Sorrento / above Marina Grande

Maison La Minervetta

★★★★★

Maison La Minervetta is the small, stylish, sea-view hotel that many travellers imagine when they picture Sorrento, and it delivers. It sits on the cliff overlooking Marina Grande, the town's old fishing village, a few minutes' walk from the centre. With only twelve rooms (a junior suite, superior and deluxe rooms), it feels more like the house of a well-travelled friend than a hotel. The interior mixes Mediterranean colour, especially bold reds and blues, with vintage pieces, ethnic objects, and shelves of picture books and design magazines in the living room. Every room has a sea view, and the best look straight down over the coloured boats and rooftops of Marina Grande toward the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius. The terrace faces the volcano, and a sea-view solarium offers a place to sunbathe; instead of a pool there is a large hydromassage tub with cold-water jets. Breakfast is a continental buffet served in the morning with the view as backdrop. The signature feature is the private staircase that leads from the hotel directly down to Marina Grande, so dinner at the harbour's seafood restaurants or a swim from its little beach is a few minutes away; coming back up, of course, means a climb. The centre of Sorrento, Piazza Tasso and the station are also within walking distance along the road above. Fit: couples above all, design lovers, and anyone who prefers intimacy, style and a view to big-hotel facilities.

Why choose it: it is one of the best ways to have a view-filled, design-led stay on the coast without the prices of Positano or Capri, while keeping Sorrento's transport links on your doorstep. Small size means personal service, and the staff are known for recommendations and help with bookings.

Room craft: all rooms face the sea, but deluxe rooms and the junior suite offer more space and the best outlooks; book early, as twelve rooms fill quickly from spring to autumn. Pack light or accept help with luggage, as the setting means some steps. If you need a proper swimming pool or a restaurant on site, this is not the place.

Practicals: on Via Capo, on the road above Marina Grande, about five to ten minutes' walk from Piazza Tasso. The hotel closes for a few weeks in January each year, and winter stays are quieter, with fewer restaurants open below. From here, the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii, buses to Positano and ferries to Capri are all within easy reach. Trade-off: no pool and a climb up from the harbour, in exchange for a view and atmosphere few hotels in Sorrento can match.