Jetting off to the Italian Riviera is as luxurious as it sounds. But it’s also full of a playful spirit featuring sheer cliffs and a rugged shoreline lit up by the pastel hues of businesses and homes. The sprezzatura (looking effortlessly chic) is all around, with flowy frocks, crisp white linen pants, sharp wide-brimmed hats, espadrilles, timeless sunglasses, and embellished leather accessories making everyone look like a movie star. The rustic-meets-glamour vibe is seen in every restaurant, boutique, and beach setting. Swanky hangouts are often just rickety chairs situated on the side of the street, people sipping back a Spritz or several as they laugh with friends for hours—as if there is no where else to be in the world.
The Amalfi Coast is a string of towns residing on a 50-kilometer stretch of coastline along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula. You can hop from town to town, but if you’re going to pick one place to plop down for a few days, let it be Positano, which caters to visitors the most, offering up the most hotels of any destination in the region.
Eat: You really can’t go wrong, even if you think you’re falling into a tourist trap! Hire a boat to reach Da Tommaso allo Scoglio, a beachside restaurant with incredibly fresh seafood and vegetables. Go to Chez Black or Next 2 for dinner if you are looking for something equal parts authentic as well as trendy.
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Stay: You really can’t find a place to stay with a bad view in the Amalfi Coast, but Hotel Villa Franca offers views for days. One of the most exclusive hotels in Positano, HVF is a stylish hilltop retreat with incredible dining options, sleek hotel rooms with private terrace views, a rooftop pool, and an unbelievable spa.
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Play: Home to some of the Amalfi Coast’s most incredible beaches, you can’t go to Positano and not frolick in the Mediterranean’s turquoise waters. Marina Grande Beach is the most famous and the most central, situated at the base of town. But for a truly secluded experience, check out Arieno Beach Club. Simply hail down a water taxi with the beach club logo, and you’ll be whisked off just around the bend to your own private haven, where you can float in the water, sip a Spritz in a lounger, or eat Branzino caught that day alongside a caprese salad and a cold glass of champagne. When you’re not sunbathing, walk up and down the narrow alleys, checking out the boutiques and trattorias. For evening fun, Music on the Rocks, a swanky nightclub, is your best bet.
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