Positano hotels

There are luxury hotels and then there is Il San Pietro di Positano. A regular on the 'World's Best' lists, this elegant 5-star hideaway is one of the best hotels in Positano, as well as one of the most famous.

The hotel, a favourite with Hollywood stars, started life in the 1970s when Carlo Cinque built a private villa for himself into the side of the cliff on the edge of town. Over the years he added more rooms until finally, he opened San Pietro to guests.

Members of the Cinque family still run the property today and this is what makes this hotel so very special. Because despite oozing glamour from every corner, this is still a family-run operation, where staff members care about their guests. Yes, the price tag is high, but it’s an experience worth saving for.

It's been just over 70 years since the Sersale family first started welcoming friends to their Positano villa. So popular was their seaside retreat that, in 1951, they transformed the villa into a hotel.

Painted a deep "Positano red", Le Sirenuse sits just outside the centre, with views over the town's colourful cliffside. Now home to 58 rooms, the whimsical hotel is decorated with a rich collection of antiques and artwork, there's a stunning swimming pool and some of the town's best restaurants and bars. I highly recommend sundowners at Aldo's Cocktail Bar.

What I really love about this hotel – and what I think makes it one of the best hotels in Positano – is that it’s still family-run. Antonio Sersale, the son of one of the co-founders, is now in charge, along with his wife and two sons, and their passion for both the property and Positano shines through.

One of my favourite things about Villa Yiara, a cheery family-run B&B on the upper slopes of Positano, is the decor. White, with touches of sunshine yellow throughout. It's an elegant, homely and welcoming place to stay.

Imara and Silvio are in charge, and they do a stellar job of hosting their guests in what was once their family home. The eight spacious bedrooms all come with a pretty balcony or terrace, with views of Positano's stacked buildings and the shimmering sea beyond – best enjoyed with morning coffee and croissants.

What makes Villa Yiara one of the more unique hotels in Positano is Room 8, whose vaulted ceiling is covered in climbing bougainvillea. The other reason why this is one of the best hotels in Positano is because it’s open year-round, making it the perfect base for a winter retreat.

Packed full of retro glamour, Hotel Poseidon has been wooing guests for decades. Originally constructed as a private villa, the elegant retreat opened its doors to guests in 1950 and remains one of the best hotels in Positano.

The first time I visited Hotel Poseidon it felt like stepping back in time. This impossibly chic hotel has changed little since its early days, apart from the arrival of some welcome mod cons (air-conditioning, smart TVs and comfy mattresses among them). A particular highlight is the old wooden lift dating from 1965 that still operates today. Staff will proudly tell you it was the first elevator installed in Positano.

Hotel Poseidon is still run by members of the Aonzo family, who could not be better cheerleaders for Positano, happily sharing their insider tips as well as organising everything from dinner reservations to travel arrangements.

Today, the 5-star Villa Treville is one of the best hotels in Positano, but it was once the holiday home of Franco Zeffirelli, one of Italy's most talented directors. Known for his opulent opera productions, I had arrived expecting a grandiose property. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that although this hotel is wonderfully romantic, it’s also delightfully low-key.

The property is spread across four elegant villas with a range of accommodations, each individually decorated and named after a legendary figure. My favourite is the Bernstein Suite, inspired by the conductor and composer, which comes with a lush tropical garden and dreamy outdoor bath.

Another highlight is the property's organic farm, which influences the hotel restaurant Maestro's farm-to-table ethos, not forgetting the expertly prepared cocktails in Bianca's Bar, made using herbs and botanicals from the garden.

Big is not always better when it comes to the best hotels in Positano, especially when you stay at Casa Buonocore. This delightful, eight-room boutique hotel sits tucked away among the narrow Positano lanes, hidden behind a garden of orange trees. Run by Nino, Sandra and Annamaria, a stay here feels more like staying with friends than in a hotel.

Of the eight rooms, my favourites are the large Superior Room, with its pretty plant-strewn terrace overlooking the colourful vertical city, and the light-filled Junior Suite, with its impossibly romantic wrought iron balcony.

Breakfast is the only meal served here (it’s delicious, with freshly squeezed orange juice from the garden) and you’re very close to town for lunch and dinner options. Be aware, however, that 70 steps separate the hotel and the lane below.

Located next to Positano's jetty, just steps away from the beach, is the cliffside Covo Dei Saraceni. The name translates as the "Hideout of the Saracens", a reference to the 1558 landing of the Saracens in Positano (an annual festival that takes place every year in August, when costumed actors re-enact the battle).

One of the best things about this boutique Positano hotel is its location – perfectly positioned to watch the colourful fishing boats on the water and for exploring the sunny coastline; Amalfi, Capri and Ravello are just a short boat ride away.

What really makes this one of the best hotels in Positano, however, is its rooftop swimming pool. The sparkling pool, lined with sun loungers underneath large cream parasols, is beautiful and I spent a couple of very happy afternoons here, pausing only to order a drink from the Pool Bar.

If you like a hotel with character, then you will love Villa La Tartana. Sure, it might not boast Hollywood credentials or 5-star luxuries, but this charming guesthouse really is one of the best hotels in Positano.

Housed within a typical Positanasian house, painted Pompeian red with bright white shutters, La Tartana sits in the lower part of the village. This is the ideal location for enjoying the best bars, boutiques and restaurants.

Of the 12 guestrooms, I recommend choosing one of the six located at the front, which enjoy large sea-facing balconies (these also provide a welcome retreat from the summer crowds). The only downside is the lack of a swimming pool, but the warm waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea are just a short walk away.

I have always loved summer photos of the Amalfi Coast, sun-kissed locals swimming in clear blue waters and relaxing beneath green and orange striped parasols. So, it was love at first sight when I came across Hotel Pupetto.

Located on Fornillo Beach, with its own private strip of sand, this welcoming guesthouse is one of the best hotels in Positano. The rooms are cheery and bright, with hand-painted floor tiles that I would love to have at home. If you can, reserve a room with a balcony so you can soak up the sea views.

Another highlight is the magical terrace restaurant, which conjures up delicious dishes – everything from pizza cooked in their wood oven to freshly caught seafood with homemade pasta – served overlooking the ocean.

Many of the best hotels in Positano come with a steep price tag, but you can save money if you know where to look. Albergo California is one such gem. Founded by two brothers, Antonio and Francesco Cinque, the duo transformed an ancient Palazzo into a warm, friendly and welcoming hotel.

What I particularly like about this 15-room boutique hotel is the sense of history; the original structure dates to 1777 and some of the large bedrooms benefit from painted ceilings (room No. 58 also enjoys a whirlpool tub).

It's not fancy (some might even say it's a little old fashioned), but what it might lack in luxury amenities it more than makes up for in charm, not to mention the spellbinding ocean views from the large, plant-filled terrace.