Postcard from Capri
We say that someone from the Local Foreigner team is always on the road, visiting destinations across the globe - but we really mean always. Our monthly Postcard takes you along for the ride, and this month, we're taking you to Capri.
An hour off the Amalfi Coast, Capri sits in the Tyrrhenian Sea humming a siren song to travelers who flock to Italy during the summer. The symbols of the island have reached icon status - trees heavy with lemons, cobalt umbrellas along a rocky shore, and statuary standing sentry over Roman ruins and the ocean beyond. Pack your breezy day dresses, linen button downs, and chicest sandals (or pick up a pair of custom Canforas on island) and get ready to step into a postcard.
Ah, la dolce vita. Italians have perfected the art of indulgence, and there’s no better place to live the good life than on the beautiful island of Capri. Twenty five nautical miles from Naples, Capri is a sybarite dream, where old world glamour is met with indulgent luxury. Between the bougainvillea-draped Piazzetta and the rocky shorelines of its famed beach clubs, the island exudes an irresistible charm that can only be described as enchanting.
Hotels on Capri open mid-April and keep the party going until mid-October, meaning you can live your dolce vita fantasy for a full half of the calendar year. June and July tend to book quickly at the top properties, but either shoulder season can be lovely and a slightly more relaxed time to explore.
J.K. Place Capri
This splurge-worthy designer hotel made a major splash when it opened in 2007 on the small island of Capri. Famous Italian architect Michele Bönan put his heart and soul into the design of J.K. Place Capri. Not only did he create all the chic and comfortable furniture, but he also selected the art and mixed the paint for the hotel’s walls. Each of the twenty-two rooms are spacious and modern, with crisp, nautical style and swaths of sumptuous textiles, and by some mythical alchemy, the hotel is located both on the sea and right in the old town, so whatever version of Capri you’re seeking, you’ll find it at the J.K. | View the hotel
Jumeirah Capri Palace
Tucked away in Anacapri, Jumeirah Capri Palace offers 72 rooms, including 20 suites, where light, texture, and design are prioritized in equal measure. The iconic Art Suites, inspired by Kandinsky, Mirò, and Magritte, celebrate creativity, while spaces by Giuliano Dell’Uva and Patricia Urquiola bring a modern definition to the idea of Mediterranean luxury. Art is at the heart of the hotel, with a private collection featuring De Chirico, Plessi, Haring, and other contemporary masters woven into the aesthetic. The culinary program is another major highlight, with the island’s only two-Michelin-star L’Olivo, the iconic seafood restaurant Il Riccio, chic Zuma perched on the hotel's rooftop, and the authentic a-Ma-Re Capri. The Capri Medical Spa, a beautiful pool, and exclusive access to Capri’s most exclusive beach club Il Riccio complete the elevated experience. | View the hotel
Capri Tiberio Palace
A quick walk from the central Piazzetta and all the best shopping, colorful Capri Tiberio Palace has impeccable fashion sense. This is the type of hotel that makes you wonder whether you might need an aquamarine striped carpet and a wall of Roman gladiator helmets in your own home - but we recommend leaving this sort of confident whimsy to the experts. The SPA Tiberio is one of the best places on the island to get buffed to a shine before heading out to one of the see and be seen restaurants you're here for - Capri Tiberio Palace is perfect for the traveler to Capri who wants to be within steps of downtown Capri, but have a secluded bed to retreat back to after a long night at Anema e Core. | View the hotel
Hotel La Palma
Oetker Collection, which owns France's vaunted Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, has just one hotel in Italy, and it couldn't be anywhere but Capri. La Palma, which originally opened in 1822, is the oldest hotel on Capri, but the two and half year top-to-toe renovation, which was completed in 2023, means it's also the newest major player and has changed the game for the rest of the island's properties. Everything is so crisp, fresh, and white here that we're a little afraid to walk around with something as garishly colored as a spritz - but we're in Capri, so we'll get over it. And just a short drive down to Capri's southern coast, you'll find the Da Gioia by La Palma, a chic yet laid back beach club inviting you to lounge and enjoy lunch on the sparkling Mediterranean. | View the hotel
Lo Zodiaco
Overlooking Capri's marina, Lo Zodiaco's terrace is the perfect summer spot for seafood and pasta. The menu pays homage to the island's maritime heritage with fresh fish and local ingredients, offering fan-favorite dishes such as the citrus risotto and sesame crusted tuna.
