at the Gaia Bar. For those seeking luxury and informality by the lake.
Vescovado – Hotel and Restaurant, Noli (SV)
Vescovado Hotel overlooks the Gulf of Noli, along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Ligurian coast between Punta Vescovado and Punta Castelletto, on the Tre Terre coastline. The beautiful historic building has eight rooms and can be reached by a panoramic elevator and a funicular or on foot through the medieval village. The view that can be enjoyed in winter from the restaurant rooms, embellished with fifteenth-century frescoes, is enchanting, while in the summer, equally fascinating panoramic terraces are available.
The structure is managed by chef Giuseppe (Giuse) Ricchebuono with Alessia Vezzolla and their children Martina, who takes care of the remarkable wine cellar, and Elia. Alongside the chef, proposing a refined cuisine that pays homage to this rich territory in a modern and respectful way, is the talented Alberto Moretti. For February 14th, there is a dedicated menu with a cost of 360 euros per couple excluding drinks; with 650 euros, instead, it includes overnight stay and gourmet breakfast. For those who love the charm of the sea in winter.
Luisa Gourmet and L’Orangerie – Manna Resort, Montagna (BZ)
Surrounded by greenery amidst vineyards and apple orchards, Manna Resort emerges from the transformation of an old sawmill. It is a five-star retreat with a relaxed atmosphere, the result of an elegant, environmentally friendly project. Maria Luisa Manna herself has furnished its uniquely original interiors with items collected throughout her life's travels. Guests have fifteen junior suites and three chalets nestled in nature at their disposal. Notable amenities include a natural swimming pool and a splendid spa inspired by Thailand, featuring black and gold tones. All this beauty is complemented by a worthy gastronomic offering, curated by Michele Iaconeta from Puglia and presented in various dining options.
Starting with the elegant Luisa Gourmet, with its Louis XIII-style ambiance and only four tables where the chef crafts refined cuisine, drawing inspiration from both his native region and his love for Asia. Then there's the Orangerie with its panoramic views and the evocative Convento room with its huge late nineteenth-century oval table, where guests can enjoy excellent, less elaborate dishes. On Valentine's Day, there are no specific set menus, but special off-menu dishes tailored for the occasion, naturally accompanied by an extensive wine list featuring selections from the "home" cellar of Franz Haas, along with many other labels. Perfect for those seeking to relax with taste amidst the mountains.
