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Borgo Santandrea

Amalfi

A Mid-Century modern marvel built into Amalfi’s rugged coast

Where am I? Along the ultra-chic Amalfi coast between the villages of Amalfi and Positano at the first new luxury hotel to open locally in the last 15 years. Despite the proximity to two tourist trodden towns, Borgo Santandrea feels miles away.

Give me the lowdown: The sapphire Mediterranean Sea lazily laps at Borgo Santandrea’s lounge chair-lined private beach, as the 52-room luxury hotel­­ – built into an ancient rock face overlooking it­­ – presides 90 meters above. After four years of renovations, in 2021 two families from nearby Ischia with hospitality roots reopened the former Grand Hotel Saraceno, built in the Sixties, updating the majestic property, while honouring its history through details including Italian craftsmanship.

What’s the vibe? Perfectly capturing the essence of la dolce vita, Borgo Santandrea is where rugged old-world charm jives with Mid-Century modern ideals and contemporary sophistication, yielding a transportive, jaw-dropping seaside escape. White and blue shades characterise this chic abode that’s filled with vintage furniture and artifacts from iconic 1960s-era architect and designer Gio Ponti. Borgo Santandrea is one of the few local hotels with a private beach club, its own jetty, an expansive pool that overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea, plus two bars and three restaurants. 

Locally-minded: Borgo Santandrea channels classic Italian seaside charm. The hotel’s design team includes architect Bonaventura Gambardella and interior designer Nikita Bettoni, who can always be relied upon to envision a retro-modern Mediterranean style. In addition to Mid-Century vintage furniture, sculptures, ceramics and pottery from Amalfitano artisans, the hotel was decorated with 39 different types of geometric hand-made, hand-painted tiles inspired by the modernist-Italian work of Gio Ponti.

Eating and drinking: Led by executive chef Crescenzo Scotti, Borgo Santandrea’s signature fine dining restaurant Alici – with its panoramic patio and regional, seasonal Mediterranean menu – earned its first Michelin star last year. The property’s three additional dining and drinking outlets, Marinella Restaurant, Beach Restaurant & Bar and Il Plumbago Bar, honour the same culinary ethos albeit through more unbuttoned experiences with toes, sometimes literally, in the sand.

Key Information

• Rooms: 52
• Starting Rate: $4000
• Dining: Alici
• Drinking: Plumbago Bar
• At the Hotel: Swimming pool(s), Spa/wellness centre, Fitness centre, Beach
• Via Giovanni Augustariccio, 33, 84011 Amalfi SA, Italy
• +39 089 831148
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