MOMENT IN THE SUN
Like in many sun-swathed villages along the Mediterranean, beach club culture thrives during Positano’s high season, offering a curated experience for soaking up the stellar coastal views away from the crowds. La Scogliera, unequivocally considered one of the best in town, features a chic beachfront terrace with daybeds, umbrellas, sofas, and coffee tables overlooking La Galli Islands in the distance. Admission includes access to a private sun lounger and towels, though patrons can upgrade their experience with one of three different packages, which include all beach amenities, appetizers and meals, and wine or champagne. Packages range from 800€ to 1,300€ for two guests. lascoglierapositano.com
READY TO ROCK
It doesn’t matter if you come down with dancing fever on a Monday or Saturday night, as Music on the Rocks is buzzing seven nights a week. Carved into a cliff by the sea, the cave-like nightclub is bathed in a sea of neon lights and disco balls, with built-in chaise lounges and cozy nooks to catch a break between DJ sets. The party kicks off every night at 7 p.m. and doesn’t stop for rest until 4 in the morning. (By day, the upstairs terrace restaurant hosts dayclubbers and brunchers, serving bubbly cocktails and chic Italian bites amid waterfall views.) Spring for a VIP ticket to secure access to the upper-level lounge with champagne service, where you might rub elbows with the occasional A-lister (Lenny Kravitz, Kate Moss, and Denzel Washington have all partied here). musicontherocks.it
LA VITA E BELLA
This exquisite 57-room boutique property clings to the cliffside like legs on a wine glass, overlook ing the Bay of Positano with calm courage. First debuted in 1940, Il San Pietro di Positano closes every winter to prepare for the upcoming sun season, opening each spring with fresh new features and updates. Rooms are bright and uplifting, dressed with glossy terracotta tiled floors, colorful furniture, and playful accents like hand cast ceramics, seashell chandeliers, and patterned headboards. Each morning, unwrap from the plush Italian-made fabrics on your oversized bed to sip espresso on your private terrace (even the entry rooms don’t skimp on views) before beginning your day. The possibilities are huge and heavenly: take a spin class under the shade of a lemon tree, lounge on the hotel’s private beach (complete with a solarium and bar), brush up on Italian in a four-les son mini course, taste rare labels from the 600-bottle wine cellar, devour Michelin-awarded delicacies at Zass Restaurant, and much more. ilsanpietro.com
BREAKING BREAD
For four decades, the clan behind La Tagliata in the Montepertuso hilltops (about ten minutes north of Positano’s center) has been treating locals and visitors alike to a spectacu lar spread of their treasured family recipes. Almost every single ingredient, from the fresh herbs and vegetables to the cream, milk, and meat, is grown, sourced, or raised in the on-site organic garden and farm. There is no menu offerings are prix fixe and change daily. And don’t expect Michelin-starred pomp and finery; instead, plates are simple and fresh, spanning expertly sizzled meats, hand-rolled pastas, garden-fresh vegetables, and puff pastries stuffed with fruit picked that morning. Visitors can also take a cooking class to learn how to craft a traditional Italian lunch (participants pick their own ingredients from the garden). latagliata.com
ROOFTOP ROMANCE
Reservations at Il Tridente are tough to come by, requiring at least two weeks’ notice for non-Hotel Poseidon guests, but the payoff is evident from the second you step outside on the open-air terrace. Set high on a hillside in the heart of Positano town, the all-day eatery is dripping in panorama, with views stretching from the villa-dotted cliffs to the sun-dap pled sea. (The celebrity-loved haunt is a regular entry in The Rooftop Guide’s 10 Best Rooftop Bars in Italy.) Blue and white tables rest under flowery pergolas, where diners settle in to feast on a spread of creatively spun Italian classics: homemade spaghetti with clams, veal steak with lemon and almond butter, or seared octopus served atop smoked potato cream. There’s a robust cocktail and wine list, too. iltridentepositano.com