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Le Sirenuse
Positano, Italy · Independent · Apex Luxury
Le Sirenuse opened in 1951, when the four Sersale siblings transformed their family's 18th-century summer villa above Positano into an eight-room hotel. Over the following seven decades the hotel expanded to 58 rooms, its cherry-red facade and wrought-iron balconies becoming part of the Positano skyline. Antonio Sersale, who joined in 1992, now runs the hotel for the second generation, having added a spa designed by Gae Aulenti. Writer John Steinbeck, visiting in 1953, called the setting a place that felt like a dream, and the villa still commands views of the Li Galli islets that gave the hotel its name.
- 58 rooms
- Opened 1951
- Neighborhood: Positano, Amalfi Coast
- Rooms from 236 sq ft (22 m²)
- Architect: Gae Aulenti
- Interiors: Gae Aulenti; Annalisa Bellettati; Franco Sersale
About Le Sirenuse
- Now expanded to 58 rooms through the acquisition of neighboring properties, the hotel is run by second-generation owner Antonio Sersale, who joined in 1992.
- Its spa was designed by architect Gae Aulenti, and the hotel's Don't Worry Bar houses a neon installation by artist Martin Creed, refurbished in 2021.
- Le Sirenuse ranked No. 94 on the World's 50 Best Hotels 51-100 list for 2025 and holds a MICHELIN One Key rating the same year.
- Entry-level rooms start at 236 sq ft (22 m²).
History
Le Sirenuse opened in 1951 when the four Sersale siblings — Aldo, Paolo, Anna, and Franco — transformed their family's 18th-century summer villa above Positano into a small hotel with just eight rooms. The family had relocated from Naples to Positano during the Allied bombing of World War II, and after the war decided to extend their long tradition of hospitality to the world. Over seven decades the hotel has expanded through the acquisition of neighboring properties to 58 rooms, its cherry-red facade and curved wrought-iron balconies becoming inseparable from the Positano skyline. Now run by the second generation under Antonio Sersale — who joined in 1992 — the hotel has added a Gae Aulenti-designed spa, a growing contemporary art collection, and the Champagne & Oyster Bar, while remaining firmly a family house where the Sersale antiques, ceramics, and handmade Amalfi Coast tiles tell an intimate story of life on the coast.
The setting
On Via Cristoforo Colombo at the centre of Positano's cliffside village, Le Sirenuse was the summer home of the Sersale family before opening as a hotel in 1951, its cherry-red façade a landmark above the bay that John Steinbeck, writing in 1953, described as 'a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there.' The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta with its majolica dome is five minutes on foot; Positano's Marina Grande beach is seven minutes' walk; the secluded Arienzo Beach is twelve minutes away. Commanding views of the Li Galli islets — the mythological Sirens' rocks that gave the hotel its name — the address embodies Positano's singular appeal to artists, writers, and luxury travellers as the Amalfi Coast's most iconic village perch. Overlooks Tyrrhenian Sea.
Restaurants and bars
- La Sponda — Restaurant · Mediterranean · Chef Gennaro Russo
- Champagne & Oyster Bar — Bar
- Don't Worry Bar — Bar
- Le Sirenuse Mare — Restaurant
Amenities
- Infinity pool overlooking the sea and Positano
- Le Sirenuse Spa (designed by Gae Aulenti; teak, white marble, and stainless steel)
- Contemporary art collection (site-specific installations)
- Bar and terrace
- Private beach access
- Seasonal opening (late March to end of October)
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
- World's 50 Best Hotels 51-100 (2025)
- Forbes Travel Guide recognition
- Leading Hotels of the World — member
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