EARLIER THIS WEEK we ran a short Colour Story on Dusky Pink and everyone went a little crazy for a certain impossibly romantic restaurant with pink tablecloths bathed in lamplight, overlooking the sea. Where is this place? they asked. Where on earth indeed. After a little searching, discovered this magical place to be a Michelin starred restaurant in Italy, located at the hotel Il San Pietro di Positano, Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy to be exact.

This historic 5-star deluxe hotel on the Amalfi Coast in which the restaurant is located has been described as being suspended between sea and sky, as it is carved into the sheer rock face on which it sits, offering stunning views overlooking Positano and the Mediterranean sea. Ultra-luxurious, Il San Pietro di Positano is, of course, a favourite of film stars and royalty, and yet the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Once a personal villa for Carlo Cinque in the 1970s, more rooms were added over the years to accommodate guests. The hotel still remains in and is run by the family today.

All of the hotel’s 57 rooms were re-vamped by interior designer Fausta Gaetani in recent years and feature hand-painted ceramic tiles, bright Mediterranean colours, antiques and attention to detail set off by a backdrop of bright white. Each room also has a sea view.

Aside from the gourmet restaurant that prompted our search for this breathtaking place, there is also a bar with a spectacular terrace overlooking the twinkling lights of Positano across the water, terraced gardens, a gym and spa and, at sea level, a private beach (288 feet down, accessible by elevator), a tennis court and a casual beachside restaurant that serves local dishes such as mozzarella grilled on lemon leaves, spaghetti with courgettes or clams.

As for Zass, it offers a prix fixe chef’s menu or a la carte selections that include homemade pastas, seafood salads and exotic soups. Main courses include creative takes on traditional Italian cuisine with dishes such as risotto with lobster capriccio; lobster tagliatelle; truffle sauce sea bass; or mushroom cappuccino with truffles, served on an opulent terrace with unparalleled views over the sea… (Read more about Zass below.)

via Laurito 2, 84017 Positano (SA) – Italy
Tel. (+39) 089 812 080 – Fax (+39) 089 811 449 – Email [email protected]

“Meals are served on a ridiculously romantic sea-facing terrace or, for a taste of the action, at the chef’s table in the kitchen.” (The Telegraph)

THE BREAKFAST ROOM — FIVE PASTRY CHEFS AWAKEN AT 4:30 EVERY MORNING TO BAKE 120 CROISSANTS, 120 PAIN AU CHOCOLATS, AND 120 DANISH PASTRIES. “The sumptuous breakfast buffet – bowls of fresh, seasonal fruit, freshly squeezed juices, local mozzarella, smoked salmon and rare roast beef, creamy locally made yogurt, homemade breads and jams – will set you up for the day…” (The Telegraph)

ZASS, Il San Pietro’s Michelin starred restaurant, is one of two restaurants at the hotel (the other is Carlino, the more casual of the two, offering al fresco dining next to the sea). Overlooking Praiano and the coast, Zass, which was first awarded a Michelin Star in 2002, serves Campanian cuisine with a modern twist. Headed by Belgian-born chef Alois Vanlangenaeker and his team of 32 cooks, the restaurant offers an innovative and exciting menu that features homemade pasta and creative interpretations of traditional Italian seafood and grilled dishes, with the classic Amalfi touch of lemons and olive oil from Campania. Zass uses locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients, and much of the fruit, vegetables and herbs used in the kitchen come from the hotel’s own terraced gardens. With its stunning terrace perched on a rocky coastal outcrop overlooking the Amalfi Coast, Zass is perfect for a light lunch or a gourmet dinner.

THE VIEW FROM THE TERRACE OF ZASS

ZASS

Il San Pietro di Positano
Via Laurito 2,
84017 Positano (SA)
ITALY

HOURS 12pm-2pm and 6pm-10pm, daily
PHONE (39) 089 87 54 55