If you’re missing the exotic locations of the luxury hotels in The White Lotus, you may just want to check in to Hotel Costiera, set on Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast. It’s got many of the same elements, minus the murders.
Jesse Williams plays Daniel De Luca, a former U.S. Marine who is half Italian. He returns to his childhood stomping grounds the beautiful seaside town of Positano and—with shades of Ray Donovan— takes on the role of “fixer” at a luxury hotel. When the owner’s daughter Alice mysteriously disappears, Daniel is pulled into a serious mission on top of his day job solving the problems of the wealthy guests.
He’s not alone. He has a team of highly entertaining coworkers who mix their spycraft with a dose of humor.
The hotel, the coastline, those aerial cliffside shots, the hilltop roads — it’s the kind of show where you’ll be planning your next vacation to the region. Williams himself brings enough charisma to keep things moving on a very pleasant ride as the action shifts between Positano and the nearby city of Naples. As mentioned, no one gets killed but there are some tense moments in the drama.
But if you were hoping for something really intense like White Lotus can be, or genre-pushing, Hotel Costiera might feel a bit light. The mystery around the disappearance is its through-line, but many of the episodic problems of the hotel guest situations don’t carry deep stakes.
This is more of a “sit back, relax and let the scenery wash over you” type show than a “stay on the edge of your seat” experience. If you go in expecting escapism and charm, there’s plenty to enjoy. If you go in expecting something heavy, groundbreaking, or deeply innovative, you might leave wanting more.
As escapist entertainment, Hotel Costiera is worth streaming, especially if you’re a fan of Jesse Williams and luxurious, world-class accommodations in gorgeous settings. It hits enough marks to be a solid watch and to let yourself be transported for six episodes.