Le Grottelle
It's worth the 20 minute walk from the town center to get to Grottelle, a remote outdoor restaurant with a kitchen in a cave that will leave you feeling a million miles from the world. Bask under the forest canopy with the Mediterranean sparkling through the trees and rub elbows with locals as you down plates of home-style pasta and local wines.
La Fontelina
The iconic Capri beach club. The restaurant started in 1949 as a small seaside outpost serving grilled fish and vegetables. The simplicity remains the same, but you'll now find a proper kitchen, and a straw roofed pergola for shade during lunch. Sip on a glass of sangria made from local peaches and listen to the waves lap gently against the rocks.
Lido Del Faro
This easygoing beach club under the Punta Carena Lighthouse has a lovely cove for swimming, and an excellent restaurant that boasts the very best view of the sunset. Sip on a beachside cocktail after a day of splashing in the waves and watch the sun go down.
Da Giorgio
The perfect place to spend a warm summer night is on the terrace of Da Giorgio, overlooking the harbor. Enjoy traditional costal Italian recipes, served on colorful plates adorned with the 75 year old restaurant's name. Don't miss the wood-fired pizza - it's reportedly a favorite of Jonathan Adler, who dines here daily during his annual sojourn.
Restaurant La Terrazza di Lucullo
The best views in Capri can be found at the fine dining restaurant at Relais & Chateaux's Caesar Augustus hotel. Be sure to grab a drink on the terrace before your dinner reservation to take in the magnificent view of the sunset. Then, tuck into tagliatelle with mussels and tuna bottarga or homemade paccheri.
Hiking with a Private Guide
Stroll along the Pizzolungo path, renowned as one of the most scenic hiking routes anywhere in the world. As you traverse the southern coast of the island, take in the awe-inspiring vistas of the sea, the Sorrentine peninsula, and the majestic Faraglioni rock formations. Opt for a quick pause at Villa Jovis, the historic residence of Roman Emperor Tiberius, if it piques your interest. Working up an appetite and topping up your tan - is there anything more prototypically Caprese?
Capri by Private Boat
No trip to this part of Italy is complete without taking boat to explore the wonders of the surrounding sea. Set sail on your private vessel and marvel at this enchanting island's stunning stretch of coastline, immense rock formations, and incredible sea caves. Swim in secluded grottos and calm, turquoise inlets. Soak up the sun and the coastline views. Sail by some of the characteristic fishing villages along the way, and stop for lunch at a great beach club. Or, navigate through the Phlegreen islands to Ischia, Capri's more understated big sister. Ischia is an intriguing concoction of sprawling spa towns, abundant gardens, and spectacular forests and vineyards. The quiet south coast offers a languid blend of a cozy harbor and nearby bubbling beaches. The day is yours to spend as you please, and your captain will tailor the route to your tastes and interests.
Private Caprese-Style Cooking Class
Until just a few decades ago, shipping goods and groceries to Capri was a luxury, so the local cuisine developed around ingredients that flourish on the island, which - luckily for everyone - includes bright, fresh vegetables, lots of herbs, and the daily catch. Your chef will guide you as you learn a range of special Caprese recipes using fresh and locally sourced ingredients, complemented of course by generous pours of local wines. Discover all there is to know about preparing a full meal in the traditional Caprese style before sitting down and enjoying the fruits of your labor!
No Place like Rome
Rome and Naples are connected by a quick 90-minute train, making this combo a classic for first-time visitors and Italian experts alike. Extend the itinerary north to Tuscany in shoulder season, or east to Puglia in the summer.
City Skipper
While it's tempting to feel beholden to the pull of Europe's great capitals, no one says you have to sully your coastal foray with any urban time. Nonstop flights from Mallorca, Sardinia, and Mykonos mean you can be on island time all the time.
Empire State of Mind
Tap into your inner Augustus and plan a trip spanning the wonders of the Roman Empire at its 117AD peak by connecting Istanbul and Naples. Bring an empty suitcase to bring home stuffed with breezy Caprese caftans and colorful kilims.
