Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & Spa | Ostuni
Just as Puglia will spoil you, so too will the choice of accommodation. From a luxury boutique masseria, stylish trulli and exclusive private rentals. Our curated guide to Puglia’s finest accommodation visited, photographed and reviewed by us. We are not paid and have not received any incentive for this content.
Ostuni City Style | Paragon700 Boutique Hotel & Spa
With French parquet floors, high cathedral ceilings, eclectic furnishings and large chandeliers, proudly lesbian owned and operated Paragon700 puts design and sophistication at its core, offering an urban antidote to Puglia’s luxury and high end Masserie.
Housed behind the striking red facade of the historic Palazzo Rosso, home to Ostuni’s first mayor Don Paolo Tanzarella, and restored by owners Pascale and her partner Ulrike. The transformation retains the building’s traditional Italian essence, making the most of its magnificent vaults, centuries-old stones and the historical frescoes.
If you are looking for traditional Puglia style, Paragon may not be for you. The interior is an eclectic muddle of South African, Indian and other multicultural design which designer and co-owner Pascale herself describes as “head-spinning and very personal”.
Restaurant700 is the only part of the building to retain its distinctive Pugliese identity.
The 11 suites and deluxe rooms have been creatively curated in a unique style that brings together the old and the new. Reclaimed, monumental and individual, the same design spills over into Paragon700’s public spaces to take you somewhere else.
Only Restaurant700 with stripped back stone walls and vaulted ceilings and its repurposed olive mill (now a communal table) speaks of Puglia.
Although the food is good and the space interesting for us it wasn’t special enough to justify the aspirational pricing that makes a visit very expensive by Ostuni standards. Food that is just as good is easy to find elsewhere in Ostuni’s historic centre, at much more reasonable prices. Only the Sunday Brunch at 40€ per person (drinks not included) comes close to offering value for money.
Likewise the bar. Their mixologist may know his liquor but a recent visit set us back 20€ for two Coke Zeros.
Despite being lesbian owned and operated and members of IGLTA (the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association), we were disappointed at the lack of diversity awareness and practices. When inviting us to apply for Paragon700 P-Membership the application form sent to us listed only the binary options of Male or Female when asking applicants’ gender.
Paragon 700 Boutique Spa & Restaurant
Largo Michele Ayroldi Carissimo, 14
72017 Ostuni (Brindisi)
contact@paragon700.com
T: (+39) 0831 36 92 19
M: (+39) 370 125 55 47
More | Restaurant 700 our review (coming soon) | Sunday Brunch at Paragon 700
