'Hotel Costiera' Review: A Pretty Disaster on the Amalfi Coast

If only stunning views could save bad writing, Hotel Costiera would be the show of the year. Sadly, this Prime Video series proves that even the Mediterranean can’t hide a storytelling mess.

Welcome to Hotel Costiera, Prime Video’s latest attempt to bottle up luxury, mystery, and drama in one shiny package. Set on

the Amalfi Coast and starring the always watchable Jesse Williams, the series tries very hard to be sexy, stylish, and suspenseful. But here’s the catch, it mostly ends up being boring. Like luxury wallpaper with a script taped to it.

Let’s break it down.

Gorgeous Backdrop, Paper-Thin Plot

There is no denying it. Hotel Costiera looks expensive. The setting is jaw-dropping. The hotel feels like an Instagram influencer’s dream. The clothes are crisp, the sea is sparkling, and every wide shot screams “wish you were here.” But once you stop gawking at the scenery, you're left with a story that moves slower than off-season tourism in Positano.

The premise sounds spicy enough: a former U.S. Marine turned fixer helps out rich guests and investigates a disappearance. Daniel “DD” De Luca (Williams), returns to Italy to help wealthy guests at an ultra luxury hotel and is soon dragged into the mystery of Alice, the hotel owner’s daughter who vanished a month earlier. But the mystery unfolds with all the tension of a lukewarm prosecco. You’ll see every twist coming from a mile away and not just because the cliffs are high.

 You think you’ll unearth secrets; instead you often just dig up clichés: ex‑military trauma, shady guests, mysterious staff. All fine tropes, but overused enough here that they feel less like tension and more like expected beats in a formula.

Jesse Williams Deserves Better

Jesse Williams brings charisma and leading-man energy, but even he looks like he's trying to remember why he said yes to this. He can carry the burden of an action lead, look good while doing it, and carry some internal conflict. But even he can’t fully elevate scenes when the writing doesn’t support him. Dialogue often leans into exposition or mood rather than depth. Supporting cast members are attractive, polished, and competent but many fade into the scenery when the plot really needs them.

You expect a series with a missing‑daughter plot to deliver complex relationships. Here we get some family tension, hints of loyalty & betrayal, but very little in the way of surprising character arcs. There is no shortage of potential: Daniel’s dual identity (Italian‑American, military vs civilian) could have been a rich source. Instead it is more often a prop than a fully explored conflict.

Six episodes launch together, which could mean lean storytelling. Instead you get moments where the plot stalls: people talk, tension builds, and you wait. A lot. Some twists are telegraphed. Suspense is diluted by too many glamorous pauses: sunset dinners, scenic views, beautiful interiors. They’re eye candy, yes but eye candy can’t replace strong stakes. If you’re craving edge‑of‑your‑seat thrills, there just aren’t enough.

Hotel Costiera is all vibes and no substance. It’s the TV equivalent of booking a luxury suite and discovering it comes with no WiFi. Pretty, sure. But underwhelming. The series is charming. It is gorgeous. It is very nicely dressed. But that only gets you so far. If you binge it hoping for sharp writing, deep characters, and mystery that bites, you’ll leave wanting more. It tries to be The White Lotus meets action thriller meets Italian romance but ends up something less than the sum of its parts.

If I were you, I’d watch Hotel Costiera for the views, the hotel, the occasional fight scene, and Jesse Williams looking conflicted under Mediterranean sun. Don’t watch expecting deep emotional upheaval or unforgettable twists, you may get those very rarely, but not often enough.

Watch it for the views. Skip it for the plot.