CAPGuide
The Best Restaurants On Capri
photo credit: Villa Margherita
Life on Capri feels as glossy as a Dolce & Gabbana perfume ad. This island’s extravagant, super-yacht excess is all part of its allure, but there’s so much more to explore beyond its bougie veneer, like swimming in turquoise waters, hiking serpentine trails, and traipsing around the historical ruins.
Leisurely meals fueled by ravioli capresi and heaping plates of seafood, sunset apertivo hour, and post-meal desserts and digestivos are all par for the course—when life gave Capri lemons, they handed them to someone’s nonna who bathed them in booze and sugar and turned them into limoncello, served up ice-cold.
Capri is a late-night town, and while dinner kicks off around 8pm, most locals don’t sit down until at least 10pm. Read on for the best spots to eat and drink on this iconic island—which, BTW, is pronounced “caah-pre,” with an emphasis on the first half of the word.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Umberto D'Aniello
All of the action in Capri goes down in the Piazzetta, a small square with restaurants and cafes that functions as the heart of the island’s social scene. Il Piccolo Bar is the oldest bar in the square (a bit of history: it opened 80 years ago to challenge to Fascist laws against outside seating). These days, waiters in white coats shuttle out spritzes on silver coasters with ceramic dishes of potato chips and peanuts. Time your visit to sunset as the clock tower rings in the pre-dinner hours, or stop by on a hot afternoon for a cold glass of freshly squeezed limonata.
You’re probably hoping to have at least one meal under olive trees in a garden with a sea view on this trip. Live out that fantasy at this family-run spot just down the hill from Via Camerelle, where the herbs and vegetables that will eventually make their way to your plate are all grown on-site. This is a great place to try octopus genovese, a Caprese spin on the traditional Neapolitan braised beef and onion stew, as well as classics like spaghetti alla nerano, a dish that’s made with zucchini and provolone.
photo credit: Umberto D'Aniello
Olive trees and a pergola? Beautiful, but child’s play compared to the views of Arco Natural you’ll get at Le Grottelle. This spot is about 20 minutes from the Piazzetta—just look out for the painted tiles under the arch and start walking. Plan to linger on the terrace over plates of marinated anchovies and perfectly prepared grilled seafood. If you see scarole on the menu, order it as a side—it’s escarole stewed with olives, capers, raisins, and anchovies. Note that they’re closed on Tuesdays and only take reservations by phone, and you may want to bring a flashlight if you’re making moves after dusk.
Taverna Anema e Core is an island institution where you’ll find mostly older crowds of locals and the odd international celebrity belting out classic Neapolitan songs and dancing on the table, tambourine in hand. The nightclub was founded by a legendary Caprese entertainer, Guido Lembo, and is now run by his son Gianluigi—who just may attempt to dance on a table, too. Get into the groove of the live band by reserving a spot close to the stage on the main floor. You’ll have to pay a €40 entrance charge, but it does come with a drink ticket.
photo credit: Umberto D'Aniello
The pizza at this casual spot in the residential neighborhood of Tiberio is worth the uphill trek it takes to get to it. The tender, thick-crusted Neapolitan pies are one of the island’s best bargain meals, but if you’re incapable of turning down pasta, try the paccheri totani (a short, chubby pasta served with squid in a tomato-based sauce) or the scialatielli con frutti di mare with zucchini and swordfish. Order a bottle of falanghina, a white wine that’s grown in the volcanic soil across the bay, and grab a seat outside under a wooden pergola or the pedestrian-only street.
This rooftop bar above the Hotel Luna is one of the only places on the island where you can catch a view of the famous Faraglioni rock formations and Marina Piccola with a cocktail in hand. They’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it really shines during drinks at sunset. Consider giving your body a break from Aperol and ordering the house cocktail with Italicus, prosecco, pink grapefruit, and peach bitters. If you hang around long enough, you’ll also get a great look at the moon.
photo credit: Umberto D'Aniello
If you’ve somehow had your fill of outdoor drinks with a view, the inside of this bar just off the Piazetta is a nice place to recharge with a glass of something crisp and fizzy while assessing what makes the cut for your first photo dump. Stick around long enough to watch it fill up as crowds begin to spill out onto the small balcony as the sun sets. They have a small menu of meats and cheeses, flatbread sandwiches, and crostini, in case drinks unexpectedly turn into dinner.
