Last month, our team had the opportunity to visit the stunning Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & Spa – a lovingly restored palace in the heart of Ostuni in Puglia. Not just a seasonal hotel, Paragon 700 is open all year and so going in November we got to experience Puglia in autumn when it’s much less crowded and the sun is still shining.
The town of Ostuni is called ‘the white city’ because of the whitewashed houses and businesses as Paragon 700 is situated in an old Palazzo Rosso (red palace), it stands in stark contrast to the whitewashed buildings of Ostuni and when walking through town, you can’t miss it. The hotel’s red brick façade cocoons a lush garden and swimming pool, a rare green space in the heart of the city, offering a tranquil and exclusive oasis, just a five-minute walk from Ostuni’s main square.
When entering the hotel you are immediately greeted with the enormous original 18th century ceilings, and each of the 11 bedrooms boast one too. As you walk through the main lobby you find the bar, piled up high with unique liqueurs and spirits where the team of mixologists offer unique cocktails, a living room and working space and a small restaurant serving Apulian dishes with modern and sophisticated dishes alongside delicious local wine. There is something to enjoy in every corner of the hotel, whether it’s a piece of art work, recycled lighting fixtures, or vintage furniture. 7 meters below the ground, in the old water cistern is the hotel’s intimate spa which has a hydromassage basin, a steam bath, a spa shower with chromotherapy, a treatment room for two and a lounge clad in Himalayan salt walls.
Whilst you could easily spend all your time in the hotel, they also offer special experiences like boat tours, on the hotel’s boat The Dragonfly, olive harvesting and olive oil making masterclasses and bike tours around Puglia. We went for a bike tour and set off one day on electric bikes to see the nearby towns of Locorotondo, Cisternino and Martina Franca. We got to cycle through the Apulian Trulli house towns and the olive tree farms and see all the sights of Puglia!
All in all, it was a special trip to Paragon 700 Boutique & Spa and with the incredible design, delicious food, friendly and knowledgeable hotel team and exciting experiences on offer, it’s not a trip to forget.
