After months of stress and meticulous planning, newlyweds often find that what they truly desire is a moment of relaxation. So, perhaps Rome wasn’t the ideal choice for our honeymoon destination. However, after experiencing the incredible but exhausting chaos of sightseeing in the Eternal City, we made our way to Miramalfi—a hotel built into a cliff face overlooking the Amalfi Coast, and the highest-rated property in the area on Tripadvisor.
And with very good reason. From the moment my new husband and I stepped out of the taxi, we were treated like royalty, which was exactly what we needed after navigating the winding, steep roads of the Amalfi Coast (not for the faint-hearted!). Before we could even say “Ciao,” a hotel staff member had taken our suitcases to spare us from lugging them over the cobbles and down the steps into the reception.
We were handed glasses of champagne and led to a table on a small balcony offering some of the most breathtaking views I’ve ever seen (until 20 minutes later), while we waited for our room to be ready. “You’ve been upgraded three times, so it’ll be worth it!” Rosita, the friendly hotel concierge, assured me.
She was absolutely right. Stepping into the suite, I walked down a long corridor lined with light-up, mirrored wardrobes—where a Dyson hair dryer could be found—and into a living room with a sofa and coffee table where a “Congratulations” dessert and bottle of champagne had been laid out for us.
I walked through an arch into the bedroom, decorated with heart-shaped balloons and a heart made from flower petals on the king-sized bed. The bathroom was just as large as the rest of the suite, featuring a huge bathtub that felt more like a jacuzzi. It was so big that we never managed to fill it properly throughout our stay.
But it was the balcony that truly left us speechless, other than the constant exclamation of “Wow!” from the moment we opened the doors to our terrace. We were greeted by panoramic views of the crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea, stretching as far as the eye could see. We quickly noticed we could sit and admire the coast from our choice of two sunbeds, a table and chairs, or a sofa.
Despite our initial plans to explore nearby towns like Ravello and Capri during our stay, we both exchanged knowing glances: the chances of us leaving the hotel were slim. Fortunately, when we did venture out, the hotel was just a five-minute walk—or a free shuttle for guests—from the center of Amalfi.
There, we visited the historic Amalfi Cathedral, shopped for clothes, bags, and limoncello, and enjoyed plenty of pizza and gelato, which was sandwiched between whole lemons. We also took a private boat one morning to see more of the Amalfi coastline from the comfort of a yacht.
However, our earlier sentiment of not wanting to leave the hotel was confirmed when we returned to Miramalfi’s beach club—a saltwater pool and private beach built into and out of the rock cliffs, surrounded by the sparkling Med. There are only 35 rooms at Miramalfi, and only hotel guests are allowed to visit, giving it a really personal feel.
The staff truly couldn’t do enough for us. They waited on us hand and foot, neatly laying towels out on our chosen sun loungers and presenting us with complimentary ice-cold water and snacks such as crisps, olives, and delicious watermelon slushies while we sat and admired our surroundings, basking in the sunshine.
We ended up spending most of our time there, dipping in and out of the sea using swimming noodles and inflatable rubber rings provided by the hotel. Staff also served cocktails to our sunbeds—but these were pricey at €25 a pop, so we didn’t have too many.
But if you do fancy a free aperitivo at the hotel, Azur Lounge Bar holds daily cocktail classes at 4pm, hosted by a team of friendly and knowledgeable bar staff. We tried a session and sampled the hotel’s extremely alcoholic take on a Negroni, as well as one of its signature cocktails—which had an odd but surprisingly tasty ingredient: red pepper syrup.
Sea views are everywhere; even in the well-equipped gym, you can work out while looking out to the ocean. The service and the food proved to be just as magical as the views.
Breakfast is included and served at the hotel’s main restaurant, Donna Emma La Cucina, which—guess what—has incredible views of the coastline, making it the perfect setting for starting the day. While there’s a wide buffet selection, including fresh fruit, meats, cheeses, and baked goods, the staff are so attentive that there’s not really a need to get up and fill our plates ourselves.
As soon as we sat down, they offered us coffee, fresh juice, and water, and brought over a mini pastry and a basket overflowing with different varieties of bread, as well as a plate of a selection of jams. We could also choose hot meals from the a la carte menu, including omelettes, pancakes, and waffles, so I had a different dish every day, with my favorite being truffle eggs.
Donna Emma La Cucina is also open for lunch and dinner, and we headed here for a fine dining tasting menu with wine pairing to mark the final night of our honeymoon. The menu consisted of eight courses, meaning a lot of good Italian wine and food, but the best dish was the homemade fresh pasta, oozing with cheese and beef sauce.
It doesn’t get much more romantic than this: eating incredible food while staring at the views we’ve come to know and love. It’s no wonder Miramalfi is the best-rated hotel in the area.
