Tenuta Pilastru

Fantastic! We found the authentic Sardinian food here that we’d been missing at the seaside restaurants on the Riviera. Super!

The best part for us was the spa, where we had a wonderful service. The staff were lovely and worked hard, with many of the same faces serving from breakfast through dinner. There are pros and cons compared with the other places we stayed in Sardinia, and I don’t think this one is worth what it costs alongside similar places. The pool is nice, though small and crowded. The food is okay, but basic, and works if you’d rather not go out to find somewhere decent to eat. The rooms feel dated, and the bathrooms are really subpar. Ours had a shower that never got hot and flooded the room. The style reminded me of an old hacienda room at an Arizona golf course. Checkout was a mess, so if you have an early flight, arrange it the night before.

I’m undoing my belt after eating far too much good food. The meal felt truly Sardinian, helped by the resort’s laid-back countryside setting. About 80% of the diners were Italian, which seemed to confirm the cuisine’s authenticity. The head waitress explained the set menu and courses very clearly, and our waitress brought each of the eight excellent courses promptly, with just enough time between them. Every dish was a real treat, a full gastronomic feast. The red wine was one of the best I’ve tasted, though I’m not much of a drinker. These were the most memorable meals I’ve had in Sardinia so far. One small caveat, their porceddu wasn’t as good as the version at my other favourite restaurant.

The receptionist was so helpful and professional, and every member of the restaurant staff was superb. The young woman at the bar was excellent too, even when it got busy, and made the best limoncello spritz. We only stayed two nights on our fly drive holiday and really wished we’d had longer. It’s an amazing place and a great base for exploring the North East Coast, with trips we booked from Palau. The resort has some unique features, and we’d highly recommend it. We’ll definitely come back.