Ciao Positano

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Casaebottega, a new cafe and home decor boutique in Positano, Italy. Today I'm sharing my other favorite places to eat and shop.

A room with a gorgeous view. (Credit Tami Yu/feteafete.com)

Food: Away from the main hub, right on Fornillo beach, Hotel Pupetto has a large outdoor ristorante that serves an awesome Mediterranean pizza. If you love seafood, get the scialatielli pasta dish, along with the salt and pepper shrimp. The lemon risotto was also a favorite. Try the airy lemon baba cake for dessert — it was unexpectedly marvelous. The servers were kind and the prices were lower than what you'd find on the main beach area. The beach view was super calm and serene. I imagine it's a zoo if you go at the height of summer.

To get away from the crowds, go to Fanny and Tanina's intimate Casaebottega for lunch or breakfast. For dinner, head on over to Next2 for lighter Italian fare (run by Carmela, Tanina's daughter). Reserve a table with Marco, our favorite server. He'll guide you through his menu favorites and will accommodate any needs. We liked them so much that we went back two nights in a row.

Amalfi lemon trees at Pupetto. (Credit Tami Yu/feteafete.com)

Walking tour: If you're staying there for more than two days, consider a 3-hour walking tour with Christine Ornelas of Discover Positano. An Australian living in Positano, she has lots of great insider stories of the town's history. If you're into Italian wine, her knowledgeable husband Vincenzo offers a separate wine tasting.

Shopping: There are lots of cute homeware at Casaebottega. If you want quality linen clothing, check out Pepito's, run by the Esposito family since the 1960s. Everything is designed and made in Positano. If you take Christine's walking tour, you'll get a discount with them.