Lido La Castellana

Avoid this beach club if you can. I went there on September 3rd with my husband and had a negative experience. It is too expensive for what it is and you receive barely any service, not even good service. The staff has a rude demeanor and don’t even look happy to be there themselves. We were checked in by a gentleman who asked us if “two others” are joining us, we said no it’s just us and he smirked with us colleague and said “Yes two others means just two people”. Where I’m from that would mean a group of four but all good. They charge you for towels and parking which is absurd because you’re already paying over $200 euros if you order a proper lunch. We wanted to order the lobster spaghetti as it was noted on the menu (minimum 2 people) and looked like the best price for value at $32 euros. Our server said we couldn’t have it that day but said we can swap the lobster for shrimp and spaghetti for a different pasta. My husband said no problem because we thought we were still getting the $32 euro price. Thank goodness I checked the menu and realized he essentially made us agree to another pasta dish on the menu costing $34 euro a plate but times two. The transparency in that moment felt very slimy and the server was annoyed when my husband told him to pause that order right now because he wasn’t honest with us. Also, we ordered the mussels and they didn’t even clean the mussels properly - see photos. The beach chairs are dirty, restaurant chairs are also dirty so when you’re eating you just want to eat and leave right away. The beach on the other hand is beautiful, however it doesn’t feel like a private beach club because there’s public ones beside you using your beach. I’m not one to be bothered by that but due to the price you’re paying for “premium” chairs you feel like the other visitors paying nothing are getting the same experience. Long story short, just go to another beach club.

I’ve spent my summer vacations at Lido La Castellana twice now, and it’s become a truly special place for me. I really appreciate the overall vibe of the beach – classy, quiet, cosy, and a bit niche. One thing I absolutely love is the absence of loud music from portable speakers, which I often find really irritating on other beaches. Another thing I noticed is that many of the visitors seem to know each other – it almost feels like a real beach club, with a warm and friendly community. The beach itself is spotless – both the sand and the crystal-clear water are well maintained. The staff care about what they do, and it shows in every detail. A special bravi goes to the restaurant – the food is amazing, and the portions are like double-sized, really! For me, it’s the best food in Otranto. My favourite dish is paccheri with yellow tomatoes and gamberi🤤🤤🤤 There’s also a great selection of local Pugliese wines, and the service is always kind and welcoming. Lido La Castellana feels like a dear place for me. I’m always happy to come back💖

Sublime, On our first trip to the south of Italy and I couldn’t imagine a better place to be by the sea, paradise! The food, the view and the people. We had a wonderful time. The food was fresh and deliciousr.. Everything about the place was top notch. It really felt like our own private beach club. Never felt crowded or loud, chairs and amenities we clean and well maintained, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend it.

Travelling from New York City to south Italy, Otranto  I was eager to experience the renowned culinary scene, and Lido La Castellana was on top of my list.  The ambiance struck a perfect balance between sophistication and warmth, welcoming me the moment I walked through the doors.  Chef Franco Tornese , along with their team, were the evening's stars, crafting a menu that dazzled my taste buds and was deeply impressive. Each dish was a celebration of flavors, artfully presented and executed with precision.  The beverage pairings were equally impressive, enhancing the meal with a thoughtful selection of wines. Moreover, the attentive and friendly staff made the evening all the more enjoyable. Lastly, the club pays a  great deal of attention to detail and is staff is very organized.

We visited this lido for the day...the ONLY good thing about it was the water (which you can find amazing water all around pugli. Recommend you find another lido. Service waa terrible , they didn't explain you need to reserve a table for lunch or where the Services are location. The sun disappeared by 1230 and you don't get any sun on the beach unless you're on th first line of beach chairs. We asked if we could move as the beach was empty 80% of the chairs were vacant...they said no. Lunch was SO expensive for what you get 100% skip this lido find somewhere else.

We had a nice experience at this lido. Reserve in advance as they require 48 hr notice. Even on a holiday not all beach chairs were full. We had a spot on the front row. The beach is lovely. Food was great 4/5. Had the crab spaghetti. The service was a bit slow. We ordered other items but after waiting 20 min decided to get up and check out. The waiters do not serve you at your chair so you need to go to the bar to order things. Restrooms and changing rooms very clean. Highly recommend if you want a beach spot you can walk to easily from anywhere in town that’s not crowded and has food and drinks. It is pricey but we felt worth it.

The Lido to be in Salento! We’ve been 8 days around Salento and many lidos… this one is by far the best one. Comfy, not crowded, elegant place with all services (restaurant, clean toilet, showers and dressing rooms and a delicious beach.

THE GOOD Lido is in a lovely location with a private beach. The food is overpriced but good quality. When we went only half the menu was available. We had planned for our visit and were requested to book beach chairs in order to have a table reserved for lunch (group of 12) - the implication being that we couldn’t secure a reservation without paying for the chairs. We were worried they would be booked out. THE BAD Upon arriving, the weather was overcast and every single umbrella was down with no other patrons present, surprising for 1pm. There was no music or vibe and the place could have been closed if not for one other small table (which we later found out in an altercation with the manager was family members) We asked the server if there was any possibility for a refund or partial credit towards the lunch we ordered given we collectively paid over $300 euros for beds we would not be using and Lido essentially seemed closed with not many ingredients available, no staff on the beach, etc. We were put onto the manager and met with aggression from the outset. The manager insisted any credit or partial refund was not possible due to the way the businesses were set up. The conversation with the manager (owner?) was horrible, she was very rude and basically told us we were welcome to go sit on the beach, without offering any solutions. Very odd interaction but looking at the reviews I see this is a common experience. The service during lunch was pushy, with the server wanting to upsell both our wine and appetiser selections. THE VERDICT There are many wonderful lidos with lovely service for the price. I would not visit this one again.