Ring the alarms! With imagery this good, we can practically hear the sirens going off on your bucket list. Fair warning: Le Sirenuse is even MORE stunning in person (yes, it’s possible!). If this darling Italian hideaway on the Amalfi Coast isn’t already on your #birthdaybucketlist, we’re about to give you a solid stream of excuses to add it.
Le Sirenuse is the kind of place where you can just imagine the old Hollywood glamour squad sitting on the patio overindulging with spritzers and after dinner cordials or playing Gin Rummy in their big, floppy sunhats. Well, guess what? That could be you and your little squad. Throw back a Negroni with me as we chant, “ciao, bellas!”
Soft evening light at Franco's Bar byRoberto Salomone
On Saturday 11 July, a select group of international travellers, art-world movers and shakers, Amalfi Coast aficionados and native or resident positanesi met in Positano to celebrate the launch of Franco’s Bar.
Formerly one of the world’s most scenic car parks, a small terrace just above the Hotel Le Sirenuse has now become a stylish al fresco bar that is unique in a resort with no shortage of watering holes. Part of this has to do with the fact that the drinks menu, curated by Le Sirenuse’s head barman Robert Wimmer, pays homage to a golden age of fine spirits, cocktails and bubbly, when cultured imbibers knew their Old Fashioned from their French 75, and what kind of glass they should be served in.
With its siren red exterior, this posh hotel is instantly recognizable as one of the most glamorous and luxurious getaways on the Amalfi Coast. What kind of bucket list would it be if it didn’t include a trip to Southern Italy, anyway? Gather up your crew, because this is gonna be a trip for the books!
Pinterest Worthy Rooms
We’ve never needed the heart-eyed emoji to describe something as much as we need it for these rooms! Each of the 58 rooms and suites are done up with a classic Mediterranean elegance that’s simultaneously modern and old school. What is life if you don’t get to spend at least one night in these big cozy beds, waking up to gorgeous Mediterranean Sea views!
And can we please talk about the bathrooms? Marble and handmade tiles seem like they grow on trees around here. Currently adding to the bucket list: a long soak in a giant bathtub while overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and sipping on a glass of bubbly Prosecco. Yes please.
Mangia, Mangia, Mangia!
If you’re lucky enough to make the trek with your girl troop, (five is the maximum amount of rooms you can book on one block, so choose your crew wisely) be sure to book at least one candlelit dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant La Sponda. At night, the room glows with greenery and candlelight from within, boasting sweeping views of sunset on the coast.
The menu here is phenomenal and focused on light Mediterranean cuisine. The hot new 29-year old chef at La Sponda, Gennaro Russo, abides by the theory that the local traditions and local ingredients stand the test of time, and the flavors in the dishes attest to his theory. Should you add cooking classes with a hot, young Italian chef to the bucket list? Highly encouraged!
The Champagne and Oyster bar is afternoon patio perfection, and the pool terrace is the ideal spot for a girl hang sesh over lunch or mid-day cocktails. Franco’s Bar is a newer addition to the terraces and happens to be the best place to grab a drink and cackle with the ladies as you swap stories about your crazy adventures in Italy.
Tastings Abound
Le Sirenuse is located in the charming little fishing town of Positano, with access to all the limoncello, wine, and olive oil tastings your posse can soak up. The concierge are all about sharing their corner of the world with you, so customizing an agenda for your weekend getaway is something they’re eager to help with.
This part of the world has so many incredible flavors to try! If you’re a limoncello newbie, you’re in for a real treat, as this is the predominant region for the citrus cordial. It ranges in color from creamy buttercream to neon yellow and the taste varies just as much. Being able to meet the producers of these spirits is as much of a treat as the drink itself.
Never been olive oil tasting? Add it to the bucket list too! And really there’s no better place to do it than the Mediterranean. Be sure to do a guided tasting so you can get in a history lesson on the creation of olive oil, how it’s manufactured and the nuances of its flavors.
Exploring the Amalfi Coast
If you’re traveling with a group of fitness mavens, the hotel offers Pilates classes every morning or you can sign up for a hike of the ancient 1,875 steps leading up to the small village of Nocelle with incredible views and plant life along the way. Spoken by a true survivor of the trek, this hike is gorgeous and worth every bit of the effort. Add it to the bucket list filed under nature’s most stunning stairmaster!
Italy is known for its wine culture and the Amalfi region does not disappoint. Take a trip to a nearby vineyard for the full experience! Surely you’ve been to other vineyards, but no other culture does wine quite the way the Italians do. Expect to be welcomed with open arms and fed copious amounts of vino, vino, vino. Any Italian will tell you wine is about the experience, both the experience of producing the wine and the experience of sharing it.
Looking to get on a boat with the girls? The hotel has two beautiful wood boats available for excursions, either private or shared with other hotel guests depending on the size of your group. The excursions take guests along the coast to see other harbors and small islands nearby, stopping for a dip in the middle of the sea along the way. Coordinate the boat ride for sunset to soak up that beautiful evening light on the coast and check living the life of luxury off your bucket list.
Be sure to get in some history too! Pompeii, Paestum, Ravello, and Amalfi are all nearby and certainly with exploring. There’s nothing more surreal than the grounds of Pompeii. And Ravello – fahgettaboutit! – one of the most charming towns in Southern Italy!
Bucket List Champs
We can’t imagine a destination that’s more gorgeous, luxurious, accommodating, and bucket list worthy than Le Sirenuse. This place gives us such serious #squadgoals and makes us want to shop for allllll the jewel-toned caftans and big, floppy sun hats. Summer cocktails with our best girls on the Amalfi Coast? Sign us up!
