During our kid-free romantic getaway to the Amalfi Coast, we stayed at Hotel Santa Caterina Amalfi. We enjoyed two nights at one of the most luxurious Amalfi Coast hotels before continuing our exploration of the coast. The divine views of the Tyrrhenian Sea from the hotel’s sun-kissed terraces, bougainvillea and Amalfi lemon-filled gardens, and elegant guest rooms make this hotel one of the best places to stay on the Amalfi Coast. Our Hotel Santa Caterina review covers everything you’ll need to know if considering a stay at this stunning Amalfi hotel.

WTA Review of Hotel Santa Caterina Amalfi

**Our WTA score represents our own views based on our personal experience with the entity being reviewed.

How we stayed free at this luxurious Amalfi hotel

We made our Santa Caterina Amalfi booking through Leading Hotels of the World, a collection of the best luxury hotels around the globe. Thanks to our previous paid stays at other Leading Hotels, we were able to enjoy two free nights by redeeming our award certificates at Hotel Santa Caterina. The hotel can cost upwards of $1,700 per night in high season, so this was a very valuable redemption.

Unfortunately the LHW program has changed to a points system for redemptions since our visit, and now reward stays there require far more spending than previously. As LHW Unlimited members, we also enjoyed a complimentary room upgrade, breakfast and afternoon tea on the picturesque terrace.

History of Santa Caterina Hotel

Family-owned Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi Italy has been welcoming guests since 1904, including many celebrities over the decades. Famous guests include Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian, Elizabeth Taylor, and Hillary Clinton. It started as a small hotel with just 6 rooms and has expanded over the years. The hotel now has 66 rooms and suites featuring classic Italian design, Mediterranean architecture, and breathtaking sea views from private terraces or balconies on every room.

Beach Club with cliffside seawater pool

Besides the terrace, the cliffside heated seawater pool at Santa Caterina’s Beach Club is one of most beautiful spots in the hotel. We spent a lazy morning relaxing in the pool and floating on inner tubes in the waves just steps away. We enjoyed the breathtaking views as any remaining stress from home melted away.

Although it is called the Beach Club, it’s worth noting that the hotel doesn’t have what we would consider an actual beach with sand or pebbles. The sea meets the edge of the rocky cliff, where a ladder leads down from the pool deck into the Mediterranean. Since we aren’t really beach people, this didn’t bother us. However, if our kids had been with us, we certainly would have missed the sand and graduated entry into the sea.

The Beach Club Bar offers refreshing cocktails and Al Mare restaurant serves light fare overlooking the pool and Mediterranean Sea. There are two ways to access the Beach Club, via glass elevators carved into the rocks or the scenic garden pathway. We recommend taking the garden pathway down, and then riding the elevators up after soaking up some sun.

Wellness Spa

If you haven’t fully relaxed by the pool, then a visit to the Santa Caterina Spa may be due. The spa offers massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, aromatherapy, reflexology, Turkish bath, Scottish shower, and a fitness center located by the Beach Club. The hotel’s signature treatment is the Amalfi lemon massage with essential oils from lemons grown in their gardens. We didn’t indulge in any spa treatments, but stopped by the Fitness center to snap some photos. We were impressed by the views for a morning workout. Gazing out at the sparkling sea isn’t a bad place to burn off those extra vacation calories.

Luscious gardens

Anyone with a green thumb will go wild over the luscious gardens at Hotel Santa Caterina. The garden pathway to the sea is absolutely breathtaking. Fuchsia bougainvillea, famous Amalfi lemons, orange trees and other lovely plants fill the terraced gardens leading down to the sea. The gardens are so incredibly romantic, so make sure not to miss them during your visit and bring your camera for Instagram-worthy shots.

Santa Caterina Restaurants

The hotel features two restaurants, Al Mare and Santa Caterina. Al Mare sits on a terrace overlooking the Beach Club and Mediterranean Sea. Santa Caterina Restaurant offers equally sublime sea views higher up the cliff, just off the lobby. We didn’t get the opportunity to dine at Al Mare, but had breakfast at Santa Caterina Restaurant.

