Glicine Restaurant: Fine Dining with Amalfi Coast Views as Stunning as the Cuisine

You can’t miss the majestic Hotel Santa Caterina as you wind along the breathtaking roads of the Amalfi Coast. Standing tall for 145 years, this 19th-century Liberty-style white structure overlooking the sea on the Amalfi Coast, surrounded by lush bougainvillea and fragrant lemon groves. It is a vision of elegance, captivating at first glance and revealing even greater splendor inside. It epitomizes the perfect Amalfi Coast getaway, where luxury, history, and breathtaking scenery come together in effortless harmony.

Perched above the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea, it’s home to Glicine Restaurant, a Michelin-starred gem where dining is more than just a meal—it’s an experience. Imagine yourself on a panoramic terrace, the scent of lemon groves in the air, a sea breeze swirling through your glass of fine Italian wine, as the sky blushes gold over the cliffs. Glicine is a love letter to Mediterranean flavors, refined hospitality, and the timeless magic of the Amalfi Coast.

The Restaurant: Timeless Elegance with Stunning Views

Glicine, Italian for wisteria, reflects the restaurant’s delicate and inviting atmosphere. Located within Hotel Santa Caterina, it seamlessly blends classic charm with modern sophistication. Inside, the airy dining space opens to floor-to-ceiling windows and an open-air terrace, offering stunning views of the Amalfi Coast. Whether dining indoors or beneath a starlit sky, every detail enhances the experience, ensuring a perfect balance of refinement and warmth.

At the helm, Chef Giuseppe Stanzione masterfully fuses Mediterranean tradition with contemporary flair, curating an ever-evolving à la carte menu and tasting selections that showcase the region’s best ingredients. He is joined by Sous Chef Alfonso Verziere, whose precision and creativity help bring each dish to life, and Chef Pasticciere Gaetano Esposto, whose exquisite desserts provide the perfect sweet finale.

Overseeing the seamless dining experience, Maître Domenico Mansi ensures that every guest is welcomed with impeccable service and warm hospitality. As the sun sets, Glicine’s terrace becomes an enchanting retreat, where soft candlelight and a gentle sea breeze set the scene for an unforgettable evening. In the summer months, dining under the stars, with the shimmering Tyrrhenian Sea as a backdrop, transforms each meal into a celebration of flavors, tradition, and stunning natural beauty.

The Chef: Giuseppe Stanzione’s Culinary Journey

Chef Giuseppe Stanzione didn’t always dream of becoming a chef—his love for cooking started as an unexpected twist. As a restless kid in Pagani, Salerno, Sundays often meant being stuck at home as a punishment. Determined to make the most of it—and maybe stir up a little trouble—he would weave his way into the kitchen, where his mother and grandmother were busy cooking. What started as a distraction soon turned into fascination, as he found himself rolling out fresh pasta and stirring rich ragù. That early hands-on experience shaped his deep respect for traditional flavors, a passion he carried through his culinary journey across California, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Back in Italy, he refined his craft under Michelin-starred chefs like Bruno Barbieri and Pino Lavarra, before earning his own Michelin star in 2008 at Casa del Nonno 13 and another in 2013 at Le Trabe. In 2018, seeking new challenges, he took the helm at Glicine Restaurant, where he continues to push the boundaries of Mediterranean fine dining.

Chef Giuseppe Stanzione (photo from Hotel Santa Caterina webpage)

At Glicine, Stanzione stays true to his roots, creating dishes that are direct with recognizable flavors, and contemporary. His philosophy? Let tradition shine, but with a modern touch. He reimagines local ingredients with bold textures and refined techniques, never straying from the soul of Italian cuisine. For him, gourmet dining isn’t about complicated embellishments—it’s about doing things exceptionally well. Even spaghetti al pomodoro, a simple dish, can be a masterpiece when made with top-quality ingredients and skillful execution. Whether crafting an elegant tasting menu or an à la carte favorite, Stanzione ensures that every bite at Glicine honors the flavors of the Amalfi Coast while offering a fresh, modern perspective.

The Menu: A Celebration of Mediterranean Excellence

The menu at Glicine is a tribute to the sea, the land, and the bold flavors of the Amalfi Coast, where tradition meets innovation in every dish. Chef Giuseppe Stanzione meticulously crafts each plate to highlight the finest ingredients of Campania, from the simplicity of spaghetti with three varieties of tomatoes to the brightness of bavette long pasta with lemon sauce and local shrimp.

For those eager to embark on a culinary journey, Glicine offers three tasting menus, featuring a symphony of flavors paired with wines from an extensive cellar boasting rare Italian and international labels. The Signature Tasting Menu, available in three (€110), five (€160), or seven (€220) courses, presents a curated selection of the restaurant’s most iconic dishes. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are also available, ensuring a tailored dining experience for every guest.

For a more personalized à la carte experience, guests can choose from a range of elevated appetizers (€40–€58), fresh pasta and risotto (€38–€52), and seafood entrées (€48–€70). Meat dishes are equally indulgent, priced between €48 and €58, while a curated cheese plate (€35) offers a taste of the region’s best dairy selections. To finish on a sweet note, desserts and fresh fruit (€25–€30) include indulgences like the rose cake for two (€56)—a perfect finale to a meal designed to capture the essence of the Amalfi Coast in every bite.

Complementing every dish is Glicine’s expertly curated wine list, featuring over a thousand labels with a special focus on Campanian gems like Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, and Taurasi—including the esteemed wines of Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, which, when paired with the dishes, beautifully enhance the depth of Campanian flavors. Alongside these regional highlights, the selection extends to prestigious vintages from across Italy and beyond. Whether it’s a crisp white or a bold red, each pairing is thoughtfully chosen to elevate the dining experience, making every bite unforgettable.

The Hotel: A Historic Jewel of the Amalfi Coast

Originally built in 1880 as a private family residence by Dr. Giuseppe Gambardella, Hotel Santa Caterina began its transformation in 1904, when the Gambardella family turned their home into a six-room inn. Over the past 121 years, this once-intimate retreat has evolved into a five-star sanctuary, blending historic charm with modern luxury while remaining in the hands of the Gambardella family for four generations.

Today, the hotel’s 72 uniquely designed rooms and suites offer a mix of heritage and contemporary comfort, with private terraces, lush gardens, or balconies framing uninterrupted sea views. Vibrant Vietri ceramics, antique heirlooms, and Mediterranean hues infuse each space with warmth and character. For those seeking seclusion, three exclusive villas—Romeo e Giulietta and two newly added retreats—provide a private escape carved into the terraced cliffs.

A glass elevator built into the rock face glides down to sea level, unveiling a world of relaxation and indulgence. Here, the saltwater pool sparkles under the sun, and every meal is enhanced by panoramic Tyrrhenian views. As the afternoon unfolds, La Terrazza invites guests to linger over cocktails and light bites, embracing the art of slow living with the sea breeze and endless horizon as their backdrop.