Where to Eat and Drink in Capri: Our Favourite Tables

Capri’s mythical allure has long endured and eating and drinking your way around this tiny island is a big part of its charm. Although Capri might be known for its jetset glamour (and high season prices), the best meals here are the simple ones that make the most of the bounty of local and seasonal produce.

An island that comes alive in summer (nearly all restaurants shut November to April), on Capri, most restaurants are spread across Capri Town and Anacapri. Two centres that are distinct in style and atmosphere: Capri Town is bustling and centred around the Piazzetta and Anacapri is a quieter hilltop village 150m above. Beyond this, there’s beach clubs down by the water and cliffside restaurants in the hills and to truly enjoy Capri, it’s worth mixing up where you dine.

We have been lucky to spend extensive time exploring Capri and have put together a curated edit of the spots we revisit every summer.  

Capri’s dining scene is rooted in heritage and history with many of the best spots dating back decades. A big part of the appeal of Capri is experiencing the old-school glamour of restaurants with stories to tell and, much like the majority of memorable Italian cuisine, it’s the simple, classic dishes with fresh, local ingredients that shine the most. 

Capri’s dining options are situated in a few key areas. Capri Town, centred around the famous Piazzetta, is the liveliest spot with historic restaurants and excellent people-watching. Up the hill in quieter Anacapri, things feel a little more rustic and there’s lots of traditional family-run restaurants.

Meanwhile, in Marina Grande, Capri’s main harbour, there’s a handful of casual trattorias and Marina Piccola overlooking the spectacular Faraglioni sea stacks is home to a number of beach clubs serving up lunch with a view. 

Working your way round Capri’s extensive selection of restaurants would take all summer so we have narrowed down the addresses that should be at the top of your hit list for your next Capri trip. These have been chosen for their setting, character and authenticity as opposed to simply style or scene. Plus, we’ve arranged them by moment and mood for ease. 

This no-frills family-run spot in the centre of the old town, just around the corner from La Piazzetta, is the ideal place to pull up at the bar and enjoy a morning caffè and a cornetto. Open all day, you can pop back in the afternoon for the island’s famous dessert torta caprese, a flourless fudgy cake.

When in Anacapri, this adorable neighbourhood café in Piazza Caprile is the place to get a morning coffee and pastry and experience a slice of local life on the island. 

A 25 minute walk from the Piazzetta which takes you under the striking Arco Naturale, Le Grottelle feels worlds away from the bustling old town. Carved out of the rock face with an open-air terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, this unfussy restaurant serves up rustic regional dishes. Don’t miss the classic Ravioli Capresi. 

Starting out as a simple wooden beach shack in 1949, La Fontellina has become one of the most well-known beach clubs on the island with its signature blue-and-white striped loungers, ladders straight into the sea and views of the Faraglioni sea stacks. Lunch is a big part of any day here and there’s nothing better than enjoying grilled fish or seafood pasta served under the vine-covered pergolas.  

Hidden down a narrow lane just a few steps from the Piazzetta, here the leafy courtyard is filled with tables covered in white tablecloths. What often starts out as an elegant meal tends to descend into something more wild with loud music and dancing as the night goes on. A great one for a group dinner – the truffle pasta and seafood linguine are both excellent.

Tucked away on Via Fuorlovado and serving guests for more than a century, Aurora is one of Capri’s most iconic addresses for a reason. Elegant and not showy, people come back here time and time again for its famous pizza all’acqua, a very thin, crisp dough topped with mozzarella and roasted peppers often ordered as a starter to share. 

Hidden in a fragrant lemon grove above Marina Grande, this is one of Capri’s most romantic settings for dinner. Originally opened in the 1960s as a small family-run trattoria, Da Paolino has become an institution known for its Caprese salad and signature lemon pasta. Don’t skip the limoncello after dinner. 

One of the island’s restaurants pioneering farm-to-table Caprese cuisine, this family run operation uses local produce sourced from the owners’ own garden and serves it up in a small, vine-covered terrace overlooking the main square of Anacapri. The stuffed courgette flowers and octopus meatballs are both delicious. 

For a pre-dinner cocktail with a side of people-watching and spectacular panoramic views, this rooftop bar is the place to be. Head in the evening and enjoy a spritz as the sun sets.

For a contrasting, and more low-key vibe, this little wine bar in the heart of Anacapri has a lovely terrace for a spritz and an excellent wine list.

This traditional gelato spot in the old town is a much-loved institution for a reason. Famed for its freshly baked waffle cones which scent the whole street, its popularity has not dwindled in its seventy years of history. Alongside the classics, Buonocore has several house specialities including the divine Capri lemon gelato made with local lemons.

After a long lunch out or day at sea, sometimes there’s nothing better than an evening at home. Capri’s selection of spectacular villas with plentiful outdoor areas are ideal for a relaxed dinner with family or friends. 

Maven’s concierge can arrange private chefs to cook up a feast on your doorstep with produce picked up from the market that morning. Or, for nights when something simple calls, let us stock your pantry and enjoy cooking with the fresh Italian ingredients on offer. 

Capri operates as a summer island with more or less everything closing from late October until late April. Naturally, July and August are the busiest months on the island and popular restaurants can get booked up months in advance during this season. Booking ahead is essential and our concierge service can help you secure these all-important reservations. 

A long lunch is part of any Capri holiday with bookings tending to start between 1pm and 2pm, often stretching long into the afternoon. For the most atmosphere at dinner, join the Italians for a later sitting with a booking at 8.30pm or 9pm. This also allows you time pre-dinner for a sunset aperitivo. Moreover, it’s worth remembering that Capri is very much a boat destination and some of the best lunch spots are reached by water (either by tender or gozzo) so make sure to build this time into your day. 

While Capri is a beach location, dressing skews slightly smarter than some other Italian beach destinations so bear this in mind when packing.