Isle of Capri

Last week my husband and I spent a few days in bella Capri in anticipation of our 20th anniversary. We made it!…Ha!

The island itself is absolutely gorgeous. Winding cobblestone pathways, vast trees forming magical archways, vibrant flowers and of course, the breathtaking views of the cobalt sea surrounded by natural rock formations – make me believe this is some version of heaven.
And the Italians? Ay mio dio – they are super friendly, respectful, have an old school charm and a wonderful sense of humor.
This vacation we stayed at the Hotel Scalinatella, which is officially now one of my favorites. I appreciated the classic blue and white Mediterranean decor – elegant, chic and fresh. The service was impeccable and I fell in love with the staff, particularly with Genero who took great care of us each day and Salvatore who worked the bar in the evening. By the end of our four day stay, their staff felt like family.
Each morning, David and I went for a hike near our hotel, which made our spaghetti eating marathon feel completely justifiable. The views were picturesque and it was a treat to be in a forest of trees with the back drop of mountain and sea.
Next, it was off to long leisurely lunches. Each meal became the best meal I had ever eaten – fresh spaghetti with zucchini or tomato and basil consecutively and guilt free for the entire stay. Of course that was accompanied by Rose all day and by the end of the trip, some lemoncello for good measure.
After lunch, we lounged in the sun, thankfully as we didn’t know what to expect weather wise in late May, early June.
In the early evening we strolled through town taking in (me especially) and admiring all the boutiques and jewels on the isle.
Dinner was dreamy, mostly eaten al fresco in beautiful settings. More pasta…more wine…
One night we checked out the Taverna, a fun local bar where we sat and listened to Italian musicians play.
I LOVED the energy here and enjoyed watching the locals of all ages from teens to 70 year olds dancing and singing along in a way you don’t experience in may places today.
It was so sad to say goodbye as I truly enjoyed almost every moment of this vacation.
It was fun, fantastic romantic get away. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to celebrate.

Below are some of my suggestions for where to dine and shop.

Until next time – Arrivederci
DINNER
Da Paulino – Lemon Tree – A restaurant literally sitting amongst a sea of beautiful and abundant lemon trees. The food was good but I felt a bit too touristy for my taste.
Villa Margherita is a new restaurant. Quaint – They have their own garden in their backyard where all their ingredients are sourced.
Aurora – Capri staple
Villa Verde – My favorite – also has outdoor and indoor seating

LUNCH
La Fontalina – Set amongst rock formations aka beach club
La Conca del Sogno – Bay of dreams – we took a boat to this restaurant, I think there is no such thing as an imperfect meal.
Restaurant at Scalinatella – Adore the waiter who has been there for 40 years. I wish I could have brought him back home with me. Sweet, funny, elegant.

SHOPPING
Obviously all the major Italian fashion houses have boutiques there, but what really got me were the authentic Capri shops where things are handmade especially for you, with an extremely quick turn around.
I seriously recommend just wandering into as many shops as you can. Each one is unique with something special to buy or just admire, but here were some my faves:

Farella Cashmere Boutique – I bought a beautiful poncho and was able to personalize it by choosing my own color pom poms to accent the trim.
Graza and Marica Vozza jewelry – Chic and original designs – I met the owner who was so kind and admire the pride she takes in her workmanship. Very exciting.
Sud – some fun summer cover ups as well as some of their own designs.
Grey Flannel – Boutique which carries multiple high end international labels. Probably the only boutique where the service was not up to par.
Laboratorio Boutique – Loved their handbags – wicker clutches and pocketbooks with crocodile closures and handles. They also carried the most amazing striped bags.