Borgo Canonica

The Borgo and space is well presented and considered. Fab pool and was nice quiet, with plenty of space, which we like. We stayed for five nights and ate at the restaurant for four nights with lovely food. The accommodation was expensive but we are travelling in August so happy to pay that bit extra for a quiet, cool hotel. A couple of things that could have been improved is some (not every one) of the staff could have been warmer and friendlier (some warmed up as we got to the know them), the restaurant menu could have a daily change, and the cover charge was not necessary. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay and very relaxed few days.

We just checked out. The property is gorgeous but the service is terrible. This is a “5 star” property managed by some of the most inhospitable and unfriendly people in Italy. It is evident the staff all hate their jobs. Breakfast was painfully slow every morning, due to one staff member responsible for all coffee orders and hot dishes for the entire hotel (and she was in a miserable mood every day.) I might have been willing to overlook this, until what I experienced at check-out. Right after paying my (2,000€ !) tab and packing up the car, my wife and I sat down at the pool until our afternoon flight. Unlike every other hotel in the world, apparently this not allowed. The receptionists told us we had to leave immediately since we are no longer guests of the hotel. We tried to discuss this but she did not budge. Not only have I stayed in hundreds of 5-star hotels, I work in hospitality management. Never, ever in my career have I experienced a hotel that won’t let you hang out by the pool after check out if you have a later flight - this costs them nothing (in fact, usually it generates some extra bar revenue), and ensures your guests leave relaxed and happy. Basic hotel management, but I guess a foreign concept at Borgo Canonica. There are dozens of trulli hotels around Puglia. For 450€ a night one should absolutely expect far better service than this. What kind of hotel infuriates guests on their way out the door?

The hotel is beautiful as are the surroundings. We loved this hotel because it was nice and quiet and only had approx 15 rooms. We enjoyed dinner on site one evening and the food was lovely but the atmosphere was slightly lacking they didn't have any of the tables outside set up which would have provided a little bit more of a romantic setting and spaced out the guests a bit. The room was lovely (our room was number 3 from memory) and we had a fantastic outdoor space to enjoy reading a book and glass of wine. The only think the rooms were missing were tea/coffee making facilities. The only slightly negative comment is that the staff weren't overly interactive and one night we ended up driving to dinner because the front desk wasn't helpful at all about arranging an alternative means of transport. Highly recommend having a car. Would definitely consider staying again.

This is a stunning hotel. We were upgraded to a beautiful suite in a trulli - magical. The pool was great and the staff helpful. The thing that made it perfect, however, was the food. It was incredible, the best we had in our three weeks in Puglia. The chef is incredibly talented. The only thing I might change would be the lighting in the restaurant. Somewhat over bright. Maybe invest in a dimmer switch and some candles, low level led lights for the tables. This would make the dining experience perfect.

3 nights of heaven in this magical place. It was worth the trip from Scotland just to eat chef Marcello’s fantastic food. Every dish is cooked and presented with such love and passion. He and his brilliant team are an absolute credit to Italy’s well deserved reputation for amazing food and drink. Go before he gets a Michelin star.

1. Gorgeous setting, landscapes and overall architecture...set around olive trees, bouganvilla & flowers. 2. Rooms in the Trulli...lovely, cool even in our heat wave. 3. Seasonal fresh food - great breakfast and they prepared vegan croissants and muffin for me too. 4. Best fresh pasta dish - vegan...one of the best dishes period! ever. I will write to them to understand how they did it, but surely some of it is that they source fresh seasonal ingredients. Thank you. (see my yelp elite reviews for more images than here. Hanna of Santa Barbara). 5. lovely people we met - you could chat a bit or just be on your own. Generally great energy of the place seemed to infuse the whole place & people 6. bar seemed to staffed when we were there. They opened a bottle of wine for us as the opener in room was challenged (front desk staff had same issues too). 7. service & staff kind professional dialed up. Thank you. 8. Delights for the Visually oriented, for the Nature lover, for the lover of scents (ah jasmine), ....at every turn, something delighted. Cons: Just hard to find and navigate some narrow lanes....so arrive before dark and consider staying put for your evenings drinking in this fabulous place. Due to some construction, it took us longer and we had to turn around vs GPS directions. Check with hotel about any road issues. Yes, more water, but I think they provided it upon request. Overall: We only stayed one night. I could have easily stayed 2 or 3 but explored the towns nearby. We arrived in afternoon and checked out next day late morning. We enjoyed and soaked in every minute.... I concur with many of the wonderful reviews. We would definitely go back and recommend it. Going back..when so many other charming places, says a lot about this magical borgo, as there are many Puglia options. We stayed in at least 8 places on this Puglia trip and did our homework. Thank-you Borgo Canonica.