Umberto a Mare — Restaurant in Forio

We are long overdue in writing this review. We just got back from a visit with Umberto and Marco. Their incredible restaurant and lovely little hotel is just a idyllic as when we celebrated our wedding there on a beautiful summer day 6 years ago. It's the sort of spot you always dream of having your wedding celebration, but think could only exist in a movie. The restaurant and hotel sit on a promontory directly over the water, and the breathtaking Forio sunset drops the sun into the Mediterranean right off the balcony of Umberto a Mare. We were married in the little Chiesa del Socorrso above, and then walked down with our guests to Umberto a Mare directly below. When we walked in, Umberto, Marco, and the staff were waiting in the entry way of the restaurant to shower us with flowers and hand us Prosecco! The food is phenomenal, Umberto takes traditional Ischia delicacies and gives them a gourmet flair. Needless to say, none of our American guests had ever experienced anything like this!|| We live in Santa Monica California, and looked at many locations when choosing where to celebrate our wedding, and we can easily say that the celebration we had with Umberto and Marco was far more reasonable than anything we found elsewhere. As anyone who's paid for a wedding knows, when you separately break down the cost of a beautiful location, seating, and catering in any major US city, the costs are ridiculous! At Umberto a Mare we had everything under one roof. They gave us a 5 course gourmet Italian seafood dinner for 70 people with wine included, for less than the per person cost of your average wedding caterer who only gives your guests the choice of Chicken or Salmon. Aside from the breathtaking location and incredible cuisine, the warmth, humor, and hospitality of Umberto, Marco and their staff are priceless. Though we are not able to get to Ischia and visit with them as often as we'd like, upon returning we all share the embrace and tears of overdue family. As you can tell at this point, we can't say enough about Umberto A Mare, which to us will always be a magical memory, and a warm loving home and family.||||Sincerely,||||André & Justine||Santa...

A spectauliar place. Hotel Umberto a Mare is not just a hotel. It's love, beauty and peace. This made our trip to Ischia well worth it. Sitting under a church over the sea the hotel is part fortress, part gourmet restaurant, part seaside paradise, all unique. Marco greets you in a very casual, friendly, Italian way. He was so nice and has the very best place to stay in Forio, not to mention his lovely restaurant, featuring a spectacular sunset every evening -- and even if the weather doesn't cooperate, the view is simply enchanting. Our room had two french doors that opened on to the sea and intimate balconies with a view of the little town of Forio and miles and miles of open, turquoise sea. So breathtaking and relaxing. We dined in the restaurant a couple of nights. I had the Caprese salad. The mozzerella and tomatoes were so fresh I couldn't believe the taste. The swordfish was delightful. My husband had the Ischian rabbit which was just delicious. Presentation was beautiful and Marco recommended a great local wine. The breakfast is different: bruschetta, which at first I thought "for breakfast?", but it was totally right -- along with yogurt, fruit, meats and cheeses, homemade cakes (peach and apricot and hazelnut). And Marco makes a fabulous cappuccino and brings it to your table on the shaded terrace. The solarium is down at the level of the sea, well supplied with lounge chairs and shaded and sunny areas to relax. Climb down the metal stairs into 15 foot deep absolutely clear, gently rolling waves. A...

A spectauliar place. Hotel Umberto a Mare is not just a hotel. It's love, beauty and peace. This made our trip to Ischia well worth it. Sitting under a church over the sea the hotel is part fortress, part gourmet restaurant, part seaside paradise, all unique. Marco greets you in a very casual, friendly, Italian way. He was so nice and has the very best place to stay in Forio, not to mention his lovely restaurant, featuring a spectacular sunset every evening -- and even if the weather doesn't cooperate, the view is simply enchanting. Our room had two french doors that opened on to the sea and intimate balconies with a view of the little town of Forio and miles and miles of open, turquoise sea. So breathtaking and relaxing. We dined in the restaurant a couple of nights. I had the Caprese salad. The mozzerella and tomatoes were so fresh I couldn't believe the taste. The swordfish was delightful. My husband had the Ischian rabbit which was just delicious. Presentation was beautiful and Marco recommended a great local wine. The breakfast is different: bruschetta, which at first I thought "for breakfast?", but it was totally right -- along with yogurt, fruit, meats and cheeses, homemade cakes (peach and apricot and hazelnut). And Marco makes a fabulous cappuccino and brings it to your table on the shaded terrace. The solarium is down at the level of the sea, well supplied with lounge chairs and shaded and sunny areas to relax. Climb down the metal stairs into 15 foot deep absolutely clear, gently rolling waves. A...