Value
Rome, Italy
May just look like another trattoria on the streets of Rome, but Maccheroni serves carefully prepared traditional dishes with the best ingredients. In particular, the truffle pasta and the grilled scarmoza a la bottarga (surprising but delicious combination) got us to return. Again. And again.
Restaurant
Positano, Italy
Definitely not your typical, tourist infested, restaurant in Positano. La Marinella is a very small, very (very) simple restaurant on a small beach next to Positano. Not easy to find, a bit of a walk to get to, but the homemade pasta and setting are worth the effort.
Restaurant
Cascais, Portgual
A small, simple restaurant on top of a cliff with breathtaking views. If you ignore the screen to follow the football (!?), LOVit serves unexpectedly good sushi, sashimi and ceviches. Fresh, original and creative. For great value as well. Very good surprise for such an un-assuming place.
Restaurant
Sagres, Portugal
Small boutique hotel on a cliff, at the end of the world (as we knew it before discovering America). Set in a natural reserve at the south-western end of Portugal, this modern hotel is surrounded by nature and what the ocean has to give. Great food and incredible beaches asking to be surfed. Great value and family friendly (even though maybe not best for toddlers).
Hotel