For a seaside retreat on the Amalfi Coast, we highly recommend Casa Angelina. It’s located in the small town of Praiano, between Positano and the city of Amalfi. You won’t find hordes of American tourists here, and it’s an easy home base to explore any of the other towns in the area (a free shuttle will take you to Positano, but you may not want to leave).
Nearly everything in the hotel is white, a design choice that shows off the sparkling blue Mediterranean views! An in-house painter makes his rounds to ensure that it’s kept spotless by constantly touching up the paint around the entire building. The white walls and furnishings also show off the Murano glass sculptures by Alfredo Sosabravo, which add a fun pop of color.
The first time we visited Casa Angelina, we stayed in the Eaudesea Experience rooms. These extra unique rooms are carved out of the cliffs below the hotel. You’ll take an elevator, then walk down a path of 200 stone stairs to get there, but it’s worth it. Just remember what the 80+-year-old Italians who would walk by us on the stairs would say: “piano, piano” or slowly, slowly.
If you stay in the Eaudesea Experience rooms, you have the option of going up to the hotel for breakfast or staying downstairs and enjoying a buffet of pastries, yogurt, and other items on the private patio in front of your room.
On our most recent visits, we stayed in the main hotel overlooking the sea. It was beautiful. All of the rooms are stocked with your choice of l’Occitane verbena or Malin + Goetz toiletries, Bang & Olufsen televisions, Etro linens, free wi-fi, and online access to The New York Times.
Below the hotel is One Fire Beach, a pumping Euro hot-spot for locals and tourists. Normally you have to pay an entrance and towel fee, but Casa Angelina provides passes for a chair and towel. Know that they are playing party music so you will be hearing that during the day in the Eaudesea Experience rooms. Just next to One Fire beach is a small public space where anyone can come, so you’ll see locals setting up their towels on the rocks. You can also rent a boat to take you to a restaurant for dinner or a trip to Capri.
Casa Angelina serves a stunning breakfast at their restaurant, Un Piano nel Cielo. You’ll experience beautiful views of the ocean, and enjoy a full spread from soaked prunes, sliced meats, pastries, savory tarts, and cooked-to-order eggs. It’s by far one of the most fabulous breakfasts we’ve experienced in Italy. The restaurant also offers a lovely fine dining experience in the evening that we’d recommend over any restaurant in the actual town of Positano. You can also choose to eat at their casual restaurant on the patio or have a unique one-on-one chef table experience.
We spent most of our time at Casa Angelina relaxing next to the pool, overlooking Positano. In the afternoon, you may even get a refreshing mini popsicle treat. Our favorite flavor was lemon! Relax. Lounge under the lemon tree pergola, sip an Aperol Spritz, and snack on cocktail appetizers of olives, chips, and nuts.
When you leave (not that you’ll want to), the hotel gives guests olive oil as a parting gift. It’s a perfect culinary gift! Make sure to have space in your checked bag for it. If you’re looking for a quiet getaway close to Positano, this is it!
Note: Casa Angelina provided support for the reporting of this story.
