Guide to Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort

MMV
Jun 23
6 min read

Have you ever wanted to live “La Dolce Vita” (the sweet life) without traveling all the way to Italy? Well, a taste of quintessential Italia is closer than you might think at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort.

Family walks past a fountain in front of a Portofino-themed building. Banners read "Provincia di Portofino." Vespas and clock tower visible.

A stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel places you in the center of this picturesque harbor village, nestled in the heart of the Italian Riviera. This resort is one of those "you have to see it to believe it" scenarios. ...and trust us, you WANT to see THIS!

About The Hotel

Every detail of the hotel has been crafted to reflect the authenticity found in actual Portofino, Italy. For those seeking a hotel experience that emanates Italian charm, look no further than Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.

Lit waterfront buildings reflecting on calm waters at night, with boats docked in the foreground. The sky is dark blue with a few clouds.

Perfect for: Families, couples and groups who desire an elevated hotel experience.

Theming: Whether you find yourself dining at any of the eateries in the piazza, boosting your Vitamin D as you lounge poolside or enjoying the comforts of the impressive rooms, every moment at the hotel is meant to feel like you are on an unforgettable European retreat on the shores of the Portofino Bay.

Hotel room with a king bed, blue headboard, and orange-patterned carpet. A seating area overlooks a balcony with a scenic view. Cozy ambiance.

Rooms & Suites: A recent visit with my family to the hotel included a stay in one of the impeccably-designed bay view rooms, a spacious and stately retreat adorned with marble accents and elegant furnishings throughout.

Garden View Standard Rooms: Bedrooms at Portofino Bay Hotel are the largest standard rooms offered at Universal. With 450 square feet, lounge like the king or queen you are.
Bay View Standard Rooms: Offering the same composition as the Garden View rooms but with a stunning view of the harbor.
Deluxe Rooms: Elegantly appointed rooms that sleep up to three (one king bed) or five (two queen beds with rollaway). With 490 square feet of space, these rooms are perfect if you desire a little extra room to spread out.
Club Rooms: Spacious 490 square foot rooms that sleep up to five (2 queen beds and a rollaway), offering Club Level perks such as a nightly turndown service, personal concierge service and access to the 3,500 square foot Portofino Club Lounge. The Lounge serves continental breakfast and complimentary beer and wine with an assortment of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres each evening and something sweet each night.
Villa Suites: Expansive suites, over 1,000 square feet each, offering one- and two-bedroom villas that feature a kitchenette, dining area, casual seating and a sleeper sofa for two guests.
Governatore Suites: Indulge in European elegance in this 2,265 square foot suite with a primary bedroom featuring a walk-in closet, separate living room offering a balcony overlooking the harbor, dining room, office and kitchenette. This retreat of wonder sleeps up to three guests with a rollaway.
Minions Kids Suite: What better way to experience an incredible vacation than immersing yourself in the excitement of the park right from your hotel? The Despicable Me Kids Suites bring the laughter to your room in these 800 square feet accommodations reminiscent of Gru’s Laboratory – down to the Minion bedding and custom missile beds. The suites feature one king bed and a separate room with two twin beds.

Boat captain steering while two children look out at colorful waterfront buildings under a blue sky. One child wears a yellow shirt.

Theme Park Benefits

Make sure you take advantage of all the perks offered with your stay (valid theme park admission required):

Universal Express Unlimited: A perk of staying at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is that each stay comes with complimentary Universal Express access to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Epic Universe. Valid for each member staying in the room, all you need is your room key to get the best of Universal Orlando’s theme parks without waiting in the regular lines as your room key card offers you the ability to utilize the Universal Express lanes at all participating attractions. This perk is without a doubt a fan favorite for families looking to optimize their vacation time.

PRO TIP: Your Universal Express Unlimited benefit is available to you on your check-in and check-out day. Maximizing your time made even easier.
Early Park Admission: Enjoy early access to various rides and attractions at Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Epic Universe and Universal Volcano Bay (attractions and parks subject to change). Make the most of your visit by getting into the parks up to an hour before opening (up to 30 minutes for Universal Volcano Bay).
Transportation: Your route to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Epic Universe and Universal CityWalk is taken care of. Complimentary shuttle buses, the water taxi, and even picturesque walking paths offer a way to get to these parks with ease without ever moving your vehicle.
Room Key Charging: You can seamlessly charge purchases to your room resort-wide, from the theme parks to Universal CityWalk — only your room key is needed.
Complimentary Purchase Delivery: To take home the action, select stores throughout the resort will deliver your merchandise directly to your hotel. No need to worry about carrying everything around with you.
Priority Seating Benefit (exclusive to guests staying at Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Pacific Resort): As if your cup isn’t already running over with all the amazing benefits of staying at an onsite hotel, how does priority seating sound? You’ll enjoy the sweet life by getting priority seating at select dining venues thought the resort.

