Capri, Italy
Hotel La Palma: Historic 1822 hotel reimagined by Francis Sultana in Capri town with Gennaro’s dining and private Marina Piccola Beach Club
Standing gracefully in the heart of Capri town just steps from the bustling Piazzetta, Hotel La Palma originally opened in 1822 as Locanda Pagano—the very first hotel on the island of Capri, Italy. Reimagined by the Oetker Collection and visionary interior designer Francis Sultana, the 50-room boutique masterpiece pays homage to Capri’s 1950s golden age of artists, poets, and jet-set glamour. Luminous pastel frescoes by Roberto Ruspoli, private furnished balconies framing the Tyrrhenian Sea, the rooftop Bianca restaurant, and the exclusive La Palma Beach Club in Marina Piccola establish La Palma as the island’s most fashionable social hub.
Arrival introduces travelers to the effervescent charm of authentic Capri dolce vita: personal hosts greet guests in the frescoed open-air courtyard with chilled glasses of local Falanghina and handmade lemon granita. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating iconic Capri island, nautical, and coastal pursuits: taking the hotel’s private open-top vintage Fiat shuttle down to the private La Palma Beach Club in Marina Piccola, private wooden gozzo boat charters around the Faraglioni rocks and Blue Grotto, walking through the Gardens of Augustus, exploring the clifftop ruins of Roman Emperor Tiberius’s Villa Jovis, and reserving dinner at Gennaro’s.
Island living balances glamorous village energy with serene wellness: The Spa at Hotel La Palma features private treatment suites, an outdoor pool deck, and therapies by Augustinus Bader. Dining is directed by Two-Michelin-Starred Chef Gennaro Esposito: refined coastal Italian gastronomy at Gennaro’s, chic rooftop dining and cocktails under the stars at Bianca, and barefoot seaside lunches at the La Palma Beach Club.
Accommodations comprise 50 rooms and suites ranging from 30-square-metre Classic Rooms to 45-square-metre Deluxe Sea View Rooms with terraces and the 85-square-metre Palma Suite with private plunge pool. Each room features custom pastel fabrics, private balconies overlooking Capri or the sea, king beds, and marble bathrooms with soaking tubs.
Design connoisseurs, fashion purists, and luxury travelers seeking historic 1820s Capri heritage, Francis Sultana aesthetics, and private Beach Club access in Marina Piccola should book Hotel La Palma without hesitation. Travelers seeking remote secluded wilderness should look elsewhere. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.8 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 520 reviews and a 4.7 out of 5 on Google across 480 reviews.
First day
- Arrive at Marina Grande, meet the hotel porter, and take the funicular or open-top cab up to Capri town.
- Check into your Francis Sultana-designed suite, unpack, and step out onto your private balcony.
- Dine on fresh Campanian specialties at Gennaro’s.
What guests say
Hotel Flock Score
Exceptional
Based on 1k published ratings
Category breakdown
Guests Love
Chic Rebirth of Capri’s First Hotel
Guests revere Francis Sultana’s pastel aesthetic, Roberto Ruspoli frescoes, prime Piazzetta location, and Oetker service.
Gennaro Esposito & Marina Piccola Beach Club
Reviewers praise Gennaro’s 2-star cuisine, Bianca rooftop cocktails, Augustinus Bader spa, and the private beach club.
Guests Warn
Vibrant Capri Town Center
Visitors love being in the middle of Capri’s finest dining and shopping.
Boutique 50-Key Intimacy
Travelers celebrate the personalized, private house atmosphere.
The overall score is a review-count-weighted average of named public platforms, normalized to /10. Category scores — including cleanliness and location — are Hotel Flock editorial readings of those reviews, not a platform's private formula. Hotel Flock is not affiliated with Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Trivago, or any other review site.
Awards & Recognition
Capri’s Oldest Hotel Reborn (1822)
Oetker Collection
Two MICHELIN Keys
MICHELIN Guide
In the stay
- Full access to the outdoor pool deck, fitness center, and spa thermal facilities
- Complimentary shuttle service to the private La Palma Beach Club in Marina Piccola
- Full gourmet cooked-to-order Italian breakfast daily and high-speed wireless internet
Usually extra
- –Gennaro’s multi-course tasting dinners and sommelier wine pairings
- –The Spa at Hotel La Palma Augustinus Bader facials and private wooden gozzo boat charters around Capri
Good to Know
- The 1822 historic property features 50 rooms and suites in Capri town, redesigned by Francis Sultana for Oetker Collection.
- Includes Gennaro’s restaurant by Chef Gennaro Esposito, Bianca rooftop, The Spa with Augustinus Bader, and Beach Club.
- Located on Via Vittorio Emanuele in Capri town, accessed by a 45-minute ferry from Naples (NAP) followed by private porter transfer.
Editor's Note
Book a Deluxe Sea View Room with a private terrace overlooking Capri town and the sea, and spend the day at the private La Palma Beach Club in Marina Piccola before dinner at Gennaro’s.
Reviewed by Hotel Flock · Last updated September 2026