1. Terrazza Brunella, Via Tragara, 24 Terrazza Brunella has a special place in our hearts, it's where we (the founders of Concierge99) had our own wedding dinner - a beautiful, scenic terrace dining room set on the cliffs of Capri gazing out over the trees, rooftops and out to the sea. Come for an early cocktail before sunset to appreciate the views, then enjoy a romantic candle-lit dinner with a cooling sea breeze and the quiet hum of conversation around you.
Our Terrazza Brunella recommendations: A stellar wine list and some incredible dishes available here (including a wide selection of vegetarian and gluten-free ones), but you have to at least try their: ravioli caprese, insalata caprese, lobster linguine, seafood risotto and gnocchi with tomato sauce. Definitely leave room for dessert and an espresso or cocktail.
2. Ristorante Panorama, Traversa Lo Palazzo, 2 Another one of our favourite haunts on Capri; plan on showing up here for at least one lunch and one dinner during your stay. Ristorante Panorama is nestled in amongst the winding, wisteria-strewn paths and lane ways above the Marina Grande, not easy to find but oh-so worth the perseverance.
Our Ristorante Panorama recommendations: We recommend coming early for a cocktail to enjoy the views, and watch the boats coming in and out of the marina. Wait til you try the pizza here, the spaghetti a la vongole, any of the steak or meat platters, and the great wine selection. I still dream of the pizzas here.
3. Il Riccio, Via Gradola, 4 No visit to Capri is complete without spending a lazy afternoon at Il Riccio beach club and Michelin-starred restaurant. It's an expensive option (yes, even for Capri) but you pay for the relaxing atmosphere, the blindingly bright white decks with cool blue deckchairs and the views out onto the bay as boats traipse in and out of the Blue Grotto below. During your stay, why not try your hand at some cliff jumping with the local kids. Dressed up or down, you'll find all kinds here as they are an easy-going and friendly bunch.
Our Il Riccio recommendations: Plan to spend as much time here as possible by arriving early (ideally by boat!), settling into the deck chairs with a cocktail from their excellent gin menu or a bellini apertif. Make sure someone in your party gets the huge caprese salad starter, the lobster, tuna tartare, spaghetti a la vongole and never leave without a few trips to the Temptation Room for dessert.
4. Gradola, Via Gradola, 8 This casual, terraced open-air restaurant is a great little find if you can tear yourself away from the splendour of Il Riccio. Follow the path past Il Riccio to Gradola where you'll relax, chat to the waiter about what's best on that day's suggested menu - it's always changing according to the freshest fish, garden and market ingredients - and take in the spectacular view out over the bluest blue waters.
Our Gradola recommendations: If available, try the deep-fried organic courgette flowers (straight from their own garden), the lobster spaghetti, octopus, fresh anchovies in olive oil, anything with fresh pasta, their garden's grilled vegetables or the huge seafood platter to share. Don't forget the great coffee and desserts like the lemon cake to round out the meal.
5. Da Paolino, Via Palazzo a Mare, 11 This place is so cool with its hidden softly-lit courtyard with leafy trees dripping with lemons. You'll find a friendly, local crowd here out for a family or friends' meal sharing large plates of rustic, country-style food and for any vegetarians or gluten-free eaters out there, these guys are happy to cater to any dietary needs.
Our Da Paolino recommendations: Come for the atmosphere, romantic if just the two of you, but perfect for larger groups too, and get anything on the menu made with lemon (duh) such as the lemon pasta, lemon chicken, lemon risotto, lemon cocktails, lemon desserts and limoncello of course.
6. Villa Margherita, part of Hotel Canasta, Via Campo di Teste, 4 Come and dine in Pietro and Paola's beautiful, relaxing restaurant sitting under olive trees and overlooking the bay. It's off the beaten path away from the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfares and almost guaranteed to be one of the best meals you'll have on Capri. Since Hotel Canasta opened the restaurant, everyone has been raving not only about the food but about the amazing and friendly staff who alone will keep you coming back to this neck of the woods.
Our Villa Margherita recommendations: Get anything that showcases the fresh vegetables from their own garden, the eggplant appetiser, caprese salad, or alternatively the salt-encrusted sea bass, linguine with clams, ravioli, prosciutto and melon and any of the desserts.
7. Geranio, Via Matteotti, 8 A popular spot favoured by locals, come join them for a long lunch in this great atmosphere and beautiful views over the Augustus Gardens. The quality of the meals shines through via the fresh ingredients coming straight from their own garden such as the figs, tomatoes, even grapes for the wine and their freshly make pasta.
Our Geranio recommendations: Get the pasta fagiole with mussels, 'il Geranio' starter of sausage, tomato and cheese in phyllo dough, the salt-baked sea bass, any seafood pasta, the ravioli caprese, risotto with citrus fruits, mixed grill and leave room for coffee and desserts (like the Fiore di Latte).
For the best espresso you'll ever have: Torre Saracena Ristorante, Via Marina Piccola Arrive by boat or descend the perilous Via Krupp to Torre Saracena, the restaurant nestled on a little stony beach. If you feel like a bit of sun bathing, swimming and rock diving, come spend the afternoon on the beach and have a casual lunch at the restaurant with large sharing plates, hearty pasta dishes such as prawn and courgette rigatoni, the usual spaghetti a la vongole, fresh lobster and any fish of the day like red snapper. And...the...coffee...incredible.