Where to stay, eat, drink & go in the Amalfi Coast
This summer I went to Europe for about 17 days with a few of my friends. We visited so many amazing places including Paris, Santorini and Athens, but the Amalfi Coast was by far my favorite stop of the trip.
We spent 5 days in the picturesque town of Positano where we cooked authentic Italian food at Buca Di Bacco, made Limoncello with Valentino of Valenti Positano, jumped off cliffs into the Tyrrhenian Sea, and so much more.
I connected with this town more than any other during our trip – the people were genuine, the food was delicious (who doesn’t love to eat pasta and pizza every day?!) and there was so much charm around every corner.
Where to stay
We stayed at the Hotel Palazzo Murrat and I would highly recommend it. It is located only a few minutes from the beach and shops. When you step onto the property there is a beautiful, quiet, serene courtyard and welcoming staff that will give you a tour of the hotel.
The rooms were gorgeous with updated bathrooms and balconies with stunning views. The property had a pool overlooking the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The staff was informative and helpful without being overbearing. They helped us schedule boats and tours as well as provided beach bags equipped with towels for our excursions.
This hotel was definitely a splurge for us, but it was worth every penny.
Where to eat and drink
Honestly, we didn’t have a bad meal. The food in Positano was amazing, but I included a few notable places below that I definitely wouldn’t skip if you get the opportunity to visit Positano.
Casa e Bottega – a charming, healthy breakfast and lunch spot that gives you a break from pizza and pasta. They also sell home décor including beautiful linen napkins and ceramics
Champagne Bar & Grill – this champagne and oyster bar has some of the most breathtaking views of Positano. We stopped in for a drink one night before dinner and watched the sun go down as the lights of Positano went on. It’s an understatement to say we all fell in love with the candlelit ambience
Franco’s Bar – a more casual alternative to the champagne bar, Franco’s Bar is a great place to stop for an evening cocktail. You may wait awhile for a table, but it’s worth it to enjoy this trendy, cool atmosphere
da Gabrisa – located in a more residential part of Positano, this restaurant is a nice escape from the crowded streets and offers outdoor seating overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Perfect restaurant to watch the sunset and enjoy truly incredible food and wine
What to do
Although we stayed in Positano, we visited Capri and Amalfi during our trip. I have included activities I would recommend in all these locations.
Cooking Class at Buca Di Bacco – not only did we learn to cook authentic Italian food including gnocchi, margherita pizza, eggplant parmesan and a chocolate cake, but the chefs made the class so enjoyable. You will of course get to enjoy the meal you cooked after class with some wine and they will send you off all the recipes along with a wooden gnocchi press
Private boat and driver – we rented a boat with a driver for half a day and it was one of the highlights of our trip. In addition to seeing the coast from a new vantage point, we swam, jumped off cliffs and stopped in the town of Amalfi for about an hour to see the square and have a drink
Da Luigi Beach Club – this beach club is located on the island of Capri. We took a ferry from Positano to Capri and then walked over a mile to the beach club (something I don’t recommend as it requires climbing hundreds of stairs. Definitely take some transportation from the Ferry to this side of the island, or ideally, take a boat directly to the beach club). The views are beautiful and it was fun to lay out in the sun and swim. The restaurant was good for lunch, but there is definitely better food in the area.
Fontelina Beach Club – I can’t leave a real review since by the time we got there it was full and that was how we ended up at Da Luigi, but have to mention it as it was beautiful and definitely somewhere I will go on my next visit!
Limoncello Making Class at Valenti Positano – one of my friends on the trip loves limoncello and after talking to our hotel about it, they set us up to do a limoncello making class with Valentino of Valenti. I highly recommend you track this class down when you arrive in Positano – Valentino was so passionate about his business and taught us so much about cooking with lemons. In addition to making Limoncello, we made marmalade, ate bread and cheese, drank wine and just had the best time!
I do hope you get to experience the Amalfi Coast and if you do, please comment below on some of your favorite things to do and places to stay!
