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The most stylish Amalfi Coast hotels for 2024
Soak up la dolce vita at these hotels on Italy's most romantic coastline
When life gives you lemons, make sure they’re Amalfi Coast ones. La dolce vita doesn’t get sweeter than with the southern peninsula’s supersize citrus fruit and its stylish (in that effortlessly Italian way) stays, which we've rounded up in our list of luxury Amalfi Coast hotels.
The sunny coast, home to holidaying Hollywood royalty, hilltop medieval hamlets and hair-raising hairpin bends, has long been the A-list’s most treasured place in Italy, and it won’t take you long to see why – even Unesco concurs (the coastline has been a World Heritage Site since 1997).
Drive the winding coastal roads, touring the lemon-scented towns that dot the precipitous cliffs: Ravello, and its terraced gardens and historic villas; the lesser-visited former fishing village of Praiano; and Positano, whose heritage hotels and other colourful buildings tumble down the cliff-face to clear turquoise waters and quiet coves.
Discover Amalfi’s history as a maritime republic, and the namesake town's medieval architecture and Byzantine cathedral, and call in at limoncello-homeland Sorrento (technically on a different peninsula, but crowned the unofficial gateway to the glitzy coastline on the other side of the mountains).
Though gritty in contrast, Naples is also an excellent starting point for a tour of the Amalfi Coast, especially if you love pizza – the capital of the south is the birthplace of Italy's most famous export. A pitstop at Pompeii is also a must, and the Roman ruins at Herculaneum are equally fascinating (and likely far less busy).
Our edit of stylish Amalfi Coast hotels includes storied John Steinbeck favourite Le Sirenuse, the cliff-edge former monastery Monastero Santa Rosa, and Villa Cimbrone, once the Ravello residence of an English aristocrat. We've also hand-picked our favourite hotels over on that most glamorous of isles, Capri.
Read on for the Bazaar edit of the best Amalfi Coast hotels to check in to this summer…
Le Sirenuse, Positano
Once frequented by John Steinbeck, who wasn’t lying when he wrote that "Positano cuts deep", Le Sirenuse is one of the most famous hotels in the world, family-owned and tended to by the Sersales since they opened their home to the world in 1951. The hotel is one of the most iconic destinations in all of the Amalfi Coast, so photogenic that people clamour to come here even if their budget only extends to a cocktail on the terrace (which will no doubt be unforgettable). It shouldn't come as a surprise to learn that it's a popular place for marriage proposals.
Positano is affectionately viewed by locals as a vertical town – the only way is up or down – and that’s evident at Le Sirenuse, whose colourful buildings cling to the cliffs and whose terraces offer some of the best views in town. Steinbeck continued: "It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone." Luckily for guests, Le Sirenuse really does exist.
Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi
At the classic Hotel Santa Caterina near Amalfi, sunloungers are stretched along the shore at the bottom of the towering cliffs, ready for dips in the sparkling sea. Or, if you'd rather swim in the heated saltwater pool at the hotel's beach club, it can be reached either via some precipitous steps or by the lifts carved into the face of the rock.
The 19th-century villa, built in Liberty style (the Italian take on art nouveau), has all the regional horticulture you’d hope for covered: bougainvillea drapes the buildings, and orchards and olive groves line the grounds. The timeless seaside residence has a Michelin-starred restaurant inside, a terrace for languorous lunches and rooms with four-poster beds, hand-painted majolica floors and sea-showcasing balconies.
The hotel has been run by the Gambardella family for more than four generations. They recently acquired the neighbouring seaside residence of the Ville della Marchesa, with suites here now available to book. This wing can also be hired out as a whole, making it perfect for families or groups of friends.
Monastero Santa Rosa, Conca dei Marini
Monastero Santa Rosa is perhaps best described as a wellness palace in the sky. The 17th-century former Dominican monastery dominates the craggy Amalfi shoreline and is envied by hoteliers across the coast for its knockout terraced grounds featuring an infinity pool that looks out onto the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Despite its gargantuan size, it’s home to just 20 rooms, split over two storied floors. The best of the bunch come with terraces and are all decked out in a mish-mash of collectibles, curios, antiques and art pieces amassed by the hotel’s well-travelled American owner. Michelin dining on the terrace (order the sea-bass ravioli) is a must, as is a wander through the very polished gardens, but it’s the grandiose and unforgettable spa that pulls out all the stops. Think grottos oozing natural light, stained glass galore and an ice cave packed with gorgeous Santa Maria Novella products. Luke Abrahams
Hotel Villa Cimbrone, Ravello
With a name conjuring Italy’s most fabled estates, the Villa Cimbrone in Ravello has a heritage to match: it was once the home of Lord Grimthorpe, the horologist behind Big Ben. The turreted medieval building has also hosted politicians, artists and members of the Bloomsbury Group. These days, it has lost none of its charm, with its painted vaulted ceilings, elaborate fireplaces and majolica-tiled floors all perfectly preserved.
