Portofino & the French Riviera
Summer vacation kicked off in the South of France with a tight group of friends, using Thoules as our home base. From there, we hopped on a friend’s yacht to explore St Tropez, Cannes, St Jean Cap Ferrat, and Monaco. Every port had its own personality: glitzy yachts, cobblestone streets, pastel-colored homes, and cafés that felt like movie sets.
Days were fueled by French baguettes, butter that probably shouldn’t be legal, and slow-roasted Bresse chicken. A highlight this year was taking the boat out to the Lérins Islands off Cannes for swimming, lounging, and enjoying lunch on the water. The crystal-clear, warm blue waters felt like a screensaver come to life.
We also spent a night in Cagnes-sur-Mer, a medieval town just outside Nice, staying at Château Le Cagnard. Once a knight’s castle, the property now boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant overlooking the ocean and the sleepy town below. Walking the quiet, cobbled streets at night felt like stepping back centuries. I’ll definitely spend more time here next visit.
After soaking up the Riviera, we rented a car and drove into Italy, stopping in Santa Margherita Ligure for lunch before hitting the jewel of the Italian Riviera, Portofino. I thought I had seen beautiful towns before—this blew everything out of the water. Our apartment overlooked Piazza Martiri Dell'Olivetta, with the harbor, terracotta homes, and mountains perfectly lit by the evening sun.
Almost immediately, we hiked to Al Faro lighthouse for sunset. The views? Unreal. Endless Mediterranean to the right, the village of Portofino to the left, and a celebratory bottle of Italian sparkling in hand. Absolute perfection.
After many fancy meals in France, we craved comfort food, so we hit up Da Nicola Ristorante Pizzeria. Trofie pasta with pesto and a simple Margherita pizza stole the show. That local basil is magic—I could eat it by the handful.
Mornings were for wandering, farmers’ markets, and picking fresh ingredients. Portofino is the definition of “less is more”—quality over quantity, every single time. We also visited Belmond Hotel Splendido for cocktails on the terrace. Classic Italian luxury perched above town, sunset in the background—straight out of The Great Gatsby.
One morning, my cousins from Piedmont joined us, and we went paddle boarding in Paraggi Bay. Floating in that crystal-clear water with the stunning coastline around me, I kept thinking, “I can’t believe this is real life.”
Dinner was at Le Gritta, right on the harbor. Fresh seafood, expertly prepared, with views that made you forget to breathe.
Portofino ended up being the crown jewel of the trip—between the food, scenery, and vibe, it’s a place I’ll be revisiting over and over.
