It’s the Italian dream: pulling up at a glorious hotel in a boat that James Bond would envy. Making that dream a reality this summer is the immaculate Borgo Santandrea on the Amalfi Coast. Their recent partnership with Riva is a marriage made in Italian-chic heaven.
The Riva Lounge at Marinella Beach Club launched earlier this month and is served by a custom-designed Riva Cento – one of only 12 in existence. Turquoise and white-leather seats contrast dramatically with the sleek Fireworks Black hull at the port of Salerno, just under 40 miles from the airport in Naples.
© FRANCESCO_RASTRELLIAnd if the ride itself isn’t enough of a high, bumping along at speeds along the Amalfi coastline, it’s hard to beat the feeling of pulling up at the pristine beach club, the hotel climbing the cliffside to a looming cave above.
An enviable arrival
As one of the very first to try out this new method of arrival, I can confidently say I’ve never felt less perturbed about being a guinea pig. “Who are you and how did you manage to get that boat?” a guest asked as we disembarked, assuming we were either celebrities, royalty or secret billionaires.
Arriving in a manner befitting The White Lotus is one thing. Sustaining that feeling for the length of a stay is an entirely bigger challenge. Yet from the outset, it was one that Borgo Santandrea and its staff rose to effortlessly.
Crafted onto the cliff
A wander up the jetty takes you to the beach club and private white pebble beach that glides into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Yet the gentle gradient contrasts dramatically with the hotel behind, rising 90 metres to offer sensational views over Conca dei Marini, a charming centuries-old fishing village.
© Penny WalkerMeticulous thought has gone into the restoration of this Sixties hotel. Each brick has been carefully laid, each floor tile individually crafted (there are 31 different hand-painted types throughout the property inspired by the region’s ancestral geometry) and the gardens have been thoughtfully curated to give the impression that they’ve always been there. The jasmine was in bloom during our visit and the heady scent was nothing short of transformative.
As the hotel staggers up the hillside (it’s serviced by a series of eight lifts in a system which is initially tricky to work out but soon becomes second nature), new terraces are revealed where you’ll find an outdoor pool, small spa and fitness centre.
Hotel meets Italian villa
Across the numerous floors, the 31 rooms and 21 suites are spread. Each has a completely different feel, with the unique, handmade tiles setting the tone. As with everything else in the hotel, the bespoke furniture has been sourced from local craftsmen, curated by the architect Rino Gambardella and his team.
Creating a light, clean space has been achieved by ensuring each room – from the Classic to the Premium Suite Sea View & Pool – has large windows with a white-based colour palette layered with blues to reflect the seaside location. The aspiration was to create a hotel that felt more akin to an iconic Italian villa, and there are times when it certainly feels that way.
When in Italy, eat as the Italians do
While rooms feel incredibly private with terraces that are hard to peer onto from the main hotel, meal times are a far more public affair. “The Borgo Breakfast" is served in the open Alici kitchen, where you can wander around the stations as the chefs work their magic before digging into superb pastries on the terrace at the top of the hotel.
© Enzo RandoFor lunch, head down to the sea, through a cavernous tunnel to AqVa and dig into superb seafood by the water (Il Raviolo Amalfitano was a personal favourite, with purple shrimp, lemon balm and Amalfi lemon). You’ll find flavours of fresh lemon across all of the hotel’s menus, and when you’re on the Italian coast, why not? You can even wash it down with homemade lemonade that’s not too sweet.
Dinner can be taken back up at Alici, the Michelin fine-dining restaurant. While immaculate and artful, I found the flavours a little too overbearing – especially when it came to the Blu, Fumo e Noci di Sorrento desert, which confused many of my dinnermates.
Instead, I preferred the offering at the Marinella Restaurant, which had a much more relaxed, authentic vibe. Celebrating the culinary heritage of the Amalfi Coast and the surrounding region, I was assured it’s just like Italian nonnas would make – complex flavours deliciously disguised as traditional dishes.
All at sea
Beyond the hotel lies the unrivalled Amalfi Coast. The best way to explore its picturesque villages? By boat, of course (the streets are narrow, winding and nowhere near as pleasant to navigate). It’s not just the sleek new customised Riva 100 that Borgo Santandrea boasts among its fleet. We boarded the hotel’s Pardo yacht and hugged the coastline as we travelled to Praiano for lunch at Il Pirata.
© Getty ImagesHere, we were once again confused for people who should be far more interesting. Although this time, the allure was added to by the intense amount of security around – Matthew McConaughey and Zoe Saldaña were in the area shooting their new high-stakes romantic caper, titled Positano. Which means the area is only about to get more popular, so get in while you can.
How to do it
Rooms at Borgo Santandrea (borgosantandrea.it) cost from £730 per night. A day trip to Capri aboard the Riva Cento costs from £3,455.
