The stunning former estate of Italian director Franco Zeffirelli is set in lush gardens overlooking the sea. Just as dramatic are the in-room design details (hand-painted herringbone tiling, whimsical mosaics, mother-of-pearl furniture) and fruit-laden cocktails enjoyed in the Salone Bianca. The service is fabulous — wholly unobtrusive, completely attentive. The best of Italy in all respects.
Via Arienzo 30
Positano, 84017
+39-089-812-2411
A gracious, family-run hotel at the base of Villa Jovis, a 15-minute walk from Capri's main Piazzetta. The 20 rooms are simply decorated with the old-fashioned wood furniture that you'll see everywhere along the Amalfi Coast. On the minus side, the rooms are small. On the plus side, they have terraces and are incredibly affordable, a quality that is not easy to find in Capri. The grounds have a pool, vineyards, and orchards.
Via Tiberio 3/a
Capri, 80073
+39-081-837-7817
This is where locals stay when they want a Capri getaway. The setting and the views are fantastic: on Via Tragara overlooking Marina Piccola. Built into the hillside, most rooms have terraces and there are gardens throughout. The decor is a little fusty by modern standards, but sweet in a nice, old lady way.
Via Tragara 24
Capri, 80073
+39-081-837-0122
As a general rule, we don't recommend staying in tourist-packed Sorrento. (This is the town that leads to the rest of the Amalfi Coast and Capri.) But if you have to stay in town, stay here at the Giò Ponti-designed hotel on the cliffs. The garden is incredibly romantic and mature, and the beach is sophisticated and quiet.
Vita Rota 44
Sorrento, 80067
+39-081-878-4644
The former Palazzo Sasso has recently undergone an extensive and beautiful renovation, turning it into a 12th-century villa decorated with 18th-century antiques that provides 21st-century amenities and service. It's exactly what you'd expect when you're spending a month's salary on four nights. Be careful with the room you reserve: Cheaper rooms aren't really worth the savings. Restaurant options include Rossellinis for fine dining and Lobster & Martini Bar for more casual fare.
Via San Giovanni del Toro 28
Ravello, 84010
+39-089-818-181
A Sorrentine boutique hotel built onto a hill on the road and impeccably decorated with colorful ceramics and objects in a nautical theme by the designer behind some of the coast’s best spots.
Via Capo 25
Sorrento, 80067
40.6272620
+39-081-877-4455
This family-run hotel overlooking the sea is one of our favorite places on earth. (Fathom founder Pavia Rosati comes at least once a year, usually with a big gang.) It's incredibly well-priced, a low-fi operation that's light on amenities (no room service, no in-room phones) and high on charm (the De Simone family is wonderful; the casual restaurant is arguably the best on the Amalfi Coast). The dozen rooms are nothing fancy, but they are impeccably clean, with comfortable beds, nautical themes (constellations painted on the ceiling), lace bedspreads, and big terraces. If you believe in simple pleasures, Lo Scoglio is pure heaven.
Piazza delle Sirene 115
Marina del Cantone, Massa Lubrense, 80061
+39-081-808-1026
Everybody adores this classic hotel. Is it the effect of drinking a bottle of rose while sitting in your bathrobe on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean? The epic views over the sea? The breakfast on the terrace followed by a lazy day in a shaded pool cabana? The antiques, which include framed passports from 1496? The careful attention of the charming owners, Antonio and Carla Sersale? Their line of bath products, which may be the best-smelling in the world?
Via Cristoforo Colombo 30
Positano, 84017
+39-089-875-066
An intimate, 30-room boutique hotel with rooms high above the sea. The decor is old-fashioned and elegant, with white and hand-painted tiles, vaulted ceilings, classical wood furniture, ornate headboards, and plush sofas. The white and azure theme feels especially Capri, and the quiet location ensures a peaceful escape. Lunch by the pool is especially nice.
Via Tragara 8
Capri, 80073
+39-081-837-0633
Fresh and affordable accommodations in pricey Capri. Family-run, with 18 rooms with stunning sea views, some of which have grand terraces. Located right in the center of town, mere walking distance from shopping areas Via Camerelle and Via Tragara. For a modest fee, you can use the pool at the neighboring hotel, which is owned by the aunt of the owner, Signore Esposito. So Italian.
Via Occhio Marino 8
Capri, 80073
+39-081-837-7067
The entire set-up — from the lobby library to the communal breakfast room to the airy suites — is pure chic, high glamour, and relaxed elegance. Situated on a spit of land overlooking Marina Grande, the location is at once out of the way and ridiculously convenient. The patio, site of the restaurant and lounge, overlooks the Bay of Naples. The pool is in a lovely and private garden. The spa has incredible treatments, Santa Maria Novella products, and a beautiful steam room. The staff are generous, attentive, and caring, especially general manager Simone Giorgi. (There are J.K. Place outposts in Florence and Rome, too.)
