Le Sirenuse

Le Sirenuse Review

As legendary as its namesake sirens, this in-town 18th-century palazzo has long set the standard for luxury in Italian hotels. It opened in 1951 with just twelve rooms, when then-mayor Paolo Sersale converted the family home into a guesthouse (this is where John Steinbeck stayed while writing his famous essay, "Positano," for Harper's Bazaar in 1953). Now sprawled over eight floors, it boasts 59 extravagantly stylish guest rooms—each one special but all accented with elegant antiques and fine linen bedding. Winner of countless awards, the hotel is still run by Marchese Sersale and seduces all guests with Venetian and Neapolitan museum-quality antiques and artwork, stunning vine-entwined terraces that overlook town, and the coast's most beautiful poolside terrace. The last of these is the place to have lunch in Positano, but you can also savor fine Camania cuisine onsite at the La Sponda restaurant; then repair to the aristocratic reading room or the Champagne and Oyster bar, where contented patrons toast the good luck that brought them here. Add in the other hotel perks—like a private yacht for boating excursions, an iPod for the duration of your stay, and access to an in-house spa designed by Gae Aulenti—and it's easy to see why rates here are among the highest in Italy.