Inside Santa Caterina Restaurant, the vaulted ceilings covered with vines of bougainvillea made it feel like we were dining in an enchanted garden. Outdoors, the terrace offered unparalleled views of the sea and Amalfi Coast.

The breakfast buffet included hot dishes, pastries, bread, cakes, charcuterie, olives, cheese, fresh local tomatoes, yogurt, cereal, sardines, smoked salmon, carved meats, gelato, juice, coffee, tea and champagne. There was also a selection of gluten-free foods. Our waiter brought us hot tea and fresh juice to sip while drinking in the views. He was also eager to carry our plates to our table for us, which is outstanding service for a buffet. Breakfast is included for guests at Hotel Santa Caterina, which is always a bonus.

The breakfast buffet compared to the other luxury hotels on the Amalfi Coast we stayed at during our visit, including Le Sirenuse, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, and Mezzatorre Hotel. Fresh local tomatoes, cheeses, and pastries made from Amalfi lemons grown right on the property were a real treat. Amalfi lemons are so delicious that they were used to make the royal wedding cake for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Guest rooms

Guest rooms and suites at Hotel Santa Caterina feature hand-painted ceramic tiles, 19th-century antiques, and original decor that makes each room unique. Upon arrival, we received an escort to a spacious bi-level junior suite with a garden view. However, the modern decor and obstructed views were not what we were anticipating. We asked if we could look at a different room and happily were obliged.

We preferred the second room, which was smaller but had much better views and more classic Italian decor. We appreciated that they moved us since we weren’t crazy about our original room. Here’s a look at both rooms to give you an idea of how they differed.

Garden View Bi-level Junior Suite

Sea View Queen Room with Balcony

Our sea view room with a full view of the Bay of Salerno was what we had hoped for in one of the best hotels on the Amalfi Coast. We appreciated the classic Italian decor in the bedroom and the white marble and hand-painted tiles in the bathroom. The view from our private balcony was the best part, where we enjoyed a magnificent sunset.

We appreciated a personalized welcome note with a plate of fresh baked cookies and a bowl of fruit.  Other amenities included plush bathrobes, slippers, and luxe bath products by Bulgari.

Other places to relax at Hotel Santa Caterina

There’s no shortage of charming places to sit down and enjoy the relaxing ambience at Hotel Santa Caterina. The lobby is full of plush chairs and couches offering sea views out the floor-to-ceiling windows. Just off the lobby, the terrace bar serves drinks all day and into the night from under the shade of the pergola. Candles illuminate the terrace in the evening as Amalfi Town glows in the distance. It is such a romantic spot for pre-dinner or after-dinner drinks. Of all the scenic places at the hotel, La Terrazza Bar is our favorite for capturing amazing photos of the Amalfi Coast.

Thoughts about bringing kids to Santa Caterina

We traveled to the Amalfi Coast without our children for a romantic getaway, so the quiet ambience at Hotel Santa Caterina was exactly what we wanted. Children are allowed at the hotel, unlike at some luxury hotels on the Amalfi Coast. We’ve read many reviews of families who visited with young children and felt very welcomed, well received, and even pampered by staff who went out of their way to make sure their children were well taken care of during their visit.

However, we don’t think the hotel is ideal for young children (at least not ours) due to its cliffside location and quiet atmosphere. Our children are extremely energetic and I’d be a little nervous around all the balconies with our fearless preschooler. We would also worry that they might be disturbing other guests since the atmosphere is mostly adults and older children. Kids who are in elementary school and older should do just fine. The hotel can arrange babysitting services for a fee, which would be a good option for dinner.

Last words on Santa Caterina Hotel

Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi town is one of the best places to stay on the Amalfi Coast. Having received celebrities for decades, you know it must be among the best Amalfi Coast luxury hotels. With astoundingly beautiful views, refined service,  and elegant decor, it’s understandable why this Amalfi hotel attracts luxury travelers from around the world. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and hope to return someday.

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