Granita, the soft, semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and fruit, is one of Italy’s sweetest claims to fame, with lemon being the most classic flavor. You should, of course, try a bunch around town. But for a double punch of citrus, order the freshly squeezed orange juice that’s topped with a scoop of lemon granita at Chiosco Tizzano di Natalia e Antonio. This is a kiosk-type of situation, so take that vitamin-C boost for a walk along Via Matteotti to Augustus Gardens.
This spot gets our vote for the best gelato and sorbet on Capri. Hop in line after dinner and spare yourself the mental anguish of trying to pick a flavor by going straight for the Fantasia Di Capri that’s packed with almonds and swirls of Nutella. It’s exceptional, especially when eaten in a still-warm waffle cone.
photo credit: Umberto D'Aniello
On an island known for high prices, the deli counter inside this small grocery store is a rare, inexpensive find. Come here for provisions before you set off for a hike up the Phoenician steps to Monte Solaro, or before taking the ferry back across the bay. Make your way to the back and pick from huge made-to-order sandwiches stuffed with things like fresh mozzarella or hand-sliced parma ham. The shop is small and the line can get long, but the staff is quick and friendly.
If you take anything back from your trip (besides the sunburn and newfound love for limoncello), have it be a recipe from this family-run garden villa. Yes, you can book a private lunch or dinner and leave it at that, but for an extra special experience, sign up for one of their cooking classes.
In addition to a wine and olive oil tasting, you’ll prepare three courses in the outdoor kitchen with ingredients from their vegetable garden. Pick from a handful of different menus, including one with recipes passed down from the owners’ family. Transportation is provided to and from Anacapri, and classes start at €240 per person.
Over 100 years ago, a Swedish doctor named Axel Munthe visited Capri and loved it so much that he built a home on the ruins of an ancient chapel. Today, Villa San Michele includes a small museum filled with Roman, Etruscan, and Egyptian artifacts, a garden with sweeping views of the Sorrentine Peninsula and Vesuvius, and the 1,000-year-old Barbarossa Castle that’s perched on the mountainside.
After exploring the grounds, climb the steps to Café Casa Oliv for a glass of prosecco and a slice of a chocolate torte. In the summer, the cafe hosts evening drinks after 7pm—they call it Apertivo con Billy, a tribute to Munthe’s pet monkey who was known for stealing sips of whiskey.
La Zagara is located in the heart of Anacapri, with lunch and dinner served beneath the Casa Mariantonia hotel’s lemon grove. Their standout linguini with lobster and seafood is the perfect pasta dish for a warm summer evening. Desserts are high-concept executions of familiar island ingredients, like summer figs served with caramelized walnuts and orange ricotta mousse quenelles. The wine list here is deep, and you can start or end your evening with a glass at their small bar around the corner. Reservations are required for dinner, so make sure to book in advance.
photo credit: Umberto D'Aniello
Come to Giorgio al Cucciolo to feast on locally caught seafood with a stunning view of Vesuvius, especially during sunset. Kick things off with a glass of prosecco and plot out your order: this is a great place to try scialatielli—a long, flat, fresh egg pasta—that’s served with fish, as well as dishes like red sea bream, razor clams, and ravioli caprese. It’s a bit tough to reach on foot, but they have a shuttle service that departs from Anacapri, in case you’re not interested in doubling your daily step count.
Lido del Faro is a beach club right underneath the Punta Carena lighthouse at Capri’s southwestern end with lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a saltwater pool perched right above sea level. After spending the day doing absolutely nothing, head to the restaurant for a long lunch of pasta dishes like mezzi paccheri with puréed green peppers and octopus ragù, or just order a panino straight to your beach chair.
While slightly more difficult to reach, it’s considerably less chaotic than other options on the island. You can take two buses, with a transfer in Anacapri, or skip the public transport fuss altogether and grab a taxi near the main square in Capri.
You’ll get incredible sunset views at Da Gelsomina, whether you book a table in the large covered outdoor terrace or the inside dining room. Expect traditional dishes like spaghetti alla chiummenzana and ravioli caprese made with tomatoes from the nearby garden. The seafood is great, and so is the pollo al mattone, a chicken dish that’s slow-roasted under a brick. A shuttle runs from the main piazza in Anacapri, otherwise, take the long (but not steep) walk—you can take a pitstop at Philosophical Park, which sits at the end of the road just past the restaurant.
