I was three courses into dinner at Bluh Furore when I noticed nobody was rushing. The terrace hung over the dark water, the only sound was the clink of glasses and the low murmur of the chef stopping by tables. I looked at my watch once, then put my phone face-down. Dinner would end when the owner decided it was over. That feeling — rare on the Amalfi Coast — is exactly what makes this place different.
Bluh Furore secured its first Michelin star in 2024, a record-quick achievement for a chef who spent seven years training at Villa Crespi.
If you want a Michelin-starred meal that feels like a friend invited you to their private terrace for the evening — and nobody is checking the clock — Bluh Furore is worth the drive up the cliff. The food is serious, but the atmosphere refuses to be stiff.
Food lovers who hate rushed dinners
Couples celebrating something
Solo travelers who want a memorable night
The hotel that houses Bluh Furore doesn’t look like much from the road — and that’s the point.
Nine Terraces Cut Into the Cliff
Furore Grand Hotel rises from the sheer rock above the Fiordo di Furore, roughly midway between Amalfi and Positano. The brothers Pietro, Giuliano, and Alessandro Irollo de Lutiis bought a property that had sat idle for years and invested €30 million over four years to turn it into a 35-room boutique hotel. The family has been in hospitality since 1974, when they opened Villa Romita on the Sorrentine Coast as La Medusa Dimora di Charme.
Architect Fabrizia Frezza carved what she called a “cathedral of light” into the cliff. The hotel has nine cascading terraces, each one wrapped in white limestone. The arrival sequence opens onto a vast terrace with a cylindrical turret that seems to float above the sea. Elevators are tunneled into solid rock. A helicoidal staircase spirals through the building with curves that feel more Mediterranean than architectural.
Every room faces the horizon. Hand-painted tiles from Vietri Sul Mare line the bathrooms. Ortigia bath products, Nespresso machines, and smart TVs come standard. Upgrades like the Corner Suite and Signature Pool Suite add private plunge pools. The whole place uses a restrained palette of neutrals so the light and the water become the main event.
Furore Grand Hotel is the kind of property that could easily feel sterile — all white surfaces and silence — but it doesn’t. The staff walk around with actual warmth. They handed us cold water before we even asked, and when I mentioned we wanted to hike down to the fjord, someone appeared with a map and a recommendation for the best time of day to avoid the sun.
The restaurant is the real reason to come here, and it operates on its own timeline.
Bluh Furore: Dinner on the Terrace
Chef Vincenzo Russo is young — born in 1995 — and his cooking reflects a generation of Italian chefs who no longer feel obligated to be precious. The menu at Bluh Furore offers four tasting journeys. The Amore e Furore leans into the coast’s seafood traditions. The Respiro della Terra focuses on vegetables and land-based ingredients. Both change with the seasons based on what the kitchen garden and local farmers supply.
The signature dish, Festival di Pomodoro e Totani, arrives as a bowl of tomato broth so fragrant you smell it before you see it. Herb oil pools on the surface. Flash-seared squid sits on top, still warm. Tomato concassé, basil, and amaranth add texture. It’s a dish that could be served in a three-star kitchen in Paris, but here it comes out on a terrace where the only backdrop is the dark sea and the distant lights of Praiano.
Sommelier Giovanna leads wine tastings that feature small local wineries you won’t find on any supermarket shelf. She paired wines with each course at dinner, and every pour came with a short story about the vineyard — usually a family operation with a few hectares of terraced vines. The hotel also offers a more casual option, Aquarasa, by the pool, which serves zucchini alla scapece, fresh caprese, and fritto misto for anyone who wants a lighter meal without the full tasting commitment.
The village that surrounds the hotel is one of the most unusual on the Amalfi Coast.
Furore: The Village That Doesn’t Exist
Furore has no central piazza. No main road. The homes are scattered along the cliffs, and the town’s identity is diffuse enough that it’s often called the village that doesn’t exist. The name itself comes from the thunderous roar of the sea echoing through the gorge during storms — furore meaning fury. It was designated one of the Borghi Più Belli d’Italia (the most beautiful villages in Italy), but it doesn’t advertise itself the way Positano or Amalfi do.
