First Impressions

The road into Palmetto Dunes is one of those drives that makes you loosen your grip on the steering wheel a little. Winding, quiet, Spanish moss dripping off the trees on both sides…by the time we pulled up to the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, I’d already decided I liked it, and we hadn’t even parked yet.

That’s the thing about this property. It doesn’t try hard. Palm trees, wooden walkways, water features trickling near the lobby….it’s a low-key beach vibe that somehow reads as both high-end and completely unfussy, which is a harder trick to pull off than it sounds. Onsite parking was close and easy (a small thing, but with a car full of tired travelers, not a small thing at all), and the running and biking paths throughout the area are a huge benefit for active travelers like me.

The Room

The resort splits into two towers, North and South, facing each other across the lobby. Both are open-air at the exits, which does something clever: you get that breezy, salt-air feeling the second you step outside, but you’re still covered walking to your room, so nobody’s getting rained on hauling a suitcase. 

We stayed in the North Tower in one of the all-suite rooms with two comfortable queen beds, a loveseat, and a lanai and a partial view of the ocean. The bathroom area had two two sinks — one in the actual bathroom, one outside it with its own little getting-ready station, real pump soap instead of those sad hotel bar soaps — plus a mini kitchen with a fridge, microwave, and its own sink, and a small island with extra seating. Coffee and complimentary water were already in the room when we arrived.

Here’s the detail that actually matters for a family doing multiple beach showers a day: there were enough towels for ALL of us. I know that sounds like a small detail, but anyone who’s rationed hotel towels for four people mid-vacation knows exactly what I mean.

And then there were the luggage racks — two of them. This was my husband’s favorite small detail about the room and here’s why. We’ve both packed for enough trips to know exactly what earns a spot in the suitcase and what should have stayed home, and having somewhere to actually put it all made unpacking feel less like a chore and more like settling in.

Where We Ate

The property has a real spread of dining options….a fine dining restaurant, a sports-style bar, two outdoor tiki bars, and a marketplace with a full-service coffee shop for something quick. We ended up at the pool for lunch more than once, and my chicken sandwich earned a repeat order. The tiki bar drinks were dangerously smooth and easy to keep ordering — vacation-standard, exactly what you want poolside and nothing you need to think too hard about.

Breakfast at HH Prime, though, was the real standout. A proper buffet, hot and cold options, drinks included, filling enough that we really didn’t need much until dinner. 

The Fun Part

The beach itself is the headline: wide, clean, two access points right behind the pools, and at low tide you can actually bike along it. There are beach chairs to rent from the resort or from a third-party vendor on the sand — more on those chairs in a minute, because I have thoughts.

Two pools, adult and kids, both with chair-side food and drink service, and we never once fought for a spot. Some of the loungers are tucked away from the main crowd, which gave the whole thing a quieter, more exclusive feel without anyone charging extra for it. Beyond the pools, there’s a genuinely nice array of outdoor lounge areas — Adirondack chairs, fire pits, a giant chess board, cornhole — plus bike and beach equipment rentals, a beachwear shop, and a separate marketplace for gifts and souvenirs. The complimentary shuttle to Palmetto Dunes and Shelter Cove can be an easy way to see more of the island without moving the car. 

There is a spa onsite, although we did not use it during our stay. There is a decent gym, although the machines have clearly seen some use, which makes walking, running or biking on the pathways that much better. 

The Little Things

The Little Things…this is where a resort either earns my recommendation or does not, and the Omni mostly does. Live music was everywhere… a DJ by the pool one afternoon, an acoustic guitar player working through fan favorites the next, but a gently enforced quiet hour meant we never dealt with anyone else’s after-hours party interrupting our sleep.

Fresh fruit-infused water, tea, and apples were out in the lobby daily. Frozen fruit made the rounds poolside at random, welcome moments. Friday brought a chef-inspired tasting — two small bites and two drinks, one with alcohol and one without — that felt like a genuine perk rather than an upsell, and one I don’t think they advertise nearly enough. Finally, as Omni Icon members (the highest membership tier), we had fruit and wine waiting in the room at check-in, and housekeeping came through twice a day. 

The Fine Print

Service at the pool and bars was excellent, and the breakfast staff in particular deserves a mention — genuinely warm, on top of everything.

The miss: as Icon members, one perk includes early check-in as early as 9am, based on availability. We messaged the hotel the day before multiple times to confirm a noon arrival but our room wasn’t ready until after 2pm. Not a dealbreaker, but a gap between what we expected and what’s delivered, and worth knowing going in so you can plan a pool day instead of a room day. Also, those rentable beach chairs are old-school wood, and they are not comfortable. If comfort matters to you more than nostalgia, you may want to bring your own chairs (if you can).

