My husband and I decided on a stay at Vista Ostuni, which opened in 2025 in a 14th-century palazzo just outside the old town. The building has had three previous lives: a Dominican convent, then a school for girls, then the town’s tobacco factory, which by the early 20th century employed more than 300 women and became a point of local pride. Ostuni sits on a hill about five miles inland from the Adriatic, in the province of Brindisi. Locals call it La Città Bianca, the White City, for the lime-washed houses stacked up its slopes. Polignano a Mare, about 35 minutes up the coast, fills with day-trippers all summer. Ostuni stays quieter, and the five miles between the old town and the water are probably why.
It’s the third hotel under the Passera family’s Vista label, after Como in 2018 and Verona in 2022, with a fourth planned for Pisa in 2029. The family has been in hotels on Lake Como for close to a century, and the Vista pitch is that they build in Italian cities that don’t already have a five-star option. In other words, rather than adding to the oversaturated markets of major cities, Vista seeks to break ground across lesser-visited villages and regions, all while promoting local flavor and craftsmanship. Vista’s inaugural property opened in Como in 2018, followed by Verona in 2022 and Ostuni in 2025.
The name isn’t subtle — every Vista property is known for its views — but what I particularly love about the Ostuni property is the seclusion. Twenty-eight rooms sit in a building of 64,000 square feet, on about seven acres of gardens. Here, luxury comes through privacy, with a dose of Italian hospitality.
Photos: Vicki Denig
With just 28 rooms and suites, space and privacy come naturally at Vista Ostuni. Rooms run from about 388 square feet to 807 for the largest duplex suite, all with vaulted ceilings, most facing either the White City or the sea. Ground level accommodations come with personal outdoor patio spaces, with junior suite options for both single-level corner accommodations and a duplex option. Regardless of room type, all accommodations feature a custom pillow menu, linen kimonos, Nespresso machines, kettles, and local snacks (taralli, nuts, focaccia) upon arrival.
Photos: Vicki Denig
Vista Ostuni takes food and drink seriously and puts a strong emphasis on local Puglian flavors and dishes. Bianca Bistrot, the property’s more casual restaurant, handles breakfast and daytime and poolside dining.
To start the day, both à la carte and continental buffet options are available, though don’t let the word buffet fool you into thinking the food has less thought put into it. Beyond the standard eggs and breakfast meats, a number of local cheeses and pastries — including local Apulian cakes, cookies, warm ricotta, and Bari focaccia — shine, especially when topped with one of the many locally produced jam options.
Come afternoon, Bianca Bistrot shifts its menu to sandwiches and salads, along with a few heartier dishes for bigger appetites. We particularly loved the club sandwich, made with lettuce, chicken, eggs, bacon, tomato, and tartar sauce. Around 4 PM, the team came around the pool with complimentary slices of juicy watermelon — though for guests wanting something sweeter, a number of homemade ice creams and sorbets are also available. By evening, Bianca Bistrot heads back upstairs to the panoramic space for dinner, offering both tasting menu and à la carte options.
For pasta aficionados, there are two menu items that simply can’t be missed: ravioli piastrati (grilled ravioli) prepared with potatoes, rice, mussels, and zucchini — think of them like pan-seared Italian dumplings with a seaside flair — and orecchiette alla crudaiola, served with tomato, arugula, and local cacioricotta, a Pugliese cheese grated over the pasta at the table. Recognizing my desperate need for protein and greens, I was equally intrigued by the rombo alla mugnaia (essentially the Italian equivalent of France’s meunière sauce). Bianca’s recipe features flaky, perfectly cooked turbot in a white wine sauce with chunky potatoes and green beans. It was my balance to the unnecessary amount of pasta I consumed in the previous 48 hours.
Photos: Vicki Denig
Vista Ostuni puts just as much thought into its bar program as it does the culinary one. Overseen by Valentino Gallitelli, the property’s two bar spaces, Chiostro Bar and Rooftop Bar, serve up a variety of classic and signature cocktails in two of the most beautiful spaces in all of Italy. On the ground floor, Chiostro Bar sits in a historic cloister area and is decked out with vintage terrazzo flooring, eye-catching glass accents, and a wall of bottles running floor to ceiling. Outside, Rooftop Bar is the property’s answer to scenic aperitivo al fresco, complete with lush hanging gardens and 360-degree views of the White City and Adriatic Sea.
Photos: Vicki Denig
The best place to get your bearings in and around the property is on a private tour on a classic Ape Calessino (like a tuk-tuk, but with retro Italian flair). Led by a team of local experts, these laid-back tours are a good way to learn a bit about the town’s history, with built-in photo stops (and gelato breaks) along the way. The property’s most popular tour is the Historic Center of Ostuni route, available in 30- or 60-minute options, highlighting the most charming streets and viewpoints of the White City. Other options include the Olive Grove Plain route (2 hours), Ostuni Coast (1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours), and a comprehensive tour of the Itria Valley (6 hours), featuring stops at Ostuni, Cisternino, Locorotondo, and Alberobello.
In the spirit of rest and relaxation, Vista Ostuni offers Vista Riviera, a daily sound healing ritual set amongst the property’s olive groves overlooking the White City. Held every evening at sunset, the session uses gongs and crystal bowls to calm the nervous system, and is done in conjunction with Studio ALVA, a local wellness boutique (and certified by Sound Healing International). Guests receive a complimentary blanket, eye mask, and tote bag to use during the experience, which also double as memorable souvenirs once the 45-minute session is over. Best of all, the experience is complimentary for people staying on the property.
Photo: Vicki Denig
Beyond the daily sound healing ritual, Vista Ostuni offers a rotating set of classes and treatments to ensure a strong mind-body connection during guests’ stays. The property organizes a variety of classes, including hatha yoga, pilates, and kundalini yoga, as well as a number of signature treatments (hormone balancing, nervous system reset, floating sound baths, and more). The property also offers sessions of Psychedelic Breath, a dynamic breathwork method developed by Berlin psychologist Eva Kaczor that pairs fast, rhythmic breathing with electronic music. Vista describes its program as the only certified version of the practice in Italy.
Photo: VOJTa Herout/Shutterstock
Come summer, most of Italy’s coastal towns become saturated with sea-seeking travelers; thankfully, some reprieve can still be found on the eastern coast of Puglia. For those looking to get their sea legs, Vista Ostuni offers private boat tours along the turquoise-hued coasts of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli, featuring hidden cove explorations, plunges into crystal clear waters, and panoramic views that promise to leave a lasting impression. Excursions can be booked for a 4-8 hour period for up to 12 guests (contact the concierge upon arrival to get started).
Everything else is bookable through the front desk: e-bikes, cooking classes, wine tastings, a pottery workshop, a cheesemaking session at a masseria.