My husband and I arrived at A Piattatella bleary-eyed following our long voyage from New York, the first stop of our honeymoon. We'd been looking forward to some peaceful down-time, and our expectations were very much exceeded by the team at this magnificent hotel.
Upon arrival we were kindly greeted by Vivien, who then gave us a tour of the premises and showed us in. The view is breathtaking - a majestic panorama onto an expansive valley in front of a towering mountain range, complete with a shimmering lake in the distance. The tastefully appointed room was kept impeccably clean throughout our stay and features a very comfortable bed, high-quality bath products and a minibar stocked with Corsican wines, beers, fruit juices and other delicacies.
The bar/restaurant is worthy of a separate review of its own. We enjoyed breakfast every morning out on the patio, planning the day's activities overlooking the mountains, and the buffet is as good as they say (think fresh fruit and juices, warm croissants and pastries of a half-dozen varieties, yogurt presented in individually-portioned glass containers with a slew of available toppings - plus staples like eggs and bacon and pancakes, just better than in America). Our servers were thoroughly professional and very kind. I speak a bit of French and my husband's fluent, but the staff is proficient in many languages. We enjoyed overhearing a variety of dialects during our stay, and spent most nights there for dinner as well. The chef is top-notch (you MUST order the burrata)!
While the restaurant was bustling every night, the time we spent lounging by the property's two infinity pools felt entirely secluded. Even at capacity, this boutique hotel feels like a private escape. I particularly loved reading by the adults-only pool. There's also a hot-top overlooking the valley, and to prevent having to share it with strangers, it's available only by reservation.
Gianni the loquacious groundskeeper offered excellent beach-going recommendations, we even ran into him and a friend toting surf boards en route to hang ten one afternoon at a particularly gorgeous spot about a half-hour's drive away, Ostriconi beach. I was given one of the best massages I've ever had by Stephan, who also taught me some physical therapy exercises to maintain its benefits (told him afterward he should call himself a doctor).
The owners Valerie and Thierry made us feel at home right away. Everyone here exudes generosity, hospitality and a genuine love of the land, its people and visitors. We're beyond grateful to have enjoyed our honeymoon at this particular hideaway, and cannot recommend it enough. We'll be back!