One practical note for anyone staying multiple days: there’s only one pool towel station, and it sits at the edge of the kids’ pool — a genuine trek if you’re set up at the adult pool on the opposite end. Small thing, but the kind of small thing that’s nice to know before you’re standing there dripping.

My Tips

Sign up for Omni Select Guest before you go — it’s free, and even new members get a welcome drink at check-in. Ask for a high floor and request a view if one’s available. And if you land on a top floor, skip the elevator and take the stairs down to the beach — the ocean view along the way is worth the extra flight.

Would I Go Back?

Without hesitating. This is a resort that manages to feel like a genuine escape and a place you could actually live in for a few days — comfortable, unpretentious, well-run in nearly every way that counts. It’s not the boutique kind of luxury I fell for in Sorrento or in Barcelona’s Hotel Neri….it’s something else, a big, breezy, family-first kind of high-end. If you want beachfront resort with a kind of low-key polish that doesn’t ask you to dress the part, the Omni on HHI is for you.

The post In Review – The Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort: Why I’d Book It Again  appeared first on Bistro Chic.

I’ve been home from Italy for a few weeks now, and I can feel the melancholy slipping into my day to day. You know the feeling: for the first few days back you’re still floating around on Sorrento time, telling anyone who will listen about your adventures. And then somewhere around week two your overloaded inbox takes over and the Amalfi Coast glow fades until it just disappears. 

And I’m not just being dramatic (ok, maybe a little). There’s actual research showing that whatever happiness boost a vacation gives you tends to fade within about a week of getting back to your routine, no matter how long you were gone or how far you flew. How sad is that?

But let’s not dwell on the sadness. If Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast taught me anything, it’s that La Dolce Vita isn’t something you experience two weeks out of the year and then long for the other fifty weeks. It’s a mindset and handful of habits that you can build in to your daily life. 

So, here’s what I’m stealing to create that La Dolce Vita feeling right at home.

Take the walk.

Every night in Sorrento, right around sunset, the whole town would pour out onto the streets: couples, grandparents, teenagers, everybody just… walking. No destination, no agenda, just the passeggiata. I wrote about falling in love with this ritual a couple years ago, and my husband and I still take a walk on most nights before or after dinner. It’s not the same as the stone streets of Positano. But it’s free, it takes fifteen minutes, and it works every single time.

Make the pasta.

Remember the boat day out of Sorrento? Our captain took us to a beach in Nerano for spaghetti alla Nerano, the zucchini pasta that a woman invented on that exact stretch of sand in 1952. But it doesn’t have to be a decades old recipe to put you in the right mindset…making even a simple pasta dish with fresh ingredients will do the trick. Even better, try your hand at making your own pasta, it’s really not as hard as you would think. Then….pour some wine, throw on an Italian playlist that will surely include Volare, and turn a random Tuesday into something worth remembering.

Let there be lemons.

The Amalfi Coast does not do subtle when it comes to lemons, so why not embrace the lemon love? Put a bowl of lemons on the counter. Zest one into everything you cook this week. Light a citrus candle. This sounds like a small, silly thing, but smell is apparently the fastest route we have to memory, more direct than sight or sound, because it skips straight to the emotional part of the brain instead of the analytical part. A few minutes of breathing in the lemons and you’ll be back on the balcony if only in your mind.

Wear the souvenir.

If you came home with a gorgeous scarf or a pair of handmade Italian sandals, or anything else somebody actually made for you while you stood there and watched, wear it. A souvenir sitting in a drawer is just clutter with a nice backstory. One you actually put on your feet becomes a built-in excuse to tell someone about the trip all over again.

Give yourself an aperitivo hour.

Before dinner in Italy, there’s always this pause: a small drink, something salty on the side, and no rush toward the meal. You don’t need to be on Capri for this. Pour something prosecco around six, put out a little cheese or a bowl of olives and nuts, and give yourself fifteen minutes before you start cooking or answering that one last email. Think of it as a lovely transition between work-you and home-you.

Slow the whole meal down.

In Italy, dinner is the event, not a box to check before mindlessly scrolling Instagram in bed. Multiple courses, nobody rushes, conversations that run long past dessert and limoncello. You don’t need to cook three courses on a Monday when you can barely hold it together after along day at work. But you can pick one night a week to stretch dinner past the usual twenty minutes. Set the table like you mean it – buy the flowers, use real napkins, bring out the good china. Leave your phone in the other room and Voila! 

I fully recognize that none of this is Sorrento. And I think we can all agree that we’d much rather be in the far off places we long for. Nothing replaces the real boat, the real cliffs, the real lemon groves, or the actual Italian family making you a decades old pasta on the beach. But what you can do is borrow a little of the mindset now, keep the anticipation alive, and let it carry you to your next trip and your next adventure. 

