Opened in June 2023 following a 2.5-year renovation, Hotel La Palma marks Oetker Collection’s first property in Italy. The ideal spot to take in all that the charmed island of Capri has to offer, the hotel is stunning in every way—from its Francis Sultana-designed interiors to the dining experience to its nearby beach club, all of which evoke an authentic and timeless Italian style.
Bustling and beautiful, particularly in the warmer months, the island of Capri, with its stone outcroppings and enduring vibe, is set about 20 miles from Naples, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. As the first and oldest hotel on the island — it was called Locanda Pagano when it opened back in 1822— today’s Hotel La Palma benefits from this ideal location in the center of the action. Just a two-minute walk to Piazza Umberto I (you’ll likely hear it referred to as the ‘piazzetta’), you can easily explore all the island has to offer, from visiting the famed Blue Grotto to seeing the botanical gardens, I Giardini di Agosto, to taking in the views from Marina Piccola (more on that one later.) The ferry or hydrofoil is the most typical way to arrive on Capri and you can be on the island in under half an hour from either Sorrento or Positano.
We mentioned Capri’s timeless vibe—the sun, the style, scent of lemons—and Hotel La Palma brings it all into one luxurious and relaxed setting, with its iconic Italian stripes and blue, white, and green color palette. This lush and sophisticated aesthetic is thanks to the design of Francis Sultana, who made his hotel-design debut with this property. You’ll find 50 rooms, including 18 suites, all of which have either a private terrace or balcony and include unique and local touches, like Luisa Lambri artwork. At close to 2,500 square feet, the La Palma Suite can sleep up to 10 people and includes its own dining area and terrace with loggia as well as special perks, like a complimentary day at the hotel’s Da Gioia Beach Club.
Like so much in Italy, there is a connection between the old and the new—which can be seen here as well. We love, for instance, how the frescos painted in the lobby are a nod to the property’s origin story as a place for artists and creatives. The hotel’s dining scene is run by Neopolitan chef Gennaro Esposito (He was at the head of the two Michelin-starred Torre del Saracino in Naples). The signature restaurant, Gennaro’s, serves up “authentic Italian classics revisited with characteristic flair” for dinner, while you can enjoy outdoor dining at Gennaro’s Bar & Terrace from morning until 1 am. Rounding out the culinary experience is Aqua Bar, by the pool, and Bianca, the gorgeous rooftop spot.
The hotel also has a great pool and a signature spa—La Palma Spa—which features a salt room, sauna, and Tata Harper products. And since you can’t visit Capri without enjoying some time by the water, be sure to visit the hotel’s Da Gioia by La Palma beach club, which is located in the nearby Marina Piccola (about a 15-minute walk) and is the ideal spot to do just that. There, you’ll find a restaurant, lounge chairs, a private beach area for up to eight—and opportunities to hang out both by day and night.
If you book through First in Service, you’ll receive daily breakfast for two/room and a $100 food and beverage credit as well as a room upgrade and early check-in/late check-out, if available.
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Many of the cocktails at rooftop bar Bianca, are, as they explain, named after those with ties to the island, like Giuseppe Pagano, the hotel’s first owner, and “La Bella Carmelina”—”a beautiful and shrewd woman from Capri, tarantella dancer, who invited the travelers, exhausted for Tiberio’s climb, to drink a glass of local wine.”
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