Photos: Il San Pietro di Positano

We experienced the thrill of reaching Positano by ferry boat and hopping on a private sea transfer that took us straight to Il San Pietro’s private beach. This way, we could avoid the coast’s significant on-land traffic jams.

Carlino restaurant is one of Positano’s most romantic dining options. Perfect for a light lunch during a summer beach day, the restaurant sits on a platform by the sea.

Il San Pietro’s tennis field is embedded in the property’s cliff face and is located at sea level, right next to Carlino restaurant. Guests can enjoy an early morning training session followed by a dive in the hotel’s private beach.

Hotel manager Agostino Piccolo guided us through a sensory walk of the hotel’s tiered gardens, ensuring we stopped to smell the roses, lavender, jasmine and lemon blossoms. The manager also guided us through the vegetable garden, which is full of Mediterranean aromatic herbs.

Travelers arriving by land will be surprised by the breathtaking view that unveils after the first flights of steps. In fact, the property is not visible from the primary road, and Il San Pietro’s hidden location contributes to the secluded feel of a highly exclusive villa.

Il San Pietro boasts a sizeable panoramic deck featured on the first colored front page of the Los Angeles Times. Appointed by the magazine as the finest small hotel in the world in 1986, the property still lives up to expectations. The terrace is embellished by stone benches carved into the rock and topped with refined ceramic tiles that replicate the motifs of Santa Chiara’s cloister, a Neapolitan historic site of renowned artistic beauty.

The property’s rooms and suites are equipped with private balconies overlooking the sea. The modern art style creates a minimalist atmosphere; local aesthetics, like the fresh blue and white ceramic tiles, add color and evoke a joyful Mediterranean summer.

Balconies provide loungers and tables for enjoying the overwhelmingly blue Mediterranean views.

We enjoyed the style of the hotel’s entrance hall, delivered by the combination of old-world furniture and sophisticated plants. Exotic pieces, white marble statues and rare antiques decorate the luminous salon. Guests can satiate their thirst by ordering one of the delicious milkshakes made by the hotel’s bar in the hall’s corner.

During our tour, the hotel’s plants and natural elements caught our attention more than once. General director Andrea Zanna explained that thirty species of roses adorn Il San Pietro’s gardens, and a 50-year-old bougainvillea runs along the whole main floor. Our favorite was the palo borracho, an Argentinean tree species located next to the hotel’s terrace.

We suggest lounging on one of the foyer’s comfortable sofas to get accustomed to the breathtaking views through the large floor-to-ceiling windows that run alongside the main floor and lead to the restaurant’s terrace.

The L’Alcova Bar offers a complimentary mixology class every afternoon. Here, bartender Michelangelo will share his secrets on how to make an exquisite drink and help visitors acquire new cocktail-making skills.

Guests rave about Michelin-starred Zass restaurant’s high-quality dining service. The tasting experience employs a mix of local flavors and creative recipes, providing an unforgettable alfresco dinner.