Ciao,

Jennifer

The post How to Savor Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast at Home appeared first on Bistro Chic.

I’m not much of a souvenir shopper. But when something does come home with me, it has to earn its spot in my suitcase: it must be …usable, match my style and made locally when possible.

Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Capri will happily sell you every trinket imaginable. Soaps, candies, candles, the cobblestone streets are lined with shop after shop of pretty, mass-produced things. Fun to browse, easy to forget.

But keep walking past the window displays, and if you look up from your phone for a moment, you’ll find the real treasure: a tiny, unassuming shop (like Safari in Positano) where artisans are making custom sandals, right there in front of you.

Here’s the thing about a custom sandal shop: it is not for the indecisive. The choices start with your footbed (flat, a slight heel, a low wedge, take your pick) and just keep going from there. Next comes the strap style, anywhere from a lace-up gladiator to a delicate flip-flop silhouette. Then you choose your leather color, and if you’re feeling fancy, an embellishment like a jeweled accent. The combinations are nearly endless, which is half the fun.

And if all that decision-making sounds like it could eat your whole afternoon, don’t worry, the making itself moves fast. My daughter and I (who bought the sandals 11 years apart at the same shop!) actually spent more time debating our styles than the shoemakers spent building them. Start to finish, the whole process took about half an hour. So whether you’re based in Positano for a week or just passing through on a day trip, this is one stop that easily fits into even the tightest itinerary.

The speed in making the sandal doesn’t mean the quality is rushed. The craftsmen I used in both Rome and Positano worked with genuinely good materials, sturdy soles, real leather straps, and the kind of careful fitting that would make Cinderella jealous. I’ve had one pair for eleven years and another for seven. I wear them a handful of times a year, and they still look nearly new. My daughter loves hers as well.

There’s also something special about wearing a pair of shoes that exists nowhere else in the world. Every choice you make is yours alone, so you walk out with a completely bespoke piece that fits your style, your life, and honestly, your feet, perfectly. Be prepared for compliments, too. They make for a great excuse to talk about the trip and why you fell for Italy in the first place.

Best of all, you know exactly what you’re getting. Souvenir shopping abroad can be a guessing game, and it’s not always easy to tell what’s authentically local versus what got shipped in from somewhere else. A custom sandal shop leaves no doubt: it’s handmade in Italy, often by a family that has been doing this for generations, right before your eyes.

It was one of my favorite experiences from the whole trip, made even sweeter because I got to share it with my daughter just before she headed off to university. One small note if you’re shopping for a growing kid or teen: these sandals aren’t cheap, so it’s worth keeping in mind that little feet don’t stay little for long.

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We fell hard for every single part of our Amalfi Coast trip. But if I had to pick a favorite? Easy. It was the day we had our very own yacht.

Here’s how it happened. Friends and family raved about a local tour company called Mamma Mia Sorrento that offered private yacht tours around the Amalfi Coast. So we booked the exact same tour with the exact same company and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of the whole trip.

Eight hours. Private yacht. Just our family of four, the open water, and a captain named Antonio who not only drove and navigated like a pro but shaped the whole day around what we actually wanted to see.

So let me walk you through why this will be a core memory for all of us.

The boat itself was a stunner. A well-kept mini-yacht just over 30 feet, with the perfect amount of room for the four of us. There was a roomy sitting area in the back, a lounge deck up front for soaking in the sun, and a lower deck with extra seating and a little bathroom. And because the Italians understand hospitality on a spiritual level, we were set up with fresh fruit, cold water, beer, soft drinks, and yes, prosecco.

Then came the stuff you simply cannot do from dry land. We drifted right up to a tiny waterfall spilling straight into the sea. We floated into a cave and watched fish swarm to the surface for bits of food.

We swam too…and quite a bit. Antonio kept taking us to these gorgeous swimming spots, adjacent to quiet little beaches that felt like a locals-only secret. He even had pool noodles, which sent my family into full lazy-river mode.

Around midday he pulled up to Maria Grazia, a restaurant sitting right on the beach, where we enjoyed the legendary spaghetti alla Nerano – another recommendation from our captain. Perfectly full and perfectly happy, we hopped back on for round two.

And can we talk about the timing of it all? While Sorrento was baking in that summer heat, we were out on the water with a breeze in our hair. The boat wasn’t just a better view of the coast. It was our escape.

Now, the part that really won me over: the service. The owner, Mario, answered my many questions with patience, then showed up at the marina in person to walk us to the yacht and introduce us to Antonio. And Antonio? What a fantastic guy. Professional but fun, calm but full of personality, and somehow he turned an entire day on the water into the most stress-free afternoon we had all trip.

