Masseria Mongiò Dell'Elefante

Stunning location, wonderfully peaceful getaway. The food was delicious, although it would be nice to have a choice in each course. The staff were really attentive, our room was spacious and well equipped.

This was our 5th visit and it was just as good as we remembered and expected. The staff are delightful and really put themselves out to make sure that everything is right for each guest. The rooms are clean, well equipped and comfortable and each has a private outside sitting area. The food is delicious and special dietary requirements are catered for without any fuss. The setting is lovely - the Masseria is on a quiet plot and is a 10 minute walk through woods to a beautiful beach. There is a big swimming pool with plenty of seating and shade around it. Many places in Puglia are within an hours drive - but there is really no need to go anywhere else!

We stayed at this property during a trip to Salento, drawn by the charm of the masseria and its good location not far from the sea. The staff was friendly and pleasant, the breakfast well-stocked, with a good selection of pastries, and the rooms were spacious, welcoming, and clean. However, several aspects left us disappointed. Upon arrival, we felt a bit lost: the reception is located under a staircase, and no one is visibly present to welcome guests, which created a sense of confusion. Our room was on the first floor, accessible only by climbing about twenty steps. We asked for help with our luggage, and a kind young woman from the staff tried to find someone to assist us. A man eventually arrived, but only after some time — by then, my husband had already carried everything upstairs by himself. Another critical issue was the air conditioning system, which was centrally controlled and fixed at 77°F, with no way to lower it. Given the high temperatures in June in southern Italy, the room was extremely hot. To make matters worse, every time we opened a door or window, the A/C would shut off automatically. No one explained this to us, so we had to call several times, thinking the system was broken. Coming back from dinner to a hot room with no air was very frustrating. The pool area also lacked supervision: there was no staff member available to ask for towels, and we had to look around for someone, often without success. Lastly, the breakfast buffet is located in the same under-stair area as the reception, meaning you have to carry your tray, plate, and water glass up the stairs, open a door, and walk out to the outdoor seating area. Not exactly the relaxing start to the day one expects from a charming masseria. In conclusion, the property has great potential, with a nice atmosphere and a convenient location, but it lacks attention to service and hospitality, especially for guests traveling with luggage or expecting real comfort in summer.

This is the 3rd year we have stayed in this fantastic hotel. The rooms are a good size and scrupulously clean, the staff are very friendly and helpful and the location is perfect to explore Otranto and the southern tip of Puglia. Finally the food is gorgeous, we planned to eat in the restaurant a couple of times but ended up there nine out of the ten nights!! We’ll definitely be back.

We had a beautiful stay. The location is stunning and the staff are so helpful and kind. We loved the spa and the food! The beach is walkable and bikes are available if you want to go a bit further a field. The pool was clean and there were plenty of beds. Thanks for everything !

We stayed in this place for one full week as a family with two little kids (2.5 and 7 y.o.). It’s a tasteful boutique hotel with only a few rooms, located in a peaceful and gorgeous setting. Kids were happy on a very kids friendly and beautiful beach, and in an indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The indoor pool is part of a spa area which needs to be booked in advance by the hour, and it’s at a small charge. The beach is a short walk away through gorgeous nature. We also spent some time in the nearby town of Otranto which has nice restaurants and bars (5 min drive) and visited beautiful Lecce (45 min drive). If I could suggest anything to the management of the hotel is perhaps consider creating a tasteful (made of wood) outdoor play area for kids, as most visitors were families with small children.