11 Best Hotels in Positano, The Amalfi Coast

Clinging to a cliff, this little house is beloved for its homey restaurant; its owners, the Cinque family; and its Italianate charm, complete with rooms that have high ceilings, tile floors, bright fabrics, and sea and coastline views. Car or motorboat excursions to surrounding towns and attractions can be arranged. You can't drive your car to the doorway, but porters will ferry your luggage.

Above the Spiaggia Grande, a fisherman’s tavern later converted into a guesthouse—where some of the airy guest rooms have sea views and others overlook the majolica dome of Santa Maria Assunta—has long held center stage, as evidenced by the photos of glitterati guests (Steinbeck, Hemingway, Jackie Kennedy) that line the walls. Spacious upper floor rooms with terraces are worth seeking out. The dining terrace features such specialties as homemade scialatielli ai frutti di mare and gambaretti alla Clark (named after the American general who docked here during World War II and promptly requested a prawn cocktail). There's no pool, but who needs one this close to the beach?

True to the word "gold" in its name, this bright, burnished, wedding-cake of a hotel shines brightly from its hillside perch amid a citrus-filled garden and terraces; guest rooms have chintz fabrics, antique furnishings, boldly patterned floor tiles, ceiling fans, and balconies that overlook the sea. There's also a broad, casual dining veranda and a private stretch of beach.

The closest hotel to the Sponda bus stop, this luxury property (perfect for either couples or families) has spectacular views and service and spacious, pastel-hue guest rooms—all with terraces overlooking the town and some with whirlpool tubs. The rooftop swimming pool and dining area offer one of the most alluring views in all of Positano. Nonguests are welcome to dine at the Adamo & Eva restaurant.

Set back a little from the main road and a short walk up from the main beach, this hotel has commanding views and bright guest rooms decorated with local artwork and boldly patterned mosaic tile. Sit back and admire the same knockout view as that at the neighboring luxury hotel, Le Sirenuse, for a fraction of the price.

The Poseidon is more than just another hotel with an amazing view and a terrace, thanks, in no small part, to the on-site Beauty Center L'Onda with its gym, Turkish bath, and massage and other treatments. All rooms have private terraces, most overlooking the bay—and a range of events can be organized, from boat rides to group excursions to weddings.

Favored by the glitterati, the San Pietro is several leagues above town (a shuttle bus whisks you back and forth), far from the crowds and paparazzi but camera-ready nevertheless, with seven levels of gardened terraces and a stunning interior that mixes the modern (the hotel was built in the early 1970s) with the magnificent (great antiques, elegant Vietri tilework). Who can resist idling away hours on the majolica benches of the grand terrace? Before you is a god's view of Positano and its bay, magnificently framed by gigantic urns of flowers. Most of the elegantly furnished rooms come with terraces (most look out to the sea, not toward Positano) and plate-glass views; guest-room decor mixes chic and charming in best country-style manner. The pool on an upper level is not large, so most guests opt to take an elevator fit for James Bond through hundreds of feet of mountainside to the private beach and bar. The proprietors organize boating excursions for those who want to roam farther afield. Don't leave without trying the hotel's incredibly delicious signature drink: Elephant's Milk, a mix of almond milk, mineral water, and lemon juice. The bartenders here also make a mean Bellini.

This tiny, unpretentious hotel on the outskirts of Positano beckons with bougainvillea-laden views, castaway cottages, and a turquoise seawater pool—all perched over a private beach where a boat can whisk you away to Capri. Thanks to the wonderful Mandara family, you'll feel right at home in a few minutes—because this is their home. Guest rooms with coved ceilings, whitewashed walls, and native folk art are simple havens of tranquility and comfort. Some are in a house above the road (a bit noisy if trucks rumble by, but this rarely happens at night); others are in adorable cottages close to the sea. Very steep, arbor-covered walkways zigzag across the hill, linking these little acres of heaven.

As legendary as its namesake sirens, this 18th-century palazzo has long set the standard for luxury in Italian hotels: it opened in 1951 with just 12 rooms (John Steinbeck stayed here while writing "Positano" for Harper's Bazaar in 1953) and now sprawls over eight floors, where extravagantly stylish guest rooms are accented with antiques and fine linens. Stunning vine-entwined terraces overlook town—the poolside terrace, the most beautiful on this coast, is the place to have lunch. Fine Campania cuisine is also served in the La Sponda restaurant, which is lit by 400 candles, and in the Champagne and Oyster bar where contented patrons toast the good luck that brought them here. Other perks include a private yacht, Eau d’Italie toiletries, and a designer spa.

A central-yet-secreted location, an infinity pool below the cupola of Santa Maria Assunta, and a magical bougainvillea-draped patio garden are among the things that make the Murat an extraordinary place to stay. The courtyard (part orchard, part terrace) is one of the most drop-dead-gorgeous settings in Campania—a sublime area for dining alfresco at the Al Palazzo restaurant on dishes created by the accomplished chef. The old (18th-century) wing is Positano's grandest palazzo, once the summer residence of Joachim Murat, king of Naples, with massive limestone walls, carved rococo delicacies, and wrought-iron balconies swimming in pink flowers. The many-arched Mediterranean-style new wing has shady room terraces overlooking the gorgeous gardens and pool.

If you're eager to settle in for a while, this charming villa, a private home for centuries, has a prime location overlooking Piazza Flavio Gioia (the Spiaggia Grande is but a hop, skip, and flip-flop away) and bright mini-apartments, each with a cooking area and a terrace or large balcony. The small garden, which hosts exhibitions by local painters, is a pleasant place to chill out as you watch the tourists and Positanesi trekking down to the beach.