I arrived in Sorrento by boat on a sun-soaked afternoon, the kind where the heat (28 degrees, to be exact) clings to your shoulders in that pleasant, slightly smug way that says: you’re on the Amalfi Coast, congratulations. Compared to the theatrics of Positano or the polished glamour of Capri, Sorrento feels immediately more relaxed, less performative, almost as if it’s exhaling for you. My hotel, the aptly named Hotel Central Wellness, sits about a fifteen-minute walk from the station—or, if you’re feeling less ambitious, a quick cab ride away. What I didn’t know until later was that there’s a lift—yes, a lift—that will spare you the roughly 200-step climb from the port up to the town level for just over a euro. A life saver, truly, if you’ve arrived with a suitcase, or wearing trendy shoes.
About the hotel
Hotel Central Wellness is a boutique-sized escape with just over fifty-five rooms, which already makes it feel like the antithesis of the cavernous, wedding-party-filled resorts you sometimes find along the coast. It’s the sort of place you book to properly exhale - either as a finale to your summer travels or as a pause before heading on to the next dizzying stop on the jet-set itinerary. My check-in was seamless: a brightly lit lobby chilled to the exact right temperature (not arctic, not balmy) with a quiet scent hanging in the air, the kind of fragrance that doesn’t shout “I am bergamot!” but instead gently whispers, you’re somewhere nice. The staff were warm, efficient, and had me upstairs in minutes.
The room
And then, the room. Number 401, perched on the fourth floor, came with a sweeping view of the sea and Mount Vesuvius looming in the distance like a perfectly placed postcard prop. Forget the standard hotel-room checklist of kettle, tea bags, and generic instant coffee sachets—this room had its own private sauna. A sauna. In the room. It felt like a subtle reminder that the hotel takes the “wellness” part of its name very seriously. The rest didn’t disappoint: a generous sofa, a screen big enough for both cable and Netflix marathons, and a bathroom that was basically its own mini-spa with an “emotional shower” (yes, that’s the actual term) offering ambient lighting and massaging jets, a bidet, and a vanity mirror lined with bright LEDs—an influencer’s dream scenario.
The décor tied it all together: blue-and-white tiles that channelled old-school Italian chic, a bed that was both expansive and firm, and pillows that felt designed with Goldilocks-level precision - neither too plump nor too flat. Within minutes, I was smitten.
The pool
The pool is the kind of place that makes you reconsider whether you actually need to go sightseeing at all. Fairly large by boutique hotel standards, it’s ringed with plenty of lounge chairs and, most importantly, a bar that takes its cocktail offerings seriously. Each chair comes with an adjustable shade canopy you can tilt just over your face—because yes, we love Italy, but we love anti-aging even more. For those who’d rather sip in silence, the terrace offers a quieter corner with sunbeds overlooking the bay and Mount Vesuvius, a view so cinematic it almost distracts from your spritz.
The food
Lunch by the pool sealed the deal. The menu runs the gamut from fresh seafood to pastas, crisp salads, and the sort of “healthy snacks” that make you feel virtuous without sacrificing taste. It’s the kind of variety that means everyone—from the carb-lover to the wellness purist—finds something they’ll happily linger over. Pair it with a chilled glass of wine or a bright, citrusy spritz, and you’ve got the holy trinity of Italian leisure: pool, sun, and food.
The gym
Downstairs, the wellness focus continues with a fully equipped gym, stocked with every machine and gadget you could need to keep up appearances—or at least balance out the pasta intake. The staff, always attentive without hovering, seem to anticipate what you need before you ask, whether that’s a fresh towel, directions to the sauna, or another round from the poolside bar.
The wellness centre
The spa was, quite literally, all mine. For the first time ever, I had an entire wellness space closed off just for me—two uninterrupted hours of what can only be described as curated bliss. It began with a 30-minute full-body massage that erased every trace of travel fatigue, followed by a cup of detoxifying green tea that felt almost ceremonial. From there, I slipped into a jacuzzi the size of a small pool, complete with waterfalls and a soundtrack of soft, zen-like music that made me briefly consider abandoning real life altogether. The session wrapped with a Turkish sauna, the perfect finale to a ritual that left me feeling reset in a way no face mask or quick hotel steam room ever could.
Rooftop Terrace
A lovely surprise was the rooftop terrace, which never felt crowded thanks to the hotel’s boutique size. It’s the kind of spot you wander up to thinking you’ll just take a peek, then end up staying for hours. On one side, the view stretches over the pool, the sea, and Mount Vesuvius; on the other, it’s all rolling hills and rugged mountains. The sunsets here are nothing short of breathtaking, with the whole sky turning shades of apricot and rose as you sip whatever happens to be in your glass. It’s peaceful, unfussy, and perhaps the hotel’s most underrated luxury.
The space itself isn’t enormous, but that’s the point—it’s designed with precision rather than excess. Minimalist interiors, ambient lighting, and just the right music make it feel like stepping into a cocoon of calm. By the time I emerged, Sorrento outside felt somehow louder, brighter, more insistent, as though the world had been paused and then restarted.
Hotel Central Wellness isn’t the flashiest address in Sorrento, but that’s exactly its appeal. It strikes the right balance between comfort, relaxation, and a touch of indulgence—whether that’s a private sauna in your room, a cocktail by the pool, or two quiet hours in the spa. With its convenient location, attentive staff, and wellness-first approach, it’s the kind of hotel that works just as well as a pit stop on a longer Amalfi itinerary as it does a standalone retreat. In short: easy, restorative, and exactly what you want Sorrento to be.
