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Open year-round

Framed by the bright blues of the sky above and sea below, Casa Pernice on the Ligurian coast is driven by a very specific vision: a stunning view of the water and a large table to gather around. Just one glimpse of this beautiful guesthouse reveals that they’ve achieved this goal, and much, much more. 

Giorgia Mandelli, who opened Casa Pernice with her husband Davide in July 2024, recalls, “We stood together in front of the view on one of our terraces and said to each other, this is our dream place!” The power couple had been jotting down their hospitality plans “in diaries and journals, like two eternal dreamers” for a few years, and once they stumbled upon this location, were immediately hooked. Fast forward to one year later, and they opened the kind of place where they would want to stay. “What we have chosen for the rooms and for the hotel matches what we chose for our home: the soaps, sheets, the paint for the walls, and more,” shares Giorgia. And on top of that, everything is sustainable, from the cotton linens to the bathroom products. 

And, much like a home, the interior design is both constantly evolving and entirely their own. As previous owners of a bistro/flower/vintage shop in their hometown of Como, Giorgia and Davide have an eye for more than just a good view. Driven by what Gioria says is “an incessant desire for change,” they’re constantly restoring furniture, remaking beds, and giving new life to corners and spaces across the property. Their boundless design passion continues in their newest project, Granchio: a curated on-site vintage shop that sells everything on display in the hotel—from porcelain to posters—plus beach gear from local artisans. (Perfect for anyone who’s ever contemplating fitting a lamp from a hotel in their suitcase.)

Eclectic, colorful, and space-agey, the interior decor is a joyful combination of old signs, bright tiles, wood furniture, Gio Ponti faucets, and vintage finds from French brocantes. Unsurprisingly, each of the three rooms has its own personality: one has two single beds arranged single file with stunning sea views; one has pops of red, faces Sestri Levante, and opens onto a garden filled with olive trees; and one feels like the interior of a boat, with nautical accents that put any seaside cottage to shame. By the time you visit, each of these rooms might be completely different—but nonetheless chic. 

The aforementioned long table on the terrace is the beating heart of Casa Pernice, acting as a breakfast nook, workspace, aperitivo spot, and storytelling stage. Breakfast is a sight to behold, different every morning and made entirely from organic, biodynamic ingredients grown in their cultivated garden or sourced from likeminded farmers nearby. Giorgia and Davide are as playful in the kitchen as they are in the rooms, whipping up breads, cakes, and platters of veggies and fruits that are as bright as the house’s design accents. Dishes are simple and seasonal: fava beans and caciotta, pea and mint vellutata, or a strawberry and rhubarb tart might be on offer this spring. Once a week, there’s a pizza night by the garden’s wood-fired oven, and the luckiest guests will enjoy Sundays’ traditional roast or laid-back brunch. 

On request, Giorgia and Davide will also pack you a picnic for a day by the sea, which is only an eight-minute walk away. (They’ve just received the permits to open a nearby beach club later this year!) They’ll certainly provide detailed recommendations for what to do during the day, which always begins with, “You must visit Sestri Levante (which is only five minutes by car) and jump in the beautiful Baia del Silenzio!” Other suggestions include exploring the little fishing village of Cavi Borgo and visiting the local sagre, where the Ligurian nonne prepare regional specialties. And, if you happen to visit in November, you can join Giorgia and Davide in harvesting olives from their 232 century-old olive trees, and reward your hard work with a dip in the sea (it’s still warm enough to swim!).

Every season at Casa Pernice offers its own charm. In spring, the garden erupts with blooming roses and other cuttings from their farm in Lake Como, the floral scent mingling with the salt air. Winter is for fresh juicy citrus and cozying up by the fireplace with thick hunks of Davide’s sourdough bread. In summer, the sound of the cicadas almost covers the sound of the sea and millions of fireflies decorate the ancient olive trees like Christmas lights. No matter the season, each day ends with a stunning sunset over the Mediterranean horizon, and Casa Pernice will soon be your dream place, too. 

A few more segreti (secrets) from Giorgia and Davide:

Just 40 minutes from Portofino and Santa Margherita, this quieter stretch of Liguria offers yoga on the beach in Cavi, horseback riding in Sestri Levante, wine tasting at Cantina degli Abissi, and vintage shopping in Chiavari’s monthly market. Take a boat to San Fruttuoso, hike the slate paths above Lavagna, visit the castle in Chiavari, sail from the port of Lavagna, or head inland for mountain walks and cheese tasting in the Aveto Valley and Varese Ligure.

Trattoria Raieü (Cavi) – Built in the fishing net storage rooms, this 60+ year old traditional fish restaurant is known for its pesto, still made with a mortaio (mortar and pestle).

Trattoria l’Ulivo (Cavi) – A classic, family-run mountain trattoria just five minutes from Casa Pernice by car, with homemade bread and pasta and 0km ingredients, plus a stunning view over the sea. 

U Giancu (Rapallo) – Perched on a hill overlooking the lush, rugged San Massimo Valley, an unconventional, comical restaurant full of character and great seasonal food, often sourced from their own vegetable garden.

Pasticceria Copello 1826 (Chiavari) – A historic pastry shop with wooden inlaid cabinets in the heart of Chiavari, open since 1826.

Spiga d’Oro (Sestri Levante) – This small, unassuming pasticceria is a beloved spot for classic Ligurian focaccia. You might have to wait in line, but it’s worth it. 

Da Rina (Cavi) – A charming little shop dedicated to beachwear essentials, with men’s, women’s and children’s clothes since 1962.