What To Do

Father and son joyfully splash water with sponges into colorful buckets at a sunny resort, with a tower and palm trees in the background.

Pools

The hotel’s pools were a major part of the unforgettable experience. If you love a variety in terms of pool options, this is the Universal hotel for you.

People float on colorful tubes in a blue water stream under a stone bridge, surrounded by rocky landscape, with clear skies above.

There are three pools to explore:

The Beach Pool: This fun pool offers a fun water slide and a sandy beach — a perfect setting for your family to play together at the pool, especially if you have little ones looking for their own poolside fun. Order poolside snacks and drinks from Splendido Bar and Grill to really up your pool day experience.
The Villa Pool: An exclusive oasis of relaxation, tucked away from the center of the hotel. We couldn’t resist spending days here lounging poolside. (Villa pool loungers can also order from Splendido’s with their poolside server.)
The Hillside Pool: A smaller size pool with a more private feel.

Musica della Notte

Even if you are not dining at any of the hotel’s restaurants, you can delight in the sounds of the choral celebration at the Harbor Piazza every evening at sunset (weather permitting). You can find this chorus, Musica della Notte, if you are facing the front of Sal’s Market Deli — they are located on the upper balcony. Musica della Notte (Music of the Night) makes the piazza come alive as it presents a blend of many music styles, including opera and romantic music.

Crowded evening waterfront scene with people dining and walking near a lit building. A band plays near a calm river under a vibrant sunset sky.

Harbor Nights

If you desire an elegant Italian engagement offering wine, music and food, look no further than Harbor Nights at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. Harbor Nights is a quarterly nighttime wine-tasting and jazz event offering vibrant Italian cuisine and music that is designed to capture the ambiance of the Mediterranean. The event is adorned with food stations, plated hors d’oeuvres, over 15 labels of wine, live bands and even opera.

What To Eat and Drink

Trattoria del Porto

This casual full-service restaurant offers delicious and elegant fare with a touch of Italian charm that your family is likely familiar with for breakfast, lunch and dinner (pancakes, eggs, soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta). You can’t go wrong with making Trattoria your homebase for your meals.

Hands serving creamy pasta with peas onto a white plate using wooden utensils. Large cheese wheel in the background, creating a warm, cozy scene.

Bice Ristorante

Offering Northern Italian cuisine, Bice is a great location for those seeking world-class Italian cuisine for a night out. You’ll even delight in knowing a pastry chef crafts decadent desserts like tiramisu and limoncello cheesecake each day. Note that resort or business casual attire is recommended.

Sal’s Market Deli

Just steps away from the harbor, Sal’s is a neighborhood delicatessen that makes a great base for snacks and quick eats for your entire family. With everything from Italian staples like homemade pizzas, sandwiches, salads, meats, cheese and fresh fruit, this quick-service deli is likely to be a place you visit multiple times during your stay.

Family shares snacks at a rustic store. A father and daughter smile while eating. Shelves with colorful packaging in the background. Cozy ambiance.

Gelateria

To cool off in the balmy afternoons, we enjoyed the tasty artisan gelato options offered at the Gelateria – a charming shop on the lower piazza that serves ice cream, smoothies, gelato, and coffee and tea.

Splendido Bar and Grill

Ever have those days where you want to grab a bite at the pool but don’t want to actually leave the pool? The Splendido Bar and Grill is a magnifico option, allowing you to eat poolside and even grab a cocktail.

A juicy burger with cheese, bacon, and lettuce on a plate with fries in a basket by a poolside. Sunny and inviting atmosphere.

Thirsty Fish

This harborside bar offers wine, cocktails, beer and appetizers where you can take in the views from the outdoor patio.

Mama Della’s Ristorante

You're always welcome at Mama's. Take a seat and enjoy a menu of authentic dishes from Tuscany, Naples, and Piemonte, plus family dining house specialties like Insalata Mama Della and the best lasagna this side of Sicily.

