Travel Diaries: Positano, Italy
Hotel Villa Franca Positano ~ We stayed in this stunning hotel and chose this one based on everything we read about Positano. We loved being at the very top of Positano, the views are breathtaking and the rooftop pool was elegant, yet inviting for all four of us. With only 44 rooms in the hotel, (and we were in two of them between Matthew and me and the girls in one as well), we really felt like we got to know the staff. All were so helpful with any additional reservations, etc we needed. I would 10/10 stay here again the next time we go.
Other notable hotels:
Il San Pietro
La Sirenuse
Hotel Edon Roc
Hotel Poseidon
Marincanto
view from our room
rooftop pool of Villa Franca
where to eat
Aldo’s at Le Sirenuse
Aldo’s at le Sirenuse ~ This was hands down our favorite. The food was excellent and you cannot beat the gorgeous setting overlooking the coastline and village. Located in one one of the most stylish hotels in Positano, the people, decor, food, really everything about it made this our favorite dinner out!
Chez Black Positano ~ This iconic hot spot located right off the main beach in Positano makes for an ideal fun night out! I loved the people watching and lively vibe of this beach side restaurant. The food was great, nothing super special, but I would definitely go for the atmosphere and fun clientele.
Lo Scoglio Da Tommaso ~ Wow! This meal was one of our favorites we had on our vacation! It’s not really in Positano, but we went here for lunch one day while out on a boat we chartered to explore. This waterfront restaurant is located on a private beach in Nerano on the bay of Marina del Cantone of the Amalfi Coast. This family run restaurant exudes joy in serving and truly have a passion for running this charming seaside restaurant. Everything they serve is from local farms and fisherman. It is still run by the De Simone family with so much love and it shows in every dish. I highly recommend the spaghetti all Nerano!
Rada Beach Restaurant ~ This oceanside restaurant was a glamorous spot to enjoy the lights of Positano one night. We ordered pretty light the night we enjoyed Rada, but everything we had was pretty good. It was more about the location with this one than the food. I’m not sure this would be top on our list to go back to, even thought I absolutely loved the atmosphere. I would say maybe hit this one up for drinks and dessert!
Ristorante Max ~ This hot spot is well know for their delicious seafood and stylish space. The framed art and central location made this a fun spot. We had our dinner here and then walked to get gelato after.
La Scogliera ~ This was the beach club we went to in Positano. We had lunch here and it was exceptional! I would go back here in a heartbeat! We all loved it!
La Tre Sorelle ~ The food and staff here were exceptional. It’s located right in the middle of all the fun action at the beach in Positano. Someone recommended the lobster pasta, and I will say, it was delicious!
what to do
We opted to do a private boat tour through Lucibello Positano. We spent the day on the water, along with going to Capri to walk around and lunch at La Scoglio in Nerano. The boat day was probably our favorite day. We chartered the boat for eight hours and our captain was FABULOUS! Request Luca Patriciello to be your captain because he truly made our day the best! He had fun music for the girls, lots of fun facts, and was the one who recommended La Scoglio for lunch. He also had us belly laughing and we’ve kept in touch with him! He’s just really good at what he does! We can’t wait to take another tour with him next time we’re on the Amalfi Coast.
where to shop
Oh, the shopping in Positano is to die for! I want to go back if for nothing else (which would be crazy since Positano has so much to offer), but for the shopping. We bought some really cute clothes, pottery, beautiful glasses, and fun jewelry. We also found some gorgeous watercolors we brought back. If we had more room, we would have bought so much more. Our favorite shops were stubbled upon by walking around, but I’ll list a few below we remember by name and loved.
Temptation Positano
Luisa Positano
Missoni
Nana Positano
Ceramiche Casola
Emporio della Ceramica
Theodora Moda Positano
Don Catello
Positano Beach Club
We spent the day at la Scogliera Beach Club on our actual 20th wedding anniversary. It was a dreamy day to say the least. The beach club has a private terrace, with an amazing view of the sea. The restaurant has a wonderful and relaxed atmosphere. This was a really great way to spend the day and with easy access to the beach and ocean, we were able to enjoy our chairs and umbrellas, but also swim and play on the beach with Sarah.
Image via la Scogliera website
