
Paradiso: The best luxury hotels on Italy’s Amalfi Coast
The once sleepy coastal villages of Positano, Ravello and Sorrento are now five-star havens for those looking for a slice of paradiso this summer
Italy’s Amalfi Coast was once a collection of medieval villages and Roman villas before the world cottoned on to its extraordinary beauty. This once sleepy slice of craggy cliffs and terracotta-hued villas played a pivotal role in the Roman Empire, the maritime republic of the Kingdom of Naples in the 14th century, and as a trading hub between Europe and the Arabs and Byzantines. Its rediscovery by European travellers in the 19th century saw these storied towns become not only relaxing hideouts for Italians on their summer sojourns, but holiday hotspots for Hollywood and its social set in the 1940s and 1950s, who flocked to the likes of Positano, Ravello and Sorrento to enjoy a slice of la dolce far niente.
With that, the world woke up to Amalfi’s unrivalled beauty, glamour and heritage – and while that often means the five-star brands scramble to move in, the beauty of this exclusive coastline is that there wasn’t much room for them to move into. Accordingly, many of the Amalfi Coast’s best hotels remain family-owned former palazzos and Roman villas which have been thoughtfully transformed to offer the height of Italian luxury. Here are our favourite hotels to book this summer and beyond.
Borgo Santandrea, Amalfi


Overlooking the glamorous Conca dei Marini – the elegant summer destination frequented by Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s – sits Borgo Santandrea, an impressive mid-century hotel built into the rocks 90 metres above sea level. Co-owned and run by the Orlacchio and De Siano families, the hotel emerged from a head-to-toe renovation in 2022 as a design masterpiece foregrounding local Amalfi and Campania craftmanship. Guests can be transported James Bond-style straight from Naples airport to Borgo Santandrea via the hotel’s very own speed boat, while private boat tours can be organised to popular local hotspots, including Amalfi, Capri and Positano.
Suites are spacious and sleek with expansive private terraces, some including their own plunge pools, and large windows giving way to panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Under the direction of executive chef Crescenzo Scotti, the hotel offers three restaurants showcasing the very best local ingredients. The Marinella Beach Club, situated on the hotel’s private beach, is the perfect spot for al fresco lunches or moonlit evenings by the glistening sea, where you can dine on plates of blue lobster paccheri pasta and traditional Neapolitan style pizzas. Belissimo!
From £802 per night.
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento


Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria proudly resides over this slice of Mediterranean coastline, with views that extend from the island of Procida across the Gulf to Naples to Mount Vesuvius. The hotel is set within five acres of olive, lemon and orange groves and, legend has it, was built on the ancient foundations of a villa designed for Roman emperor Caesar Augustus – and archaeological remnants of this villa are still dotted across the hotel’s leafy courtyards and terraces. The hotel was founded by the Fiorentino family in 1834, and is now in the hands of the fifth generation who are keeping alive a long tradition of Italian hospitality excellence.
Just an hour’s drive from Naples, the 80 rooms and suites are furnished with antiques collected throughout Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria’s history. Having hosted some of the world’s greatest icons, glamorous guests walk the same hallways as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, and Julia Roberts, and are treated to Vietri-tiled floors, marble bathrooms, trompe l’oeil artwork and other rarefied details in romantic rooms. So prized is the hotel’s interiors that it employs three full-time furniture restorers for the upkeep of its beautiful décor. As the sun sets, dine at the Michelin-starred Terrazza Bosquet, or toast to a day on one of the most glamorous coastlines in the world at the gorgeous al fresco champagne bar, La Pergola.
From £538 per night.
Caruso Hotel, Ravello


Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has built itself into one of the luxury travel industry's most influential brands, hosting experiences and launching hotels that have become places to see and be seen. Its Amalfi outpost, Caruso, perched on Ravello’s highest peak and with views across the Tyrrhenian Sea, is no different. Set on a limestone throne, the hotel was originally built in the 11th century by a wealthy family who ended up in Italy after being shipwrecked on their journey to Constantinople, and was named Palazzo d’Afflitto – the Palace of the Afflicted. Today it is anything but, with each of the 50 rooms having been lovingly restored to their ancient Neapolitan glory. Expect hand-crafted terracotta floors and Naples-yellow walls adorned with neo-classical antiques and paintings by old masters.
From the casual Caruso Grill to Ristorante Belvedere, head chef Armando Aristarco has perfectly paired the hotel’s stunning views with elegant menus. Taking inspiration from the diversity of the Mediterranean landscape, highlights include scabbardfish, papaccelle peppers and rustic bread, Monti Lattari lamb, and risotto caprese with almonds, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Elsewhere, Caruso guests can enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, indulge in tailor-made wellness experiences, such as top-to-toe exfoliation using volcanic stone and essential oils, or join a guided walk on Le Formichelle path from Ravello to Amalfi, followed by a private Aprea boat journey through the protected Bay of Ieranto.
From £612 per night.
Le Sirenuse, Positano


Le Sirenuse, owned by the Sersale family and part of The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) portfolio, has an illustrious guestbook, ranging from the former archbishop of Naples and mayor of Positano (the fishing village-turned-glam resort) to A-listers Reese Witherspoon, Denzel Washington, and Bella Hadid. The palazzo that now houses the hotel was the Sersale’s seaside retreat, and still features majolica-tiled rooms filled with museum-worthy antiques, hand-picked largely by patriarch Franco Sersale, making it one of the world’s most personal properties.
Inside, each of the 58 rooms is unique, ranging from the bright and breezy courtyard room overlooking the hotel’s inner terrace to the two-bedroom suite featuring a separate living room, three bathrooms with amenities by Eau d’Italie – Le Sirenuse’s own toiletries brand designed to capture the heady scents of Positano – and beautiful vistas of the sea. For a true taste of Italy’s southern coast, dine at La Sponda or graze glamorously at Aldo’s terracotta terrace overlooking the bustling town below. The old-school Don’t Worry Bar harks back to the heyday of hotel bars and serves every aperitif and digestif you can imagine, while lazy lunches at the pool bar offer up delicious caprese salads and a glass of wine every hour, on the hour. Paradiso.
From £717 per night.
Palazzo Avino, Ravello


Originally a 12th-century villa built for an esteemed Italian noble family, this multi-award-winning property that's also a member of LHW has 33 rooms and 10 suites which were tastefully refurbished in 1997, when the Avino family transformed this former home into what is deemed to be one of the best hotels in the world. Ensuring its evocative medieval and baroque features remained intact, impeccable service comes as standard (the hotel operates with a ratio of two staff per room) while a 20-metre infinity pool, state-of-the-art spa and expansive sun deck floating 350 metres above sea level ensure every guest yearns to return.
Enjoy a fine dinner or intimate chef’s table experience at Michelin-starred Rosellini’s Restaurant or sip Italy’s most revered wines at the Sommelier’s Table in the hotel’s candlelit cave. Don’t miss a trip to Palazzo Avino’s exclusive Clubhouse by the Sea, just 15 minutes away via complimentary shuttle. Encompassing three terraced levels, this private beach club offers direct access to the Mediterranean sea, alongside pools, a casual restaurant, showers and relaxing living rooms – so the only decision you have to make is which sun-drenched locale to while away the afternoon at. It’s a hard life…
From £574 per night.
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