The Aonzo family’s unashamedly old-fashioned hotel sits on the busy main road into Positano and offers a homely contrast to the town’s more design-conscious five-stars; the hotel celebrated 70 years of business in 2025. An old wooden lift (dating from 1965 and the town’s first) trundles you up to the 50 bedrooms, which are spread over four labyrinthine floors and an expansive roof terrace with pool, bar, restaurant and sitting areas. Inside, many of the original furnishings and décor have been lovingly preserved but there are 21st century luxuries too (fab mattresses for starters) and the whole place has a retro-cool edge to it.
Sunset cocktails and dinner at Il Tridente (which serves up an ace taglierini with lobster) watching the town light up like a Christmas tree are un-missable. One of the very coolest things? The vintage WV Beetle soft-top at guests’ disposal for spins along the coast.
Price: Rooms from around £450 per night.
Address: Via Pasitea 148, 84017 Positano (SA), Italy
Marincanto
Giuseppe Vespoli, erstwhile mayor of Positano, opened his modest B&B in 1970; the present, much smarter version is now run by his grandchildren. From the street-level car park, a lift plunges you down to the main floor and a sunny open-plan reception and lounge area, all pale creams with flashes of sunflower yellow and knockout views of the sparkling blue sea through French doors. Drinks and meals are served on a huge panoramic terrace shaded by lemon trees from where steps lead down to a cliffside infinity pool; another 300 take you down to a private beach. Bedrooms and suites, divided between the main building and a Pompeiian red annexe, are done out in bright mod-Costiera style: all but one has a private outdoor space.
Price: Rooms from around £350 per night.
Address: Via Cristoforo Colombo 50, 84017 Positano (SA), Italy
Villa Rosa
‘Affordable’ is a relative term in Positano these days, but this no fuss three-star guest house, occupying a whitewashed 19th– century villa just up the road from celebrated Le Sirenuse (and sharing the same views), offers genuinely good value. It’s a simple place with lovely service and 20 immaculate bedrooms, each of which has a private terrace dripping with bougainvillea; all have knock-out sea views (try and nab one on the second floor) and several are large enough for a couple of sun beds along with tables and chairs. The look is bright, breezy and uncluttered with tiled floors in turquoise green or blue, whitewashed walls, big picture windows and traditional painted furniture. A simple but delicious breakfast is served on your terrace (there’s no restaurant); warm croissants and steaming cappuccino in your pyjamas looking out to sea is a magical way to start the day. The seething town centre lies a ten-minute walk down the hill.
Price: Rooms from around £240 per night.
Address: Via Cristoforo Colombo 127, 84017 Positano (SA) Italy.
