Via Cristoforo Colombo 141, Positano, Italy | (503) 436-7748
Occupying a historic palazzo dating back to 1777
Breathtaking views of Amalfi and the Mediterranean throughout property
Bright rooms with pastel colors and balconies overlooking the sea
All rooms have flat-screen TVs, AC, minibars, and hairdryers
Some rooms have jetted bathtubs
Free continental breakfast served on sea-view terrace
Secure indoor parking
Basic and minimally decorated rooms
No full restaurant or wellness facilities
Guests have complained of spotty Wi-Fi
The three-pearl Hotel - Albergo California Positano is light on features, but it offers magnificent views over the pastel-dotted hillsides and Mediterranean Sea throughout. Though the 15 rooms are basic to the point that they might seem bare, all have gorgeous vistas from private balconies or terraces. They also come with small flat-screen TVs, minibars, hairdryers, and air-conditioning. There are no pool or gym facilities, and the only meal served is a free continental breakfast. Still, a five-minute walk from the center, it provides an ideal base to explore the town and Amalfi coast. Guests looking for a pool and spa might want to check out the nearby Hotel Marincanto.
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Scene
A historic palazzo with stunning views over Positano
The primrose-colored Albergo California is an intimate property occupying a historic palazzo that dates back to 1777. Easily the most striking thing about it is its colonnade that stretches along its front and provides beautiful views over the pastel buildings that cling to Positano’s lushly wooded hillsides, and the deep-blue Mediterranean beyond. The pergola is topped by climbing plants which frame the scene and cast a dappled shadow over the colonnade’s brick patio. At the far end is a covered area with metal chairs and tables. Inside, the hotel is light and airy, if a little basic, though all eyes are on the view. The hotel tends to attract couples of all ages, looking for a base from which they can explore one of Italy’s most romantic corners.
Location
In the center of town, a 10-minute ramble down steep slopes to the beach
It’s hard to think of a more stunning location for a hotel. The Albergo California is located a short walk away from the center of Positano, a resort town which has been frequented since Roman times for its mesmerizing views and crystal-blue sea. The town is full of restaurants serving up everything from local seafood to world-class haute cuisine, plus high-end shops. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from the town’s beach, albeit down steep slopes and pedestrian alleys. Sorrento is a 30-minute drive away, while Naples Airport is 90 minutes.
Rooms
Large and bright rooms with simple decor and stunning bay views
The 15 rooms are spacious and bright, all with entrancing sea views from their furnished balconies, but they're basic in offerings and simple in design. Rooms in the hotel’s original wing are more ornately decorated than the new ones, with ceiling frescos and elaborate tiles on the floors, while the newer ones are decked out in plain pastels and have simpler tiling. Each room is individually furnished, some with big antique armoires and others with armchairs and tea tables, while all of them have small flat-screen TVs, desks, minibars, and air-conditioning. Bathrooms are plain but clean, with shower/tub combos, bidets, and hairdryers; some have jetted bathtubs. They theoretically have free Wi-Fi, although guests have complained about spotty coverage.
Features
Stunning views from a breakfast terrace and free parking
The Albergo California is light on amenities, lacking a swimming pool, spa, gym, and full restaurant. Instead, the hotel offers a free continental breakfast served on a terrace shaded by straw, overlooking the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean and the pastel houses that dot the lush hills of Positano. The hotel offers secure indoor parking, something rare in this part of the world, which is only free for guests who book through the hotel’s website. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, but guests complain that coverage is spotty.