If the Amalfi Coast is on your list, do yourself a favor and see it from the sea. You won’t regret it.

The post Why You Need to Experience the Amalfi Coast from the Water appeared first on Bistro Chic.

I am one of those people who packs bulky running shoes for vacation. Not aspirationally, either. I actually use them.

For someone who loves to run, a trip is not an interruption of my routine so much as an upgrade of the scenery. There is something magical about seeing a city at your own pace, before the day officially begins. It is the same place everyone else will experience by noon, but you get the quiet, golden-hour version all to yourself.

I nearly always run when I am on vacation, or honestly anytime I travel. A morning run in a new destination helps me shake off the jet lag, sync up with the new time zone, and get my bearings before I have even had my first cappuccino.

Not Every City Wants You to Run

Some destinations make it easy to run outside, while other places do not.

I’ve experienced both in Italy. In Rome, I woke up early and had the run of the city, jogging past the popular sights before the crowds and the traffic turned everything into a beautiful, chaotic mess. Positano was a different story. The narrow walkways, cobblestones, and steep inclines made my run more like a hike.

Enter Sorrento – Running Italian Style

Making Sorrento my home base while exploring the Amalfi Coast was a smart travel decision. It gave me easy access to incredible restaurants and the marina, and it turned out to be a far easier place to run than Positano or the other small coastal towns.

I will admit I was a little worried at first. Sorrento has its share of narrow, cobblestone streets, and I prepared myself for another stair climb. But Sorrento also has Corso Italia, the main shopping street, which runs nearly a full mile from end to end. Adding in a sidewalk I discovered along the way, and I was logging at least three miles every morning without battling hills, dodging Vespas, or weaving around other humans.

3 Tips for Running in Sorrento

1. Start early, then start a little earlier. The earlier you head out, the better. I headed out around 6:30 a.m., just after the sun came up, and had the streets nearly to myself for a while. It was also the most charming front-row seat to the city waking up. Cafe owners arranging place settings at outdoor tables, the first tourists and locals slipping into their favorite espresso bars for their morning ritual, and that smell of freshly baked cornetti drifting through the air. I did not run past a single bakery without giving it a longing glance.
2. Limit Airpod use. I almost always run with my AirPods, but Sorrento in the morning still has cars, Vespas, and delivery trucks dropping off the day’s supplies. I kept mine off so I could actually hear what was coming.
3. Follow the runners, then make your own path. On my first morning, I spotted a few other runners and trailed them at a respectable, non-stalker distance. It was a great way to learn the route and get a heads-up on where I might need to pause. By day two, though, I was leading the pack. I veered off in a direction I noticed the day before, and it led me straight to a park full of lemons…which just fueled my obsession. If that is not a sign to make lemonade, I do not know what is.

So here is my official verdict: Sorrento is a lovely place to run if you start early and remain aware. You get the cobblestone romance without too many hills, a mile of runway courtesy of Corso Italia, and a very real chance of stumbling into a lemon grove…and because this is Sorrento, I’d expect nothing less.

Best of all….if you start early, Sorrento will share with you a version of her city that most travelers sleep right through giving you a great memory…..and we all know the best souvenirs are the ones you cannot fit in a suitcase.

Ciao!

The post Why Sorrento is a Great Place to Run (and How I Found a Park Full of Lemons) appeared first on Bistro Chic.

There are meals you remember, and then there are meals that rearrange your idea of what a meal can be. Mine happened on a pebbled beach on the Sorrento Peninsula, somewhere between a swim and applying more sunscreen, and I have been thinking about it ever since.

Let me back up.

A Captain, a Cove, and a Recommendation

We had booked a private boat for the day via Mamma Mia Sorrento, one of those decisions you make while planning a trip and then quietly worry about the cost later. It turned out to be the best money we spent in Italy. We spent the morning drifting along the coast, ducking into caves, swimming clear-ish water, and generally doing very little with great enthusiasm.

Around midday, our captain Antonio asked if we were hungry. Then he said the thing that every traveler hopes to hear from a local: *I know a place.*

The place was Nerano, a fishing village tucked into the Massa Lubrense coastline, and specifically the beach at Marina del Cantone. The restaurant was Maria Grazia. And the dish, he told us with the seriousness of a man discussing family history, was spaghetti alla Nerano.

The Story Behind the Dish

Here is what makes this pasta more than pasta.

According to the website, the restaurant has been on that beach since 1901, when a woman named Maria Grazia started cooking for the fishermen who pulled their boats onto the pebbles at Marina del Cantone. Simple food, nothing unusual about it. Bread, fish…whatever the sea and the garden offered.

