Laura-Jane Adventures

Fine dining, fresh homemade limoncello and morning runs along the coast – what more could a ragazza need!

In 2025, I really saw my love for Italy increase, and part of that can be attributed to my first time on the Amalfi Coast. The theme tune of my 3 days in Amalfi was Salvatore by Lana Del Ray, and not that I want to die at the hands of foreign man (really, I don’t!) but I can see what she is getting at.

Over the last few years, the Amalfi Coast has become increasingly popular. The 50km stretch of coastline is sprinkled with the most exquisite Italian towns, and its winding roads reveal breathtaking views around every corner. A road trip along the entire coast is on my bucket list for sure. However, our 3 days just outside of the town of Amalfi were intended to be relaxing, as it was the last final stop after visiting Roma and Napoli.

Amalfi included: Indulging in sunrises and sunsets from the comfort of the villa; enjoying a swim in the sea; and taking our time to get ready at night before enjoying flavourful dishes. It was everything I’d planned it to be and more.

aLone Amalfi

The villa we stayed in was called aLone, it belongs to and is run by the sweetest Italian man, Aniello. It has stunning views of the coast (I happily sacrificed so much sleep to ensure I didn’t miss a sunrise), and on the property are lemon trees from which Aniello’s wife makes homemade limoncello!

To the delight of my mum – I am being very sarcastic here – you do have to climb 160 steps to reach the villa. However, if you are able, then it is so worth it and steps in general are a common theme in Amalfi. It is sadly not the most accessible place, but worth seeing and getting a bit out of breath when climbing up all those steps.

We loved the apartment and Aniello’s hospitality. Each morning I enjoyed my coffee from the moka pot, had some yoghurt with fresh fruit and read my book as the sunrose over Amalfi. I then ran along the coast and returned to the villa to enjoy more incredible views. One day, we even had the chance to enjoy a local, hidden-away beach thanks to Aniello.

The villa sleeps 4 guests, and I would highly recommend it. I hope to return one day and get to have some more homemade limoncello. Grazie mille, Aniello!

The town of Amalfi

Amalfi town is a little hub of activity. On the first day, my dad and I wandered into town from the villa to get some supplies for the apartment. This is where you can get the classic lemon sorbet in lemons (overpriced but worth it for the feeling it brings) and also take in views of the town’s Duomo, dedicated to the Apostle Saint Andrew. There are more steps here, but be sure to climb them to take in a beautiful view of the town and surrounding hills.

In Amalfi, there are also a good few restaurants and bars to choose from. Aniello recommended that we visit Lo Smeraldino, they serve fresh fish, and the restaurant itself is located on the dock, so you feel as though you are dining on the water if you choose to sit outside. Additionally, if you want to enjoy a cocktail or drink with a few, then visit the Sea Waves Bar. This spot was surprisingly quiet when we visited, which made it feel like a little hidden gem. A rare find these days!

A trip to Ravello

Local recommendations are my favourite, and I think it is a shame when a person visits somewhere and chooses not to explore any suggestions by the locals. That is why when Aniello said he had some recommendations for us, I sat listening intently and immediately included them in our itinerary.

One of those was to visit Ravello. Ravello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the Amalfi Coast. You can take a bus from the town of Amalfi, which winds up the roads until you reach a hilltop town with remarkable views. I could not get over how pretty it was and kept annoyingly reminding my dad of how lucky we were to be there.

When visiting Ravello, you can explore its famous villas: Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. Both of these sites have a long history and are intensely romantic, bringing together the past with gardens which continue to be cherished and flourish. It is the type of place that makes me want to sit down and draw for hours on end.

Fine dining with views

As Amalfi was the last stop on our little Italy tour, I wanted it to be where we slowed down and enjoyed some fine dining. Do not get me wrong, the food we had in Roma and Napoli was also delicious, but this part of the trip allowed us to indulge differently. What better way to do that than in restaurants situated along an alluring coastline.

My first pick was Ristorante dei Cappuccini. This restaurant is known for being the birthplace of the cannelloni (a type of cylindrical, egg-based pasta) and is located inside the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel. This was my favourite dinner of the trip. The service was incredible and the food spectacular. My dad is up there with the world’s fussiest eaters, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself, trying new things and being spoilt with what felt like an endless amount of panatone and limoncello. Once dinner was over, our waiter, who definitely had some Italian charm, showed us the hotel’s old chapel. My mum loved this, and it was the perfect way to end our evening.

The second spot where we enjoyed a fine dining experience was Donna Emma. Housed within HOTEL MIRAMALFI, their terraced restaurant overlooks the sea. The pasta I had here was delicious, and the tiramisu was so light and fluffy. It may not have won the title of my favourite dinner of the trip, but it was a close second!

Overall, the standards of the foodie in me have definitely been raised thanks to these two spots. Time spent enjoying good food with people I care about is one of my favourite things, and here I created memories that will last a lifetime.

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Allora, all in all, this trip with my parents meant so much to me. It took place just before starting a new job and was an in-between escape before a new chapter began. The one thing or person that was missing was my sister, and that is why I want to return so badly. To show her this breathtaking part of Italy, get a bit tipsy together on limoncello spritz, and maybe do some more flirting with Italian waiters.

If you have the desire to visit the Amalfi Coast, do it! It might have become a bit of a tourist hot spot in the last few years, but it maintains its charm. Amalfi makes you feel deeply and pause a little longer. Something we all forget to do day-to-day.

Lots of love,

Laura-Jane x