Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
is
Il Girasole
(Via Linciano, 47;
%
081-8372351; www.ilgirasole.com)
just out-
side Anacapri; its owners will kindly fetch you at Marina Grande if you let them
know what ferry you are on. The rooms are tidy and all have terraces drenched in
bougainvillea vines, plus there is a modest swimming pool and four iMac com-
puters for guests needing to check e-mail. Rooms start at
€
95, though those are
the first to go.
€€
-
€€€
Even though it's almost impossible to get in, it's worth calling
La
Tosca
(Via Birago, 6;
%
081-8370989; www.caprionline.com/latosca)
to see if
they might have a room available. This is absolutely the best deal on the island,
with rooms ranging from
€
63 to
€
125, but at the time of this writing the next
available room (there are only 12) was 6 months down the road. If your trip is
planned that far ahead, book here. It's well located, its rooms are sunny and warm,
and its owners make you feel like a real Capresi. Repeat customers almost always
get a room when they call again.
€€€€
Most other hotels are pricey, but what you get is a night or two on a
paradise island—no secret to the hoteliers. The best of the overpriced is the
Luna
(Viale Matteotti, 3;
%
081-8370433; www.lunahotel.com),
which has outstand-
ing sea views and an Olympic-size swimming pool. Rooms (
€
175-
€
240) are
slightly dated, but—with such amazing views—who cares?
Dining on the island of Capri
is also expensive, but it's almost always worth it.
Capri is home of the famous mozzarella and tomato
caprese
salad, and other
regional dishes like
ravioli caprese,
and the Capresi are rightfully proud of their
cuisine.
€€
A restaurant that doesn't feel touristy, which is unusual because this island
is 100% dedicated to tourism, is
La Pergola
(Via Traversa Lo Palazzo, 2;
%
081-
8377412).
Its owner/chef grows his own lemons for his house specialty of green
ravioli with lemon and cream.
€€
Behind the Piazzetta is the always simple and reliably filling food at
La
Cisterna
(Via Serafina, 5;
%
081-8375620).
The owner is gloriously jolly and
makes sure you are happy with your meal. It's the type of classic Caprese trattoria
that makes you wonder why you'd ever dream of spending more money than this
on food. Try the classic
caprese
salad for
€
7.
€€€
Down near the Arco Naturale there's a wonderful dining experience to be
had in
Le Grottelle
(Via Arco Naturale, 13;
%
081-8375719),
which specializes
in grilled fish, rabbit, and chicken. But the real draw here is the atmosphere—the
restaurant is tucked inside two natural caves, and the ambience, especially at
night, could not be more romantic.
€€€
A sure bet in Anacapri is
Le Arcate
(Via de Tommasso, 24;
%
081-
8373325).
Open year-round, this is one of the few local restaurants that tourists
and locals agree on. Pasta dishes and shrimp with lemon sauce are favorites among
locals. The pizzas are more than adequate, though no one on Capri seems able to
produce a pie as good as the best on the mainland.
