Hotel L'Ancora

Please note that this is just a review of the restaurant. In short, I recommend going elsewhere - overpriced and rude service. There was an error on their part in taking an order, and whilst they eventually apologised after persistence from us, to wait 90 minutes for any food and them not to be proactive in wanting to remedy this error, was just very poor and unprofessional.

When choosing Hotel L’Ancora in Positano, I truly wish I had looked more closely at the reviews beforehand. While the hotel is in a great location — close to the main street, restaurants, and the beach — the overall experience was deeply disappointing. Honestly, the only standout part of our stay was the gentleman who picked us up upon arrival. He was kind, professional, and welcoming — if the entire staff had shown even a fraction of his hospitality, I think this hotel would have a much better reputation. Unfortunately, that was not the case. From the moment we arrived, the woman at the front desk made us feel more like an inconvenience than a guest. She was cold, unwelcoming, and her entire demeanor felt unnecessarily accusatory. For context, my sister and brother-in-law were staying at Hotel La Tartana (since L’Ancora was fully booked) — and they had a completely different experience. La Tartana was incredible — warm, friendly staff and a lovely property. I know this firsthand because I visited their hotel multiple times to coordinate with them. At L’Ancora, however, we were immediately told that our family members were not allowed to visit our room and that the staff would be watching us via security cameras. We were shocked — we hadn’t done anything wrong, and certainly weren’t trying to break any rules. We understand hotel policies, but the way it was communicated felt more like we were being accused of something, rather than being treated with basic courtesy and respect — especially considering we were paying nearly $800 a night. On our first night, my 14-year-old sister woke up screaming from a bite on her arm. In the morning, it had developed into a large, visible mark. When we notified the staff, we were told, “We can’t help nature.” While we understand bugs exist, this is not a campsite — this is a high-end hotel, and a response of concern or even simple empathy would have gone a long way. My sister ended up sick — lethargic — and we had to seek medical attention incurring around $500 in medical expenses over this spider bite. We know it was a spider because coincidentally the next night as she was sitting in the sofa there was a spider crawling on her chest. I believe it’s the hotels job to provide and maintain their property which they are obviously not doing. To make things worse, we later discovered — on the last day — that the hotel included breakfast every morning, but no one ever informed us. That’s something we could have easily taken advantage of had we known. Also worth noting: the hotel’s restaurant, which is directly attached to the property, was shut down by police during our stay — not exactly something that instills confidence. While the hotel did eventually comp us one night, it honestly wasn’t enough to make up for the experience. Between the rudeness, the lack of communication, and the general unwelcoming vibe, I cannot in good conscience recommend this hotel — especially at such a steep price point. If you’re visiting Positano and want to feel welcomed and cared for, I strongly suggest booking at Hotel La Tartana instead. Their staff was wonderful, and their hospitality was everything L’Ancora was missing.

Unfortunately a terrible dining experience. Items ordered but forgotten. A very long wait for the food when it arrived - not even mediocre. A real shame when paying a premium for the food. Staff not even apologetic. There are better places on the beach.