8 Best Restaurants in Capri, Ischia, and Procida, Italy

Near the busy piazzetta and long one of Capri's most celebrity-haunted restaurants, La Capannina has a discreet flower-decked veranda that's ideal for dining by candlelight. Specialties change daily depending on the season, but the menu always includes ravioli capresi, linguine con lo scorfano (with scorpion fish), and an exquisite "Pezzogna" (sea bream cooked whole and topped with a layer of potatoes). They also own the nearby gourmet store and small lunch spot and late-night bar across the side alleyway.

This iconic eatery has occupied the space below the Santuario del Soccorso since 1936, when the original Umberto began to grill the local catch on the seafront. The setting is divine, with a terrace overlooking the Bay of Citara and the green tuff scogli degli innamorati (lovers' rocks). Vincenzo Pietroluongo now presides over the kitchen, conjuring up gourmet dishes such as the  scampo (langoustine) antipasto with ricotta, soya, and lemon followed by citrus risotto with crudo di pesce (raw fish) and mullet roe. There are also 11 guest rooms, all with sea views.

A grove of 130 lemon trees provides the unique setting for this popular restaurant near Marina Grande and down a winding road in a residential area, toward the Bagni di Tiberio. The ubiquitous citrus perfumes the air as you tuck into a bomba—a fried pizza stuffed with mozzarella cheese, ham, and tomato—or one of the many lemon-based desserts.

Nestling in thick maquis high above the Grotta Azzurra and a five-minute walk from the Roman site of Villa Damecuta, this must be one of the most romantic locations in Capri, perfectly placed to catch the setting sun. The cucina is refreshingly inventive with fish being a specialty: ask for scialatelli ai frutti di mare (homemade pasta with fresh mixed seafood). There's a free evening chauffeur service to and from Anacapri. Reservations are essential in the evening.

Take the steps up to the right just before the Giardini di Augusto to find this romantic spot, where outdoor seating is staggered on the layered terraces, commanding a fine view of the Fariglioni. The menu combines the best of local and international cooking, specializing in both meat and seafood dishes. Menu mainstays include the linguine con vongole, tartufi di mare e fiori di zucca (with clams and zucchini blossoms), eggplant parmigiana, and fried squid and prawns served with arugula and tomatoes. 

Although it's not primarily a restaurant, a luncheon dominated by fresh seafood and vegetables in the covered pavilion of this legendary bathing lido of the Marina Piccola is Capri at its most picture-perfect. With two seawater pools, a rocky beach, and I Faraglioni in the distance, it was the erstwhile haunt of Gracie Fields, Emilio Pucci, Noël Coward, and any number of 1950s and '60s glitterati. There are five suites available, too, in case a day at the beach-club is not enough. Boats also depart from here for the more exclusive Da Luigi, the lido-restaurant at the base of I Fariglioni.

When you've had enough of the florid Caprese decor, head to this restaurant, where the interior design is Parisian but the ambience evokes New York's trendy Meatpacking District. You can't go wrong with the fresh fish or spaghetti alla Nerano (with zucchini, basil, and Parmigiano cheese), and the wine list is a hefty 23 pages. Enjoy a fine bottle and settle in, on the raised terrace or on the street, for some nice people-watching.

With twinkly lit tables on a large terrace, plus a stylish bar for apertivi and dopo-cena carousing this place is a good bet for sophisticated versions of Caprese and Neapolitan classics. Warm host Pietro and the capable crew will guide you through the changing menu—standouts may include the candele alla Genovese, slow-cooked beef and onion pasta with novel additions, and roasted turbot with shallot cream.