The dish itself came later, in 1952, and the credit goes to her daughter, Donna Rosa, who by then was running the kitchen. The story goes that she created it alongside a friend and regular guest, Prince Francesco Caravita di Sirignano, known to everyone as Pupetto. What they came up with used whatever was abundant that summer, which mostly meant zucchini.

Seventy years later, the restaurant still serves this amazing dish. People take boats there specifically to eat it. We were among them, and we had no idea we were joining a very long line.

What Is Actually In It

The ingredient list is short, which is the whole point.

– Spaghetti, ideally the thicker spaghettoni

– Zucchini, sliced thin and fried in oil until golden and sweet

– Provolone del Monaco, an aged, buttery cheese with a little sharpness at the finish

– Fresh basil

– Olive oil, garlic, black pepper, and a great deal of starchy pasta water

That’s it. Surprisingly, no cream ever. The silkiness comes entirely from the cheese and the zucchini melting into the starchy water.

Lunch on the Beach

We sat close enough to the water that I could hear it. The tables were full and the service was warm and welcoming. The best part was watching them prepare the pasta right near us, tossing and stirring and folding until the sauce came together. It is a genuinely beautiful and mouthwatering thing to watch….and an even better thing to eat. It arrived to our table and smelled like a garden in August. Even my husband, who was quite seasick at the time, did not pass up this dish.

A Memory Made in Amalfi 

Eating a famous dish in the exact place it was invented, on the beach where it was invented, is rather magical and a little secretive, like a beachside speakeasy. It felt less like checking something off a list and more like being let in on something truly unique.

You cannot bottle that feeling. But you can whip up a little spaghetti alla Nerano at home, sans the boat and beach. Once you find the recipe that works for you….pour something cold, put on music that sounds like summer, and make a dish that a woman invented on a beach in 1952 out of almost nothing.

And isn’t that what living the vacation life – aka the Bistro Chic life – is all about? That is…not saving the good life for two weeks in July, but borrowing pieces of it whenever you like.

Let’s recap…Bistro Chic Life = Make the pasta. Open the wine. Sit down….live your Italian girl summer.

*If you go: Ristorante Maria Grazia sits right on the beach at Marina del Cantone in Nerano, reachable by boat or by a winding drive from Sorrento. Book ahead in high season, and go hungry.*

The post The Pasta That Was Worth Taking a Boat To (And How to Bring It Home) appeared first on Bistro Chic.

I’ve stayed in plenty of luxury hotels around the world, and I’ll admit it: I have standards. High ones. So when I say the Grand Hotel La Favorita earned a spot on my “I would absolutely come back” list, that means something. Yes, it ranks among the most expensive hotels we’ve ever booked. But by the end of our stay, no one in the family was doing the math anymore. Here’s why.

The Location

If you read my post on 5 Reasons to Stay in Sorrento When Visiting Italy’s Amalfi Coast, you already know I’m a big believer in Sorrento as a home base. La Favorita takes that home base and puts it in exactly the right spot. We were a five minute stroll from the main shopping streets, endless restaurants and the sights, yet the hotel itself never felt crowded or loud. And when we wanted to hop the ferry to Positano or Capri? Ten minutes to the harbor, gelato in hand.

The Rooms

Beyond being spotless (the bare minimum, in my book), the rooms were beautifully done in a Mediterranean style with wall to wall Italian tile and tasteful decor. Both of our rooms were wonderfully spacious. We had a junior suite, our children had a standard double, and both came with balconies. The bathrooms were large and tiled, with a towel warming rack and a bidet for those so inclined.

Every evening brought turn down service: slippers positioned by the bed, curtains drawn, waters replenished, towels refreshed. And the surprise that won me over completely? A bottle of prosecco and mini lemon cakes waiting in each room. Sorrento, you had me at prosecco.

The Lobby and Shared Areas

The lobby and common areas are open, with plenty of light and dressed in gorgeous velvet furniture, Italian art, pottery and sculptures. Seriously, everywhere you look there’s art, which is exactly our kind of hotel. And one of the best parts? There’s a secret garden you can slip away to any time of day. Shh, don’t tell anyone I told you.

The Pool

The rooftop pool was hands down our favorite and most used amenity. The elevator takes you straight up, and when the doors open you’re greeted by sparkling blue water, a rushing fountain and a view that makes you forget your phone exists (almost… a girl still needs her photos). Pool service was lovely, with food and drinks available all day, plus towels and an outdoor shower. We never had trouble finding four chairs together, though we noticed later arrivals weren’t always so lucky. Consider that your nudge to claim your spot before lunch.

