When you think of traditional Italian cafes, we can bet the picture in your head looks a lot like Caffè Sambo. It's the perfect place to start off your day with a good cup of coffee, fresh orange juice and a small sugar-dusted pastry.

Ristorante Lorenzo is the grand dame of Forte dei Marmi dining – white-tableclothed elegance and polished service set the tone for an evening of quiet glamour. The plating is exquisite, the flavours are impeccable – crudo so fresh it tastes of the Tyrrhenian, pastas dressed simply but perfectly, and a cellar stacked with Tuscan vintages that locals guard like secrets. The crowd is as polished as the plates: elegant, sun-kissed regulars and a scattering of international names who slip in without fanfare. There are no theatrics, just flawless cooking, a room that glows in candlelight, and a sense that everyone present is exactly where they want to be.

A luxurious, elegant hotel in a refined beach villa with lush gardens. We particularly love the library with lots and lots of books selected by the owners and guests from all over the world.

Bagno Bruno embodies the Italian attitude to life by the sea and Forte dei Marmi from its most beautiful side. The small beach club and restaurant, characterised by unmissable Caribbean colours, sits directly on the beach; a local institution since 1951 and a meeting place for sun-kissed locals and famous names alike, all set to the tune of crispy squid and freshly caught lobster.