The gardens – redesigned by Vita Sackville-West in the early 20th century, and considered an important example of English landscaping and botany in southern Europe – are still home to the famous series of busts, set along the edge of the cliffs.
The hotel's restaurant Il Flauto di Pan serves Michelin-starred meals, with plenty of super-fresh seafood and some organic ingredients plucked straight from the villa's gardens.
Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Ravello
Like most who visit Belmond’s Caruso hotel, you’ll instantly be blown away by the majesty of its picture-postcard infinity pool. The original ivy-clad building dates all the way back to the 11th century but it didn’t become a hotel until the late 1800s, when Pantaleone Caruso ran it as a pensione, drawing in the likes of Virginia Woolf and later Jackie Kennedy, Humphrey Bogart and Greta Garbo.
Almost all of the rooms have private terraces or gardens, and the original frescoes and vaulted ceilings add to the feeling of absolute Renaissance splendour. Enjoy your food set against the achingly amorous sunset vistas: expect fresh fish, complex pasta and lobster, plus excellent wines. Speaking of booze, aperitivo hour at Il Loggiato for cocktails and inspiring panoramas is non-negotiable. LA
Palazzo Avino, Ravello
Another mediaeval villa built for nobility several centuries ago and now a hotel for lucky modern guests, Palazzo Alvino is high on the cliffs of hilltop Ravello with a vantage point of the coast’s prettiest fishing villages.
As befitting the holiday playground of the rich and famous, the hotel, not content with just a Michelin-starred restaurant, also has a lobster and martini bar, where no fewer than 100 takes on James Bond’s favourite drink are served. No self-respecting Amalfi Coast hotel would be without a breathtaking terrace and at Terrazza Belvedere, the amazing views of the coastline come with superb small bites and fresh pasta.
The five-star retreat, which has been a hotel since 1997, also has a beach club that's free of charge for guests, and a shuttle to whisk you back and forth (it's a short drive away in the coastal hamlet of Marmorata).
Casa Angelina, Praiano
If you’re looking for heart-stopping views, this is the place you want to go and be seen in. The dazzling-white, 1970s cubic structure that makes up Casa Angelina enjoys one of the most fabulous locations in Praiano, with views up the coast all the way to the stone fortresses of Capri.
The inside is just as impressive: the sheer all-white rooms come complete with unusual Murano-glass sculptures; the heated hardwood floors will inspire your next great big home makeover; and the bedrooms are scented with homemade fragrances made with local citrus fruits and sandalwood. For absolute privacy and the feeling of exclusivity, book one of the four Eaudesea Experience rooms, which are in renovated fishermen's cottages, 250 steps down, just above La Gavitella Beach. LA
Punta Tragara, Capri
It’s a hotel classic, lofting so high above the iconic Faraglioni pinnacles that you can almost reach out and touch them. The five-star Punta Tragara is a masterpiece of million-dollar views and effortless 1920s art deco sophistication. Italian engineer Enrico Vismara chose this spot atop a rock to build the once-private villa and asked renowned French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier to draw up the plans. The result? A modernist wonder that exemplifies an era marked by aristocratic opulence and total island glamour.
Guests lounge around the two freshwater pools by day and, come nightfall, head to the hotel’s Michelin-starred Mammà in Capri town, suited and booted in their finest. Rooms and suites are scattered across a charming labyrinth on three levels. No two are alike: some have imperial marble bathrooms and others have the most incredible views you can imagine – but thankfully all come with balconies, terraces or patios, facing the gardens or the deep blue sea. LA
Il San Pietro di Positano, Positano
Another of the Amalfi Coast's most famous luxury hotels, Il San Pietro is in the holiday playground that is Positano. Restaurants at the hotel include the Michelin-starred Zass and the breezy beachside terrace Carlino, both of which make use of the organic produce from the gardens, which cover half of the estate and are set across 10 tiers – and the bounty is so good that the chef has been happily tending to it for two decades.
If you're not one to forego your workout routine on holiday, the fitness facilities at Il San Pietro will please you: part of the gym is outside underneath a lemon grove, and yoga and Pilates classes take place on a lawn overlooking the sea.
The Positano hotel has direct access to a private cove, reached by entering the lift in the lobby that’s been handily carved from the cliffs. The beach club is for the sole use of hotel guests – and you'll probably want to keep it a secret.
Bellevue Syrene, Sorrento
Though strictly speaking part of the Sorrentine Peninsula, Sorrento is an honorary member of the Amalfi Coast’s favourite towns, and it’s definitely worth a visit to stockpile everything from limoncello to lace.
