Albergo Miramare

LACED IN BOUGAINVILLEA, Hotel Miramare has charm in spades and views to blow you away. Clinging to the cliffside in prettiest Positano, this intimate retro-Italian gem also has hugely hospitable hosts.

Run by the same family since 1946 (guests over the years have included some old-time Hollywood stars), Albergo Miramare is a favourite with honeymooners. You’re just 100m from the beach at this small, tucked-away boutique hotel (though with plenty of steps to climb up and down) and all 15 rooms have private terraces that almost feel suspended above the sea. 

The Miramare doesn’t claim to be super-luxurious – but its location is superlative. It's worth splashing out on one of the three “special” rooms (209 has a glass wall above the bath while 210’s shower has a full-height window along with a glass bedroom wall opening on to a huge terrace). If these plum rooms are booked, take a deluxe double.

Million-dollar views

Spotless bedrooms are styled with simplicity and shades of ‘60s retro. They come with whitewashed walls, vaulted ceilings and terracotta floors, gilded wall sconces and antique pieces.

If your bedroom is appealing, step inside the ensuite. Many bathrooms have glass walls, letting you soak in the suds or even top up your tan while looking straight out to sea, as well as playful touches like pink clamshell basins. For the best bathtime experience you can wallow in room 210’s glass bathtub, set on a flower-laden terrace, while drinking in those million-dollar sea views.

You’re just minutes from the beach here, though we wouldn’t blame you for just chilling on your terrace, with their pots of geraniums, with a pile of good books. There’s no better place to sip a late-night Amaretto and watch Positano’s twinkling lights mirrored in the waves.

While there’s no restaurant at Albergo Miramare (but plenty of places to eat out in the vicinity), delicious breakfasts – served in the sunny and airy salon, whose verandah doors are usually flung open – will set you up for the day. There’s also a small adjacent drawing room with Baroque-style sofas and a fireplace for cooler days. 

Standout service and a genuinely warm welcome set Albergo Miramare apart. Owner Rosa lavishes TLC on her guests, and staff will help ensure you get the max from your stay. 

© Room for Romance