Capri Tiberio Palace is a whimsical boutique hotel just a few minutes walk to the piazzetta with sweeping ocean views, pop-art design and a low-key vibe.

Perched on a cliffside between the harbor and Capri Town, J.K. Place has sweeping views and only 22 beautifully appointed rooms.

Opened in 1995 next door to the Scalinatella (both are owned by the same family), Casa Morgano is the hip little sister property whose design scheme is a touch more understated than the antiques-heavy one next door. The twenty-seven rooms, most done in a blue-and-white palette, come with dark-wood furniture, flat-screen TVs and bathrooms with whirlpool tubs. There’s a nice terrace with upholstered wicker furniture and grand vistas, as well as a small plunge pool that was added in 2008. Splurge on a Deluxe or a Junior Suite (almost the same rate for the smallest-category room at the Scalinatella); all the rooms come with terra-cotta-tile sea view terraces where breakfast is served. Like the Scalinatella, Casa Morgano doesn’t have an official restaurant (a chef prepares tasty lunches), but Capri town is just a ten-minute walk away.

Some resorts will always be tied to the hotels that transformed them into iconic destinations in the first place (the Splendido in Portofino, the Hôtel du Cap-Eden Roc in Antibes and La Sirenuse in Positano). “The Quisisana is Capri,” one local told me when I asked about the island’s grande dame, which opened in 1845 and presides over the center of town like a majestic ocean liner. Reviews of the Quisi have long been mixed, ranging from complaints about lackluster service to impassioned declarations of “it’s the only place to stay.” It certainly is the best option for those who like to be part of the action. Situated in the center of town, a two-minute walk from the piazzetta, the sprawling 150-room property is made up of a complex of cheerful yellow-painted buildings, a Vegas-worthy lobby, three restaurants, a large outdoor pool, an underground spa, a restored 1929 theater, beautifully landscaped grounds, two tennis courts and tons of terraces. It’s huge and busy, so if you’re coming to Capri for a tranquil setting, this is not the hotel for you.

Rooms are spacious and airy, with ceramic-tile floors and tasteful, if somewhat conservative, decor. Note that only the fifth-floor suites have uninterrupted sea views; those on lower floors look onto the trees of the gardens and pool area. (The hotel calls them “park-side view” rooms, but the sea is visible in the distance; be sure to ask for one of these, as the standard double rooms face the narrow shopping street out back.) It is suggested that families book in a two-story wing, added in the 1950s, right by the pool. Those looking for a scene should reserve a table on the terrace of the new Rendez-Vous restaurant, which faces main shopping thoroughfare Via Camerelle and is already one of the most coveted tables in town. Choice Capri restaurants, like Aurora and Da Giorgio, are just a short walk away, as is all of the luxury-label shopping.

Family-run Hotel Caesar Augustus sits 1,000 feet above the Bay of Naples in Anacapri, offering the best views on island and comfortable accommodations.

The covered walkway leading to this charming four-star near the Augustus Gardens looks straight out of a Martha Stewart photo shoot: the rustic wooden pergola that covers the length of the path is weighed down with lush clusters of purple wisteria, the air smells divine, the sea lies in the distance, and you immediately feel miles away from the crowds of the piazzetta. The family-owned Luna is perched on top of a cliff with stunning views of the Faraglioni rocks (don’t even think about getting anything but a sea view room here).

The fifty-two rooms, including four suites, are classically, if a bit sparsely, decorated, with brightly colored tile floors, wood furnishings and photography and paintings of Capri scenes on the walls. Deluxe and superior rooms come with balconies, and some have two twin-size beds, a nice touch for families or friends traveling together. There’s a pool and a gorgeous terrace that seems to be floating above the sea—even if you’re not staying here, come for an aperitif before heading to dinner in town. The piazzetta is a short walk away, making the Luna a good option for value-conscious travelers who want to be in the heart of the action but don’t want to splurge on the Quisisana.

This luxurious hotel has an intriguing history—formerly a private villa designed by Le Corbusier and home to the American command during WWII (even hosting secret wartime meetings between Eisenhower and Churchill), Punta Tragara was purchased by Count Manfredi in 1968 and opened as a hotel in 1973. Still run by the Manfredi family, the hotel today carries on the tradition of elegance and hospitality.

The 44 lovely rooms are spacious, bright and stylish yet down to earth. Rooms are decorated using the colors of Capri—lemon yellows, Mediterranean blues, cliffside grays and whites—and contain sculpture and contemporary art as well as antiques and archaeological artifacts. The large marble bathrooms add to the luxe vibe and each room has a balcony or terrace.

Monzù restaurant offers Capri favorites and traditional Neapolitan dishes, which diners can enjoy along with the wonderful sea views on the panoramic veranda. The Unica Spa has four treatment rooms, each with its own outside relaxation area, and there are two pools on the property.

The view, however, is the true star of this hotel. A genuine feast for the eyes awaits guests, whether gazing upon the iconic Faraglioni rocks, the beautiful Marina Piccola or the spectacular sunsets.

Tucked away toward the end of Via Tragara, a good fifteen-minute walk from town, this sliver of a cliffside property has several stories stacked one upon another like colorful matchboxes. Run by the Ruggiero family, who opened the hotel in 1972, Brunella has an authentic, lived-in feel that’s utterly Italian, from the countless terra-cotta pots overflowing with flowers and lemon trees to the narrow, steep staircases that connect rooms with a small pool area and a large sun terrace. Design buffs who enjoy sleek interiors will recoil from furnishings such as upholstered pastel headboards and floral wrought-iron lamps, but Brunella is decidedly more of a private family home than a worldly hotel. The rooms on the lowest level come with a private garden. (Adjacent rooms 52 and 53 are perfect for families or friends traveling together.) The plunging sea views are hard to beat. This hotel is a good alternative for travelers who have been to Capri before and don’t feel the need to be based in the center of town. Popular hikes, like the one to Villa Jovis or the Arco Naturale, are also easily taken from here.

Opened in 1965 in Capri, Italy, the Scalinatella (the name means “little stairway,” referring to the hotel’s terraced setting) has just thirty rooms, each of which has a unique layout and design scheme.