One of the most luxurious hotels in Sorrento is Bellevue Syrene, where marble hallways, vaulted ceilings, Murano glassware and ceramics (yet another thing to shop for in this charming coastal town) all feature. Its bright white interiors also have sea-framing windows that create a calm, cooling sanctuary – and it has a jetty to jump off for equally refreshing dips in the sea.
Built on the remains of a Roman villa, the current residence was constructed in 1750, opening as a hotel in 1820 and serving dreamy dinners with a view of Vesuvius ever since. There are suites with alfresco hot tubs, perfectly positioned for a glimpse of the Gulf of Naples as you soak.
The terrace is yet another impossibly romantic spot along this honeymoon-haven coastline, with tables set out beneath a leafy pergola and a mesmerising view of the water.
Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi
The relative newbie kid on the Amalfi block has been causing quite the stir. Not because it was the first hotel to open swanky new polished doors in 15 years, but because of its novel uniqueness: a cuboid modern fortress perched 90 metres above an ancient castello that plunges into the deep blue sea. Masterminded by the very charismatic Ischian Maurizio Orlacchio, the 29-room, 16-suite hotel comes complete with three regional-first restaurants courtesy of executive chef Crescenzo Scott; a swish bar terrace; a rocky pool; and, unusually for the Amalfi Coast, access to its very own private beach.
Other wow moments come courtesy of the sea-view spa, decked out with a sensory shower and an outdoor panoramic terrace overlooking Conca dei Marini. A celebration of Italian design takes centre stage, especially in all of the communal hangouts, where everyone from artisans Rubelli to custom-made furniture design emporiums Tosconova and Lisar stun under Venetian glass lamps, alongside coffee tables stacked with every Assouline title under the sun. The best rooms to book? The suites with sunrise-ready pools. LA
Capri Tiberio Palace, Capri
If you’re in search of a little Capri glamour, Tiberio Palace has it all: colourful vintage armchairs, pop art, eclectic curios and piles of out-there coffee-table books. It’s removed from the hustle and bustle, but not too far from where all the action takes place on Capri’s boutique-lined Via Botteghe. The secluded location also comes with added perks, from the luxury of feeling that little bit more exclusive to peaceful mornings spent far from the crowds.
The Gianpiero Panepinto-designed bedrooms have been beautifully curated. No two are the same and each comes with vintage tomes, photos of Hollywood starlets, sculptural lamps and ornaments hand-picked from across the world. Shades of white and blue dominate, and if you’re lucky enough to be staying in a suite, large terraces are kitted out with exquisite Italianate tiles, hammocks, verdure and sunloungers. Elsewhere, the plush spa has a sauna, steam-room and multi-sensory showers, and the hotel restaurant is a good spot to tuck into some local favourites, from a cuttlefish black-ink pasta to pork fillets, cooked Capri-style. LA
Treville Positano
You’re never far from some incredible history in Italy and Treville Positano is a case in point. The seaside residence, which is one of the oldest buildings in the town, was once the home of the opera and film director Franco Zeffirelli, who invited guests such as Laurence Olivier, Elizabeth Taylor and Maria Callas to stay. The all-Italian decor is a trip through Italy’s heritage, too, with Murano glass, Vietri tiles and Neapolitan furniture.
The Bianca Bar ensures the old-school glamour is alive and well, and there’s a classic wooden boat to whisk guests along the Amalfi Coast in style. At the restaurant, Maestro’s, set on a vine-draped terrace overlooking the water, ingredients from the hotel’s organic farm are put to good use. There’s also a spa, with treatments taking place in an elegant art nouveau greenhouse.
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento
This year, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento is marking its 190th anniversary. Two centuries may seem relatively young in Italy, but when it’s commemorating almost 200 years of this Sorrento grande dame we’re talking about, it’s a cause for celebration. This opulent hotel has been providing refined refuge to lucky travellers since 1834, offering an extravagant breakfast room (complete with frescoes, painted columns and arches), five acres of olive, lemon and orange groves, and views of Mount Vesuvius. The decades have ticked on, but it's been in the same family for six generations, with nonna Lidia still overseeing her son Giudo Fiorentino and her grandsons.
Unsurprisingly, since this is Italy, its history does extend further into antiquity – it was built on the ancient foundations of a villa created for the Emperor Augustus. The ruined city of Pompeii is also easily reached from this supremely luxurious base.
Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel, Amalfi
There are lots of images of the Amalfi Coast that make you want to pack your suitcase and head there right away, and the sight of this 13th-century convent, clinging to the cliffs near Amalfi, is one of them. Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel was once the home of Capuchin monks (with one, Fra Marcus, still in residence), and the former refectory is now a rather grand suite. Other rooms overlook the cloisters, some have hot tubs and one has a frescoed ceiling that was painted in 1800.
Helpfully for anyone hoping to avoid the crowds and visit out of season, it’s the only five-star hotel on the Amalfi Coast that stays open for Christmas. We’d wager that it’s even more magical at that time of year.
