My family just came back from a long weekend in Capri and, as usual we had the best time on the island. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Quisisana (Via Camerelle 2; +39 081 837-0788; fax +39 081 837-6080 www.quisi.it), the real palace on the island and member of Leading Hotels of the World. We booked a penthouse suite, which has an enormous terrace overlooking the Faraglioni rocks, the best side of Capri. Here are some of the places I would recommend to anyone planning a trip to the island.
SPA
QuisiBeauty at Grand Hotel Quisisana. It’s located under the main pool of the hotel and has a well-appointed reception area and therapy rooms. I had a wonderful “de-stress” massage, which helped me recover my energy from the non-stop shopping during the day with my teenage daughter.
HOTEL
Perhaps next time we will try the J.K. Place, Capri (Via Prov. Marina Grande 225; +39 081-838-4001; www.jkcapri.com), the island’s new hip hotel, designed by Michele Bönan who has also did the interiors for the Lungarno Hotels group in Italy.
RESTAURANTS
My old favorite in Capri, Aurora (Via Fuorlovado 18-22; +39 081 837-0181 www.auroracapri.com), serves some of the best Italian cuisine in a chic contemporary setting with efficient service. Da Paolino (Via Palazzo a Mare 11; +39 081 8376-102), Capri’s emblematic restaurant, is located in an enchanting romantic garden with lush lemon trees. At Villa Verde (Vico Sella Orta, 6; +39 081 837-7024; www.villaverde-capri.com), you enter into what feels like someone’s home with a big courtyard and lots of tables for al fresco dining. You’ll find fantastic pasta as well as warm and friendly service.
Relatively new on Capri is Edodé (Via Camerelle 83; 39 081 838-8252; www.edodecapri.com), a short stroll from the Quisisana. During the walk there, you’re “forced” to look at the jammed designer boutiques along the principle luxury shopping street: Bottega Veneta, Loro Piana, Pucci on the left, Moschino, Louis Vuitton on the right…The restaurant is the most contemporary and urban sophisticated independent establishment to have opened recently on the island. The cuisine is gastronomic with very good presentations and top quality. It’s definitely a place to get dressed up for.
SHOPPING
Grey Flannel (Via Camarelle 71a; +39 081 838-8215), a multi-brand designer shop, carries the best selection of clothing from each collection.
For a great pastry shop, I would recommend Buonocore (Via Vittorio Emanuele 35; +39 081 8377-826), which has the best crunchy meringue cakes with pine nuts, almonds and lemon cookies. The gelati there are the best in Capri!
And finally, don’t miss one of my favorite jewelry boutiques: Angela Puttini (Via Le Botteghe 23; +39 081 837-8907; www.puttini.com).
