Cala Ponte, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

The condictions of the hotel are good, but they must improve: The room had a lot of untes, need to have more atencion to the clean The restaurant just dont go...

One of the best stays we had in Italy Great location, beautiful hotel with amazing, friendly staff and service . Comfortable room , great pool great resturant and bar. Very nice breakfast Buffet . Great location to explore towns in Puglia

Our stay at Cala Ponte in Polignano a Mare was nothing short of exceptional. The location was perfect for us, about a 25–30 minute walk to the historic center and just a few minutes from the marina. If you don’t feel like walking, the hotel can arrange a tuk-tuk ride into town, which was a nice touch. The property itself is beautiful, surrounded by olive trees and well-maintained gardens that create a peaceful atmosphere. The pool is stunning, and our room was spacious with a very comfortable bed. While the rooms are tastefully designed, they could be more functional. Storage space is limited, and adding more drawers or shelves to the closet would make longer stays much easier. What truly sets Cala Ponte apart is its incredible staff. Every single person we interacted with was warm, welcoming, and genuinely eager to help. They arranged our taxis, winery visits, tours, and even our rental car, making everything completely stress-free. A special thank you to Domenico at the front desk, who was in touch with us before we even arrived and went above and beyond to help with every request. We’d also like to recognize Claudia, Luna, and Rosangela at reception; Vittoria and Mirko at the bar; Maurizio at the pool; and the golf cart drivers Gianmario, Lucio, and Gioele. Their kindness and professionalism made our stay memorable. We almost didn’t book Cala Ponte because of some mixed reviews we had read, and we’re so glad we decided to experience it for ourselves. It exceeded our expectations in every way. The only area that could use some improvement is the bar. The drinks and food were good but didn’t quite match the high standard set by the rest of the hotel. Overall, Cala Ponte provided one of the most enjoyable hotel experiences we’ve had, thanks largely to its outstanding team. We wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again when we return to Polignano a Mare.

We stayed in Room 306 in the main building for 3 nights and really enjoyed our experience. The location is very convenient, right off the highway, but once you are at the hotel it feels quiet and relaxing. We had a lovely room with a distant ocean/marina view, free parking, and a nice balcony with a plunge pool — although I would describe it more as a jacuzzi. Our room was a good size, with very comfortable beds, and we slept really well. The coffee station was a little small, and while the bathroom itself was very spacious, the counter around the sink was quite small and a bit tight for toiletries. What really stood out for us was the staff. Everyone was so friendly, helpful and welcoming. The reception team was particularly wonderful — you could really see that they cared about their guests and were happy to help with anything we needed. The pool area is beautiful, with a large pool and plenty of comfortable lounge chairs. The pool attendant was so nice, and the bar staff were also very friendly. On a clear evening, the sunset can be seen from the pool area, which made for a really lovely atmosphere. Breakfast was probably the area we enjoyed the least. There wasn’t a huge variety of choices, and some of the dishes from the menu were quite small and came without potatoes or other sides. They mentioned salad as a side, but it was basically just a few leaves of lettuce, which we found a little strange. Breakfast is over €30 per person, so it is definitely not inexpensive. We were fortunate to have breakfast included with our stay. On the positive side, the fresh fruit was absolutely delicious and tasted very fresh. I also used the gym. It is small but has the basic necessities. The only issue was that the air conditioning was not working very well, and I did mention this to the hotel staff. One tip if you are visiting Polignano a Mare: take the hotel tuk tuk for €5 per person. Parking in town is extremely difficult, so this was definitely the easiest option. We loved going into Polignano in the evening — it was beautiful and had such a nice atmosphere. Overall, we had a wonderful stay at Cale Ponte. Great location, beautiful pool, free parking and, most importantly, genuinely lovely staff.

Beautiful hotel with a stunning pool. Loved the bar and the restaurant food was amazing. The rooms were beautiful and the AC worked great. The breakfast wasn't worth the price in my opinion.

At first glance the Cala Ponte appears to be an upscale boutique hotel but their attention to detail is lacking. We would have liked a warm welcome perhaps with a glass of champagne and some information about complementary hotel services. Although the staff is very friendly, they dropped the ball on several occasions such as forgetting to reserve a requested taxi, restaurant and a return call regarding a referral. We often found ourselves having to request towels, waters and other amenities. Upon returning to the property after a hot day of touring, our room was typically uncleaned. If it was cleaned, the AC was adjusted upward making the air warm and stagnant. Ants are a real problem here too. We had plenty of them everywhere throughout the room, including in the bed. We had a room with a pool (cold jacuzzi) which was nice. However, there was absolutely nowhere to place or store luggage items (only small hanging wardrobe) or bathroom toiletries. It’s frustrating living out of a suitcase for a week. On another note, we experienced good food and service from the restaurant and enjoyed the beautiful landscaping.

Domenico went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly, and his genuine kindness made us feel at ease throughout our visit. It was clear that he truly cares about providing an outstanding experience to his guests. Thank you, Domenico, for your hospitality and for making our time so special. We hope to return next year, and we would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an authentic and enjoyable experience.