Info Courtesy of Universal Parks & Resorts

As you can see Loews Portofino Bay Hotel has so much to offer. Ready to start planning your next Universal Orlando vacation? Contact your Magical Moments Vacations agent today or click HERE for more information.

Guide to Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort

Have you ever wanted to live “La Dolce Vita” (the sweet life) without traveling all the way to Italy? Well, a taste of quintessential Italia is closer than you might think at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort.

A stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel places you in the center of this picturesque harbor village, nestled in the heart of the Italian Riviera. This resort is one of those "you have to see it to believe it" scenarios. ...and trust us, you WANT to see THIS!

About The Hotel

Every detail of the hotel has been crafted to reflect the authenticity found in actual Portofino, Italy. For those seeking a hotel experience that emanates Italian charm, look no further than Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.

Perfect for: Families, couples and groups who desire an elevated hotel experience.

Rooms & Suites: A recent visit with my family to the hotel included a stay in one of the impeccably-designed bay view rooms, a spacious and stately retreat adorned with marble accents and elegant furnishings throughout.

Garden View Standard Rooms: Bedrooms at Portofino Bay Hotel are the largest standard rooms offered at Universal. With 450 square feet, lounge like the king or queen you are.

Bay View Standard Rooms: Offering the same composition as the Garden View rooms but with a stunning view of the harbor.

Deluxe Rooms: Elegantly appointed rooms that sleep up to three (one king bed) or five (two queen beds with rollaway). With 490 square feet of space, these rooms are perfect if you desire a little extra room to spread out.

Villa Suites: Expansive suites, over 1,000 square feet each, offering one- and two-bedroom villas that feature a kitchenette, dining area, casual seating and a sleeper sofa for two guests.

Governatore Suites: Indulge in European elegance in this 2,265 square foot suite with a primary bedroom featuring a walk-in closet, separate living room offering a balcony overlooking the harbor, dining room, office and kitchenette. This retreat of wonder sleeps up to three guests with a rollaway.

Theme Park Benefits

Make sure you take advantage of all the perks offered with your stay (valid theme park admission required):

PRO TIP: Your Universal Express Unlimited benefit is available to you on your check-in and check-out day. Maximizing your time made even easier.

Room Key Charging: You can seamlessly charge purchases to your room resort-wide, from the theme parks to Universal CityWalk — only your room key is needed.

Complimentary Purchase Delivery: To take home the action, select stores throughout the resort will deliver your merchandise directly to your hotel. No need to worry about carrying everything around with you.

What To Do

Pools

The hotel’s pools were a major part of the unforgettable experience. If you love a variety in terms of pool options, this is the Universal hotel for you.

There are three pools to explore:

The Villa Pool: An exclusive oasis of relaxation, tucked away from the center of the hotel. We couldn’t resist spending days here lounging poolside. (Villa pool loungers can also order from Splendido’s with their poolside server.)

The Hillside Pool: A smaller size pool with a more private feel.

Musica della Notte

Harbor Nights

What To Eat and Drink

Trattoria del Porto

This casual full-service restaurant offers delicious and elegant fare with a touch of Italian charm that your family is likely familiar with for breakfast, lunch and dinner (pancakes, eggs, soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta). You can’t go wrong with making Trattoria your homebase for your meals.

Bice Ristorante

Sal’s Market Deli

Gelateria

To cool off in the balmy afternoons, we enjoyed the tasty artisan gelato options offered at the Gelateria – a charming shop on the lower piazza that serves ice cream, smoothies, gelato, and coffee and tea.

Splendido Bar and Grill

Ever have those days where you want to grab a bite at the pool but don’t want to actually leave the pool? The Splendido Bar and Grill is a magnifico option, allowing you to eat poolside and even grab a cocktail.

Thirsty Fish

This harborside bar offers wine, cocktails, beer and appetizers where you can take in the views from the outdoor patio.

Mama Della’s Ristorante

You're always welcome at Mama's. Take a seat and enjoy a menu of authentic dishes from Tuscany, Naples, and Piemonte, plus family dining house specialties like Insalata Mama Della and the best lasagna this side of Sicily.

As you can see Loews Portofino Bay Hotel has so much to offer. Ready to start planning your next Universal Orlando vacation? Contact your Magical Moments Vacations agent today or click HERE for more information.

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