Via Provinciale Marina Grande 225
Capri, 80073
+39-081-838-4001
A cliffside hotel in Amalfi that may as well have been built for honeymooning. It's packed with couples who come for the breathtaking views, outdoor dining with live music, and a roof made from sprawling lemon trees. It's located on the main road of the Amalfi Coast, but feels removed from the crowds, especially if you splurge on one of the quiet and grand suites like Romeo and Juliet Chalet or Il Torrino. Elevators connect the hotel to the private beach and pool below.
S.S. Amalfitana 9
Amalfi, 84011
+39-089-871-012
The grand hotel at the end of the pedestrian route Via Tragara feels like another time and place. The lobby has cavernous, arched ceilings and antique furnishings: This doesn't feel like a hotel so much as the living room of a noble estate. Rooms are large and comfortable, well appointed with sleek but cozy furnishings, vast marble bathrooms, and terraces that overlook the sea.
Via Tragara 57
Capri, 80073
+39-081-837-0844
A picturesque, historic, and reasonably priced (for this part of the world) hotel where 43 guest rooms surround a 13-century cloister. The decor is old-fashioned and lovely, with coffered ceilings and heavy wood furniture. The pool has seaside access, and the center of Amalfi is a five-minute walk away.
Via Pantaleome Comite 33
Amalfi, 84011
+39-089-871-002
Ravello's best. A former 11th-century palace that's been restored, with 48 rooms and suites, many with original architectural details and frescoes. Rooms are spacious, with stunning water views and every imaginable amenity. The highlight, however, is the incredibly kind and efficient staff. Tip: Don't miss a world-class massage en plein air as well as stroll through the wisteria-laden pergola on your way to the gorgeous infinity pool.
Piazza San Giovanni del Toro 2
Ravello, 84010
+39-089-858-800
The grand and classic hotel in Capri, a classic that's been attracting heads of state and jetsetters since 1845. It's located in the center of Capri town, which is either a plus or a minus, depending how you feel about hordes of tourists traipsing by. The rooms are decorated in grand and traditional style. The spa has a hammam and indoor pool. And whether you stay or not, an aperitivo here is a must.
Via Camerelle 2
Capri, 80073
+39-081-837-0788
One of our favorite places on the Amalfi Coast in Sant' Agata Sui Due Golfi, the hill town on the Sorrentine peninsula. The Michelin-starred restaurant is famous world wide. The dozen rooms are named for herbs and are decorated with antique furnishings accented with bright textiles. The House of the Poet is a separate two-storey, one-bedroom suite in a building hear the lovely swimming pool. They also have an on-site cooking school, and an amazing wine cellar.
Corso Sant'Agata 11/13
Sant' Agata Sui Due Golfi, 80064
+39-081-878-00-26
Deep reds, dark woods, frescoed ceilings, and mid-century furnishings are the touchstones of this intimate estate in low-key Praiano. The 16 rooms and detached villa make a sophisticated design departure from the region's signature combo of bright whites plus colorful ceramics. A rambling garden and swimming pool overlook the sea — a little paradise for sunbathers.
Via Rezzola 41
Praiano, 84010
+39-089-874-078
There are 39 rooms at this chic and discreet hotel on the coast outside Praiano. Artwork and sculptures come to life in a space that's entirely white — from the outdoor patio furnishings to the billowing curtains to the crisp bedroom linens.
Via Gennaro Capriglione 147
Praiano, 84010
+39-089-813-1333
A charming hotel a quick stroll away from Capri's town center, with 60 rooms and 17 suites decorated in traditional style accented with brights colors (furniture and wallpaper) and interesting objects (many with nautical themes). Balconies and terraces have southern views. Notably, the hotel has the only fully kosher restaurant in southern Italy, located in a separate dining room the restaurant Terrazza Tiberio.
Via Croce 11-15
Capri, 80073
+39-081-978-7111
Incredible glamour in quiet Anacapri. The 77 rooms and suites are quietly luxurious. Some suites have private pools and gardens; some are are named for icons like Warhol, Callas, Hepburn, and Athena. The impressive modern art collection throughout the hotel is rivaled only by the antiques. There are three restaurants: L’Olivo (fine dining; two Michelin stars), Il Riccio (beach club; one star), and casual bistrot Ragù. The woefully-named spa, The Capri Beauty Farm, is famous for its medical treatments and its "leg school" program.
Via Capodimonte 14
Anacapri, 80071
+39-081-978-0111
A supremely relaxing Relais & Chateaux hotel off the beaten path in Anacapri. Many rooms literally jut out over the water, as does the infinity pool that overlooks an endless blue expanse. (You're 1,000 feet above the Bay of Naples.) Hotelier Lucia Garau is happy to help with boat transfers, sourcing the ultimate sandals, and everything in between.
Via G.Orlandi 4
Capri, 80071
+39-081-837-3395