La Sosta di Ottone III

The location is nice and the pasta was great, but we left disappointed. The waitress was unfriendly, and a Caprese cost 34 Euros despite having tasteless tomatoes and poor mozzarella. The service didn’t feel Michelin style: no comments when dishes arrived, water wasn’t poured, the white wine wasn’t chilled on ice, and the red wine was too warm. At 7:30pm we asked for an apéro and were told, “no, it’s too late.”

Our suite was Silvestro II, with yellow walls, and a tremendous view from the window of the village, church Tower, and sea. The church bells didn’t bother us at all. We thought they were a beautiful part of the stay. Getting there was quite an experience: we waited 4 minutes on a bench beside a calming brook for the monorail Funicular to take us and our luggage up. We’d taken a taxi from the Levanto train station for €20. Owner Angela welcomed us warmly, explained the property, restaurant, and village, and left nothing out. We loved Sunday apertivos and dinner at the Michelin-rated restaurant. The staff were professional, good-humored, and made us feel like family, especially Andrea. I especially liked the spacious marbled bathroom and deep tub. Angela kindly hung up our laundry after we hand-washed a few things. There’s so much to recommend about La Sosta. I read some negative reviews and feel some people may have gone in looking for something to criticize, perhaps hoping to get something for nothing. The practical challenges are clearly explained, including the hills, monorail, and need to check in before 6 PM. If you book a unique place, read the operator’s instructions. Kudos to Angela and her staff for a superlative operation. You are a gift to the Universe!

We had a wonderful week here for our honeymoon, with a romantic setting and lovely views over the Levanto valley. The staff were incredibly friendly and helped with lots of little things that made the stay special. Breakfast was excellent, and we also enjoyed the very good 3 course dinner one night. It’s up in the hills, away from the Cinque Terre crowds, so getting around takes more planning. There’s a bus down to Levanto on weekdays. We tried walking down once, and it took a little over 1.5 hours. Otherwise, you’ll need to call cabs to get to Monterosso.

We came across this eatery in the Michelin guide and went for aperitif at sunset. The drive up and down the hills on winding, narrow roads was a bit of a trek, but the view made it worthwhile. The food was amazing. We chose the 5 course discovery menu, and the anchovies/sardines were the best I’ve had. The rabbit was delicious too, and the salty olive oil ice-cream with pine nuts was creative and fantastic. Nearly every wine was available by the glass, and the cocktails menu had an inventive selection. It’s off the beaten path, but worth the trip.