The Breakfast

My family are admittedly breakfast and coffee snobs. Wherever we go, we can’t help but rate and rank (fine, judge) the breakfast and coffee. If you’ve read Finding Coffee Culture When Traveling, you know I take my morning cup very seriously. Breakfast at La Favorita was easily my favorite meal of each day in Sorrento, and considering everywhere we ate in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, that’s saying a lot. Made-to-order eggs, pancakes and hot dishes, a huge spread of fruit, cakes and pastries, fresh juices, Prosecco (yes, at breakfast, we’re on vacation) and truly excellent coffee. The staff remembered us each morning, the tables were set with white tablecloths and beautiful place settings, and most days a pianist played classical and contemporary pieces while we lingered over our cappuccinos. It felt less like breakfast and more like a daily celebration.

A Few Things to Know

In the spirit of full honesty: the gym is tiny. A set of free weights, a few machines and a treadmill. Then again, between the walking, the swimming and the stairs of the Amalfi Coast, I’m not sure anyone comes to Sorrento needing a full gym. Also, the hotel is somewhat tucked behind neighboring buildings, so water views are limited. Our junior suite had one; our children’s room did not. If a sea view is a must for you, request it when booking.

The Verdict

Would I return? In a heartbeat, and I’d pack my bags tonight if I had endless funds and vacation time. If La Favorita fits your budget, book it and thank me later. If not, don’t worry, Sorrento has wonderful options at every price point, from charming smaller hotels to self-catering rentals, and the town works its magic no matter where you rest your head.

Either way, do your future self a favor and start planning. My Sorrento packing post will tell you what to bring (and what to leave home), and when you’re ready to shop, I’ve rounded up the most authentic Italian souvenirs to bring back a little of that dolce vita.

As for me, I’ll be over here plotting my return trip and dreaming of lemon cakes. A presto, Sorrento. Save my chair by the pool.

The post Why I Would Return to Sorrento’s Grand Hotel La Favorita appeared first on Bistro Chic.

When it comes to food, Italy is famous for the 3 P’s of carbs: pasta, pizza and pane (bread). Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast served up plenty of all three, but there was so much more to discover too, enough to satisfy every craving on the trip.

So grab a cappuccino (or a glass of limoncello) and let’s talk about every single place we ate, plus my very honest opinions on each one.

BREAKFAST

Tiffany Restaurant, at the Grand Hotel La Favorita — Breakfast was hands down my favorite meal of the day in Sorrento. It was served in a gorgeous room with a live piano player most mornings, and since the full buffet was included in our stay, I mixed familiar favorites with a few local treats. Every single day I started with made-to-order scrambled eggs, fresh fruit like a whole peach or juicy oranges, crispy bacon, a bit of crusty bread or something sweet, and of course, multiple cappuccinos. So luxurious, so filling, and honestly the best way to start any day. Bistro Chic Bottom Line – A great breakfast even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

LUNCH

Bella Vista Cocktail Bar and Bistro, Grand Hotel La Favorita in Sorrento — The hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant has an atmosphere that’s hard to beat, but the food leans pretty standard American, catering to the many US travelers staying there. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: gorgeous views, decent food, pricier than it should be. Not somewhere I’d go out of my way for if I wasn’t already staying at the hotel.

Ristorante La Cambusa, Positano — Right by the beach and harbor, this spot is prime for people watching, especially if you snag a seat near the railing. Food was decent but definitely touristy. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: try a restaurant away from the harbor instead.

Donna Rachele, Capri — Tucked into a quiet corner of a cobblestone street, we almost walked right past this little gem. It had a charming vibe, blessed air conditioning (so important in that heat!), and the best caprese salad of the whole trip, which tracks since the salad was actually invented on Capri. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: worth the stop for good pizza and salads away from the harbor chaos.

Ristorante Maria Grazia, Nerano — We stumbled onto this beauty during a private boat tour to Positano. Tons of seaside charm, mostly covered outdoor seating, sweet staff, and the pasta Nerano (a local dish made with zucchini and cheese) was delicious. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: it’s boat access primarily, but so worth the trip for the experience alone.

DINNER

Cafe Latino — Our very first dinner of the trip, and what an intro to the Amalfi Coast. Open-air space, fun table groupings, great people watching, and good food, including chicken, which was surprisingly hard to come by at most spots. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: a great restaurant to set the tone for the whole trip.

Circolo dei Forestieri (aka the Foreigners Club) — The staff felt a little distant at first, but once you get past that, the seaside views make up for it completely. My pasta was excellent, the cocktails were more than sip-worthy, and the sunset was unreal. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: book a sunset reservation and ask for a table right by the water.

O’Parrucchiano — I’d been warned about this one but tried it anyway. The food felt a bit mass produced, average taste and presentation. That said, the atmosphere is stunning, you’re seated in a beautiful indoor/outdoor lemon grove that’s perfect for photos and big groups. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: go for the atmosphere and your Instagram feed, not the food.

