The Pelican Beach Resort & SPA - Adults Only

Two Buildings, One Private Stretch of Olbia Bay

Pittulongu sits a few kilometres north of Olbia, a quieter stretch of coast than the resort towns further down the island, and the Pelican Beach Resort & SPA occupies two low, whitewashed buildings linked by paths of bougainvillea and terracotta pots. The Pelican Villa and the Main Building share a private strip of white sand on Olbia Bay, with views that run toward the hills rather than a marina. The hotel runs adults-only, a policy that shapes everything from the pool deck to the dinner hour, and it leans on that quiet rather than apologising for it. Via Mar Adriatico, the address itself, says as much: this is a beach road, not a boulevard.

Why It Works

We selected this hotel for the honesty of its adults-only promise: no kids’ club dressed up as calm, just a genuinely quiet pool deck and a spa built to be used, not glanced at. The 330-square-metre wellness area carries a hammam, a Finnish sauna, treatment rooms and two outdoor Jacuzzis set into the garden, the kind of programme usually reserved for resorts twice the size. Add a private beach a short walk from both buildings and a restaurant that keeps to à la carte rather than a buffet line, and the result reads as a considered small hotel rather than a scaled-down big one.

Why This Location

Pittulongu is a short drive from central Olbia and closer still to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, which makes the hotel a practical first or last stop on a Sardinian itinerary without the crowds of Costa Smeralda proper. The beach road runs along a bay rather than open coast, so the water stays calm through most of the season, good for swimmers who want a steady morning rather than surf. Pittulongu’s own public beach, a few minutes’ walk north, draws a local crowd at weekends; guests who prefer their sand private can stay on the hotel’s own strip instead. San Teodoro and its lagoons lie close enough for a day trip, far enough to stay out of earshot.

Fast Facts

• Price: €€€

• Vibe: Hushed, adults-only, spa-led

• Rooms: 65 total — 26 in the Pelican Villa, 39 in the Main Building

• Best For: Couples seeking quiet over spectacle, spa-focused short breaks

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: The pair of outdoor Jacuzzis set into the garden, open well past the pool’s closing hour

• Dining: À la carte restaurant serving Mediterranean and international dishes, plus a cocktail bar

• Amenities: Private beach, 330 sqm spa with hammam and Finnish sauna, outdoor Jacuzzis, adults-only policy, pet-friendly, wheelchair accessible

• Attractions: Pittulongu beach (short walk), Olbia old town (short drive), Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (short drive), Isola Tavolara views along the coast road

The Spa, Hammam to Jacuzzi

The spa is the hotel’s clearest argument for itself: a hammam and Finnish sauna sit alongside private treatment rooms, with two outdoor Jacuzzis positioned in the garden rather than tacked onto the pool deck. Treatments and sauna sessions are booked and paid separately, in the manner of a proper spa rather than a hotel amenity bundled into the room rate, which keeps the space from feeling overrun. Mornings here favour the pool, a round basin set on a sun terrace that catches light most of the day; the Jacuzzis come into their own later, once the afternoon sun has eased off the terrace stone.

Two Room Categories, One Quiet Garden

The Pelican Villa holds 26 rooms, each laid out slightly differently, dressed in a Mediterranean take on modern design and generally the quieter of the two buildings. The Main Building’s 39 rooms run more contemporary, closer to the restaurant and reception, and suit a stay built around the spa and beach rather than long hours in the room itself. Both buildings open onto the shared garden paths, so the choice comes down to pace: the Villa for travellers who want distance from the hotel’s working rhythm, the Main Building for those who would rather have everything a short walk away.