There are places you return to, and then there are places that quietly become part of you. For me, Da I Gemelli Ristorante sits firmly in the second category.

Opening the season here, for the second year in a row, felt less like a visit and more like a continuation. Portofino has its rhythm — calm in the morning, vibrant by afternoon, and effortlessly elegant by evening. Right in the heart of it, with a view over the harbor, Da I Gemelli carries that rhythm naturally.

Paolo and Matteo are at the center of it all. What they’ve built goes beyond a restaurant — it’s a place where consistency meets personality. You feel it in the way they welcome you, in the way the table is set, and most importantly, in the food.

Fresh seafood defines the experience. Simple, precise, and respectful of the ingredients. Dishes arrive without unnecessary noise — just clean flavors, balanced and confident. It’s the kind of cooking that doesn’t try to impress, yet does so effortlessly.

But what truly makes this place special is the setting. Sitting there, looking out over Portofino, everything slows down. Conversations feel lighter, moments last longer, and the entire experience becomes something you carry with you.

Over time, places like this become more than destinations. They turn into anchors — something familiar in a world that constantly moves.

Portofino has always been special to me. It may even be my favorite place in Italy. And coming back to Da I Gemelli, seeing Paolo and Matteo again, sharing a table, a view, and a moment — it reminds me why.

It’s something I don’t take for granted. And something I’m already looking forward to again.