Palazzo Pascal

Farther down the Amalfi Coast you find yourself in less rarefied surroundings than Positano — places like Amalfi or Ravello or (a little higher up the hill) Scala look out over the same Tyrrhenian Sea from similarly lofty mountainside perches. It’s here that the Palazzo Pascal has stood for centuries, first as an aristocratic residence, and now as luxurious but low-key seven-suite boutique hotel.

Some of the suites are more self-contained than others; some of them have little French balconies, others proper terraces, but all have views of the spectacular Amalfi Coast. The style makes the most of the palazzo’s heritage, but it’s a loose interpretation, a historically inspired contemporary hotel rather than a strict period reconstruction. All throughout you’ll find ceramic tiles made in Ravello by the titular Pascal ceramics house; in the bathrooms you’ll find luxe Trussardi products.

On the hilltop there’s a small pool with an extremely expansive view; by its side is a lounge bar pouring everything from espresso to aperitifs to wine and cocktails. And, unusually for such a small hotel, there’s a proper restaurant as well: Gli Ulivi, serving upscale versions of the traditional local flavors, as well as wine tastings and cooking classes.