Le Sirenuse

John Steinbeck once said of Positano that it was a dreamlike place that didn’t feel real when you were there, but agonisingly real once you’d left. Le Sirenuse, nestled in the heart of this clifftop village, exudes elegance and charm and is the perfect place to escape.

Le Sirenuse opened in 1951 when four Neopolitain brothers decided to turn their holiday house into a hotel. The Almalfi Coast may well be one of Italy’s popular destinations, but the team pride themselves on maintaining the feel of a private home.

Sat 70m above sea level, the hotel overlooks the bay of Positano and most of the 58 rooms come with a private terrace or balcony with views across the glittering sea. Whitewashed walls, vaulted ceilings and hand-made tiles on the floor give the rooms plenty of charm.

The outdoor pool is surrounded by lemon trees and looks out over the bay and up to the cluster of houses that cling to the cliffs. Before or after a dip in the water, be sure to try the tempting array of fresh seafood at the Champagne and Oyster Bar. The Michelin-starred restaurant is filled with greenery and has the most incredibly romantic atmosphere at when dinner when it is lit up by 400 candles.