Originally two small settlements merged into the modern village. In the Middle Ages, Furore was a rural outpost of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi. The population remained tiny — over a hundred in the 1500s and only a few hundred by the 1700s. The local economy relied on handmade paper, silk, olive oil, pasta, rope, terraced farming, fishing, and goat herding. Hillside churches preserve ancient Roman marble sarcophagi and a late-15th-century Renaissance altarpiece.
The Fiordo di Furore is a narrow inlet with a small pebble beach. The hike down from the hotel involves more than 1,000 steps. It’s a proper workout, especially on the way back up, but the water is clear and cold, and the cliffs rise straight up on both sides. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle to Amalfi (20 minutes, four times daily). Positano is about an hour away by car.
Book the shuttle to Amalfi for the morning slot, then come back to the hotel for a late lunch at Aquarasa before heading to the spa. The shuttle runs four times daily, so plan around it rather than relying on taxis — they’re scarce and expensive on this stretch of coast.
The 1,000+ steps down to the fjord beach are steep and uneven. Do them early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. Bring proper shoes and at least a litre of water per person. The hotel staff will point you to the trailhead and can lend you a bottle if you forget yours.
Planning Your Evening in Furore
Is Bluh Furore worth the price tag?
Yes, if you value an evening that isn’t rushed. The tasting menus run €150–€200 per person, which is on par with other Michelin-starred restaurants on the Amalfi Coast. The difference is that here, you’re not competing with the noise of a packed dining room — there are only a handful of tables on the terrace.
Can I bring kids to Bluh Furore?
The hotel is family-friendly overall, and the restaurant welcomes well-behaved children. But the tasting menu format is long, and the terrace doesn’t have a separate kids’ menu. If you’re traveling with young children, consider eating at Aquarasa by the pool instead, where the atmosphere is more relaxed.
Is Furore too quiet for a first-time visitor?
If you want the classic Amalfi Coast experience of bustling piazzas and shopping, Furore will feel too quiet. That’s the point. It works best as a calm base for a few days, with the shuttle giving you access to Amalfi and Positano when you want them. The best Amalfi Coast towns each offer a different rhythm, and Furore’s is deliberately slow.
What’s the dress code at Bluh Furore?
Men wear jackets or collared shirts. Women wear dresses or smart separates. Nobody is fussy about it, but the terrace setting and the price point suggest you won’t feel comfortable in beachwear. The hotel can lend you a jacket if you show up without one.
When does the restaurant close for the season?
Most restaurants on the Amalfi Coast close from early November to just before Easter. Bluh Furore follows the same pattern. If you’re planning a spring or autumn visit, confirm the dates directly with the hotel before booking.
The Luxury of Time
I’ve eaten at a lot of restaurants on the Amalfi Coast — some good, some overpriced, some genuinely memorable. What I remember most about Bluh Furore isn’t a single dish or a specific wine. It’s the fact that nobody once asked if I wanted the bill. The evening ended when the owner decided it was time, and by then the moon had shifted across the entire terrace. That kind of unhurried hospitality is harder to find than a Michelin star. If you’re planning a trip to this stretch of coast, consider spending a few nights in Praiano or Furore — the views are just as good, and the evenings last longer.
Sources and further reading
Lampoon Magazine. “Furore Grand Hotel: Minimalist Design, Architecture, Craftsmanship.” 🔗
Condé Nast Traveller. “The Best Restaurants on the Amalfi Coast.” 🔗
Italy Magazine. “Furore Grand Hotel: A Breezy New Boutique Hotel on the Amalfi Coast.” 🔗
Related reading on Emily in Italy
Find Amalfi Coast Views Without Crowds in Praiano — A practical guide to the town just next door, with recommendations for quiet spots and restaurants that locals actually use.
Best Amalfi Coast Towns: Positano’s Dolce Vita — A comparison of the main towns along the coast, including how they differ in atmosphere, cost, and accessibility.
Amalfi Coast: Italy’s Scenic Routes and Hidden Gems — A broader look at the region’s less-visited corners, with driving routes and stop-by-stop ideas.
Sorrento’s Pompeii Ruins and Amalfi Coast Drive — How to combine a Pompeii visit with a coastal drive, useful if you’re approaching Furore from the Sorrento side.