Frankie’s Pizza — The pizza itself was great with an interesting selection, and the buzzing atmosphere and long line outside (we were glad to have reservations) prove it’s popular for a reason. But the space felt a little dirty and cramped, and a rainstorm literally rained on us inside the restaurant. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: get takeout.

La Masseria — As part of a tour through a working lemon farm, we were treated to a multi-course homemade dinner: bruschetta, charcuterie and cheese, fresh pasta, and the famous Sorrento lemon cake. The perfect ending to a lovely farm-to-table afternoon. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: a sweet little excursion just outside Sorrento with delicious food from a lovely family.

Donna Sofia — A must if you’re in Sorrento! The pasta was fantastic and the whole place is themed around the iconic Sofia Loren, with her photos covering the walls. Just steps from our hotel, this ended up being our best dinner of the trip, and since we saved it for our last night, we truly saved the best for last. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: do not miss this one.

GELATO

Raki Gelato — We found this place completely by accident and I am so glad we did. So many flavors, pistachio, chocolate, cherry, lemon, and more, and we went back almost every single night. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: highly recommend, just be ready to wait your turn in the summer crowds.

Accademia/Antica Gelato — We gave a new gelato shop a try. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t compare to Raki. Bistro Chic Bottom Line: we kept heading back to Raki, and clearly so did everyone else.

Bistro Chic Quick Tips

1. Book your dinner reservations ahead of time, especially in summer. We made ours through the hotel and breezed right past the long lines outside other restaurants.

2. Italians eat late. Show up before 8pm and you’ll mostly be dining with fellow tourists.

3. Skip the spots closest to the harbor or big attractions. The closer you are, the more you’ll pay for basic, overpriced food.

Ciao!

The post Everywhere I ate in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast appeared first on Bistro Chic.

One of my favorite things about Sorrento is how much shopping there is to do. Corso Italia, the main shopping street in Sorrento, gives you high fashion and housewares, and then you wander down one of the little side streets and suddenly you’re in a tiny gallery or a shop that smells like fresh leather. There really is something for every taste and every budget.

We shopped every single day we were there. I could have spent hours just looking at all the lemon everything, the pottery, the little trinkets that make you feel like you’ve bottled up a piece of the Mediterranean sun.

But here’s the thing nobody tells you before you go: not everything in Sorrento is actually made in Sorrento. Or the Amalfi Coast. Or even Italy, for that matter. I lost count of how many times I picked up a plate or a mug thinking “how charming, how Italian” only to flip it over and see it was made somewhere on the other side of the world. If buying authentic, Italian-made goods matters to you, do a little homework before you go and always check the tag before you buy. My rule of thumb: if you see the exact same item in five shops in a row and it’s suspiciously cheap, it did not come from an Italian workshop.

So with that in mind, here are the pieces that actually made it home in our suitcases, all authentically Italian, and exactly where we found them.

Art

Tucked away at 98 Via San Cesareo, the Sorrento Fine Art Gallery is a small shop filled with genuine paintings from local artists. Not cheap, mind you (the small ones start around $70), but we fell so hard for the work (and the charming, elderly Italian shop owner) that we ended up bringing home four pieces. We managed to fit them all in our carry-ons, though honestly they’ll ship for you if you’d rather not risk it.

Pottery

When I went down the rabbit hole researching authentic pottery shops, Nicky Souvenirs kept coming up again and again. We bought straight from Nicky himself, a few bowls and small trays, every piece handmade and hand-painted right there in Italy. There’s something about buying from the shop owner, a little Italian gentleman, that just feels right.

Leather

You cannot walk two feet in Sorrento without seeing leather goods, purses, wallets, belts, shoes, gloves, you name it. Most of it is leather-adjacent at best. But Antonella Ferrante is the real thing. A quick search told us the boutique has a solid reputation across Italy, and once we stepped inside we understood why. We walked out with more than we planned on and we’ve been using our purses since.

Custom Sandals

This one is close to my heart. The first time I visited the Amalfi Coast, a friend told me I had to get custom sandals made. That was back in 2015, and I still wear that pair for special occasions. So when I went back with my daughter, there was no question, she needed a pair of her own. We went to the very same shop where I got mine, Safari Sandals in Positano. Watching her pick out her style and color and get fitted, all in under thirty minutes, gave us this lovely shared memory that has nothing to do with the sandals themselves and everything to do with the moment.

Food (the kind that survives a carry-on)

Bringing food home is always a risky, especially if you’re not checking a bag. Sorrento will absolutely tempt you, lemon cakes, cookies, candy, and of course limoncello everywhere you look. If you have the room, a good bottle of limoncello is worth grabbing for a quiet summer evening when you want to think back on the trip. We travel carry-on only though, so tiny bottles just didn’t make sense for us. Instead we brought home olive oil from La Masseria Farm, the sweet little lemon and olive grove we toured while we were there.

