Lunch at Le Sirenuse, Positano

Positano...the name conjures up the quintessential Italian vacation town, with rows of ubiquitous orange umbrellas on the beach, colorful residences and hotels stacked on the mountainside, and unobstructed views of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Salerno from every angle. Visiting in real life this summer for the first time, it's easy to affirm that everything about this seaside town is as perfect in person.

The unmistakable copper hues of Le Sirenuse

“Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you are gone.”

— John Steinbeck

Beach view from the balcony of Le Sirenuse

From our home base in Sorrento during our stay on the Amalfi Coast, we drove along the SS163 for about 45 minutes to arrive in Positano. While the distance isn't actually too far, the curves can be pretty intense, especially for those prone to motion sickness (ie. me..), so we drove at a pretty leisurely pace, stopping at coastal lookouts to take in the views and roadside fruit stands for refreshments and snacks.

Arriving in Positano, we strolled around a bit before arriving for our reservation at Le Sirenuse. Having heard rave review after another about the history of this glamorous getaway, it was a definite "must-do" on our list there so we made lunch reservations for La Sponda, known for its Michelin star and impeccable service.

Almost every seat at La Sponda faces the ocean for spectacular views while dining on Chef Matteo Temperini's creations. Not wanting to miss out on the abundance of gelato vendors in town later, we opted for a light lunch of mussels, ravioli, and cocktails.

Afterwards, we strolled the grounds and took in the design of the different nooks and crannies on various floors, admiring the attention to detail and the comfortable yet chic vibe.