Equal parts culture and nature, the spectacular beauty of southern Italy’s Amalfi coast is legendary. A gravity defying thrill ride of road stretching from the bay of Naples to the gulf of Salerno gets you to the glam, jet set, resort town of Positano. (Cue Angels singing!)
My daughter Kaya and I stayed at the legendary Le Sirenuse hotel. Nothing beats the traditional, defined luxury and ambiance of this magical resort. The hotel is often booked up sometimes more than a year in advance, and had been on my bucket list for some time. After scoring a coveted reservation, upon arrival, I quickly discovered the resort lived up to its fantastic press and then some!
The service is truly amazing and the staff was genuinely caring and attentive to every detail- made us feel like princesses! We were greeted with some fresh lemonade, a chilled lemon scented towel and off to our room we went where our hearts skipped a few beats, all for the right reasons, as they open those beautiful balcony doors to Paradiso!
Be sure to make reservations well in advance for their renowned, Michelin starred restaurant La Sponda, your palate will forever be in your debt! If you can’t get a rez at La Sponda, grab a seat and a delicious bite at their terrace Champagne Bar, with a jaw-dropping view overlooking the sea and surrounding hills where the perfect tunes are always playing in the background and a DJ spins on the weekends. The Sirenuse owners have also recently added Franco’s Bar a few door down the street. It’s the chicest new hotspot in town, and perfect for sunset pre or post dinner cocktails with its stylish panoramic, alfresco terrace and stunning views.
It’s tempting to never leave this hotel, but don’t miss out on some of the other popular favorites, like Next 2, the town’s most sleek, chic, bar and restaurant with inventive food and a lovely view. Or Max, which serves incredible food in the warm beautiful setting of what feels like an elegant, private villa. Worth the 2 km trip out of town is Zass, the Michelin starred restaurant at the famed Il San Pietro hotel, with an enchanting view of the town of the coast and town of Praiano. Or JayZ & Bey’s fave, Conca Del Sogno, only reachable by boat taxi. And of course a trip to Positano would not be complete without hitting the iconic Chez Black, smack in the middle of the touristy main beach of Spiagga Grande, yet still a celeb favorite and the perfect people watching perch.
During the day, do a combo lunch/beach club spot. Our favorite was the private and exclusive Villa Treville Beach Club. Nestled in a pretty grotto with great food, cocktails, lounges and umbrellas. You can also try Da Adolfo restaurant and beach club, Both are a free, short, shuttle boat ride away from the main Positano marina. Any local, rugged, overly tanned man on the dock will point you in the right direction.
There is so much to do in the area that you may be torn, like I was, between lounging and sightseeing. There is everything from fantastic shopping, museums, Emerald grottos and Duomos to nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum. You can also visit Limoncello and ceramic workshops, an owl sanctuary and an impressive annual art and music festival that runs throughout the entire summer in the picturesque town of Ravello.
On the don’t miss list? Well, of course the island of Capri! With its glamorous history, world class shopping and dazzling views.
How would I spend the perfect day on the island of Capri? Begin with the most famous place on the island, the spectacular Blue Grotto sea cave tour.
Then on to La Fontelina beach club to swim beneath the towering Faraglioni rocks, in crystal clear water. On sundecks nestled between the rock grottos and caves, soak up the summer sun on a comfy beach lounger, eat freshly caught fish in the shade of a pretty pergola, or drink a glass of sangria or Rosé while the sun begins to set. The view is breathtaking and the location is spectacular. La Dolce Vita on steroids! Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, because the steep path down the hill from the Tragara viewing point winds its way down to the sea through Myrtle and bloom bushes for a good 300 m. Thank God for the boat shuttle that takes you to a taxi back to the main marina, or you’d be looking at one heck of a workout back up hill.
Two pieces of advice:
1- Try to go in June or September and avoid the July/August crowds and heat.
2- Leave your heels at home Ladies! Trot out your gucciest gladiators or sexiest sandals. The Amalfi coast is perfect terrain for mountain goats, not Louboutins.