Every one of these pieces means something to us. They’re not just souvenirs sitting on a shelf, they’re little reminders of a trip we loved, and a small way of bringing a bit of it home with us.

The post Authentic Italian Souvenirs from Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast appeared first on Bistro Chic.

Confession time. I am usually an expert packer. Give me a trip to California, New York, or Paris, and I will hand you a perfectly curated carry-on with not one wasted inch. I take a strange amount of pride in it, actually.

So when I started planning for Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, I did what any self-respecting Bistro Chic girl does. I pictured the whole scene before I packed a single thing: flowy linen pants, a darling romper, a broad-brimmed hat, maybe a chic scarf knotted just so, à la Sophia Loren gliding along the coast. I packed for that woman. The problem? That woman has never stood on a Positano street in 90-degree heat with zero breeze and cobblestones underfoot.

I checked the weather before we left, of course. It promised 82 and sunny. What it delivered was closer to 90, dripping with humidity, the kind of heat that laughs at your outfit choices and does not care one bit how cute you look. Lesson learned. Let me save you the sweat and walk you through what worked, what didn’t, and what I’m packing differently next time.

What I Should Have Left at Home

Flowy pants. I brought several pairs, fully committed to the viral crepe wide-leg trend. But the second I imagined wearing them to an alfresco dinner in 85-degree heat, I nearly broke a sweat just from the thought. I tried them on once, stepped onto the balcony, and said, “Nope, absolutely not.” They never came back out.

Cotton t-shirts. You know the drill if you’ve ever worn 100% cotton in blazing sun. Crisp and fresh for approximately eleven minutes, then damp, clingy, and not cute for the rest of the day.

The all-white romper. I had big dreams for this one. Windswept ferry ride to Capri, romper billowing dramatically, main character energy. Instead I learned two things fast: public ferry restrooms are not designed for one-piece anything, and white fabric plus a boat plus a breeze equals a walking dirt magnet. Beautiful in theory, but not practical.

Wedge sandals. At 5’1”, I like a little heel height for most vacations. It’s an easy way to add polish and a few inches of leg. But Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are basically one long, uneven cobblestone obstacle course. One evening walk to dinner told me everything I needed to know. My wedges spent the entire trip in my suitcase, judging me quietly.

What I Wore on Repeat

Sleeveless moisture-wicking tops. My MVP, hands down. I packed several racerback tanks from Athleta and reached for them daily. They paired beautifully with shorts or a skirt, kept sweat off my skin, and somehow still looked polished enough for a glass of Prosecco at golden hour.

Flowy shorts. Most of my shorts were standard cotton chinos, which got sweaty and wrinkled fast. But one lightweight, flowy pair from Ann Taylor, slightly longer than I’d normally wear, with a paper bag, wide-belted waist, became my daily uniform. Cool, breathable, and easy to dress up with sandals and a colorful tank.

Flowy dresses. A must for a summer trip to Italy. A few lightweight, breezy dresses kept me looking pulled together for dinner without a drop of extra effort or heat.

A white gauze button-down. I almost left this one home, and thank goodness I didn’t. A long sleeve shirt for a 90-degree trip felt counterintuitive, but it turned out to be one of the most versatile pieces I packed. It shielded my arms from the sun on long walks, kept me comfortable in the occasional air-conditioned restaurant, and paired effortlessly with everything from shorts to skirts. No wonder you see it on so many chic Italian women (and men). It just works.

My Real Talk Packing Tips for Hot Weather Travel

If you’re planning a trip to Italy’s southern coast, or really any hot, humid destination this summer, here’s what I’d tell a girlfriend over coffee:

• Check the “feels like” temperature, not just the forecast. Humidity will humble you and so will your photos. Pack for five to ten degrees hotter than what the app tells you.

• Fabric matters more than the trend. Moisture-wicking and linen-blend fabrics will always outperform cotton and crepe once real heat sets in, no matter how good it looks on Insta. 

• Save the all-white looks for photos, not ferries. If you’re hopping between towns by boat, save the pristine white pieces for dinner and pack something more forgiving for transit days.

• Test your shoes on cobblestones before you go, if you can. If you can’t, prioritize a flat sandal with real grip. Your ankles will thank you.

• Pack one long sleeve, lightweight piece. It sounds wrong for summer, but a gauze or linen button-down is a sun shield, an AC backup, and a styling multitasker all in one.

Pack smart, stay cool, and save the wedges for a rooftop bar back home. Trust me on this one.

The post What I Packed for Sorrento (and What I Should Have Left at Home) appeared first on Bistro Chic.