The Amalfi Coast's Newest Luxury Hotel | Borgo Santandrea

One of the newest and most glamorous hotels to arrive on the Amalfi Coast hotel scene is the stunning Borgo Santandrea - and it's absolutely fabulous. A sister property to San Montano Resort and Spa in Ischia, this property hangs elegantly off a cliff between the famed towns of Positano and Ravello. I stayed here recently and fell in love with its effortless beauty, charm and location - tucked away from it all, but still within an arm's reach. Who doesn't love the Amalfi Coast? But, if you happen to arrive during peak season your dreams of small Italian towns cascading down hills and open charming streets dotted with small art galleries and authentic restaurants can soon turn into something else entirely. Positano is gorgeous, but it can literally feel like Grand Central Station during the month of July. Ravello is where those "in the know" plant themselves, and is more spread out than Positano, but can also be overrun with people trying to get the perfect Instagram shot at all costs. Borgo Santandrea takes you away, 15 minutes north of the town of Amalfi where you are cocooned in an oasis of peace, quiet and calm, yet easily accessible to all the region has to offer.

My visit to Borgo Santandrea was magic, really, in every sense of the word. As you make your way around the winding roads on the coast, you must keep your eyes peeled for the entrance, because it comes out of nowhere. Pulling-in there is a valet who will greet you, collect your luggage and help park your vehicle, as you're led down the steps to reception. Instantly you are transported into a villa on the cliff, a reimagined hotel from the 1960s that has been painstakingly redone and sustainably renovated to reveal a design paradise fused with Mid-Century modern meets Mediterranean cool. This place feels like it belongs to you, and only you, an oasis where pools, gardens, a beach, beach club and the infinite blue sea views punctuate your time on this storied coastline.

The reception team was warm, welcoming and excited to show me to my room. Being that the hotel is hanging off a cliff, everything is on levels and you must get to know the intricate maze of staircases and elevators that will become your best friends over your stay. It will absolutely take you a minute, and you will get lost several times, but you will learn the way eventually and it will become second nature. Borgo Santandrea is a vertical heaven and it offers many different room and suite categories.

All the rooms and suites are wonderful, but the deluxe suites and premium suites with ocean views and private pools are something else. What I absolutely love is that architect Rino Gambardella led a, "Made in Italy '', initiative and everything from the tiles, glass, furniture, linens and pens are made in Italy. There's nothing more on-point or poignant to me than the attention to detail that makes this place truly unique. My suite had a gorgeous ocean view and a terrace to enjoy the afternoon sun. But, inside, the bedroom and sitting area were huge with blue and white tiled floors, sleek Mid-Century Modern furniture, and fixtures. The beds were like clouds and the fabrics so thick and heavy you could just tell the amount of effort it took to create them. I felt like I was in a friend's luxe 1960s Italian villa, and I didn't want to leave.

Borgo Santandrea is a destination unto itself. Layer by layer, you can peruse the fragrant gardens, private beach, multitude of rooms, or order a delicious pizza at the beach club (my favorite).

But, your day starts at Alici with breakfast. Breakfast is a gastronomic experience and, dare I say, the best breakfast in Italy. You must come hungry because as you walk through the open kitchen concept at the hotel, you will be mesmerized at the sheer amount of choices from fruits, to meat, fish, sweets, beverages and everything in between.

All the recipes are made with farm fresh ingredients - with no leaf of mint or granule of sugar overlooked. The breads and sweets here are some of the most beautiful and tasty I've had in my life - and they are offered all day.

The Biscotteria invites guests to enjoy complimentary brioches, granitas, pastries and ice creams throughout the day - for everyone to enjoy. I recommend spending at least two hours at breakfast and taking very small portions to try everything. Aside from the food, the waitstaff will remember your drink order and leave you at your table on the terrace to gaze out over your cappuccino and down the majestic coastline before you.

Each and every space at this property is inviting and elegant, effortlessly calling you to relax from the inside out. There is a vibe of calm that literally washes over you from the moment you walk in.

Borgo Santandrea features Marinella, a fine dining restaurant with Italian specialties from the Amalfi region. Plumbago Bar is where you can sip craft cocktails over views of the sea, and the absolutely perfect Beach Restaurant and Bar. There's no shortage of dining and drinking options.

I dined at Marinella and it was everything one can conjure up in your dreams about what dining on the Amalfi Coast means. Fresh seafood pastas, endless wine and the scent of the sea wafting in from the horizon.

My few days here were spent at the beach club, which is a rarity for a hotel on the Amalfi Coast. Taking the elevator all the way down to beach level you exit into a cave-like tunnel, through a stunningly designed bar and restaurant and out to the glistening sun. There's no better place on the coast to spend your days. The beach is private, exclusive and all guests can reserve a sun bed here and lounge around ordering Aperol Spritz after Aperol Spritz. The phenomenal lunch food like pizza, burgers and fish can be brought right out to you seaside. If you're in the area, but not a hotel guest, you can dock at the Borgo as well for dinner or the afternoon.

There's always something inventive or traditional to order in the restaurants.

I have been fortunate enough to stay at various hotels on the Amalfi Coast, but this one is different. Borgo Santandrea offers something incredibly unique - that not many others can. It offers privacy, intimacy and complete use of what feels like a personal villa in one of the world's most beautiful regions. The hotel might be new in concept, but its soul is old and luxurious - a place you will want to return to over and over again.