Capri’s first hotel, originally built in 1822, has been transformed by Oetker Collection and owner partner Reuben Brothers into an elegant 50-room-and-suite property. This is the first hotel designed by interior design visionary Francis Sultana, who collaborated with acclaimed Italian craftsmen and local artisans
Located just steps from the famous Piazzetta, Hotel La Palma comprises two restaurants and bars, its own private beach club, a newly built pool deck, and a spa. Da Gioia by La Palma, the beach club also designed by Sultana, is set to quickly become the day-into-night epicentre of the social scene on the island. During its 2,5 year renovation, the room count of the hotel was drastically decreased from 80 to 50 rooms – including 18 suites – each complete with its own private balcony or terrace.
In a stunning renovation led by internationally acclaimed designer Francis Sultana, in what is his first ever hotel project, Hotel La Palma has been designed to be an inviting home away from home. Francis shares Oetker Collection’s obsessive attention to detail and applied this rigor throughout the process, personally designing everything from the bathroom taps to the dining chairs. He has deftly captured Capri’s beautiful lightness and minimalism while injecting flair and flourishes in a nod to the island’s 1950s jet-set era.
Booking.com
Calming hues of Mediterranean blue, green and turquoise complement the hotel interior’s soothing natural aesthetic and allow textures to come to the fore to create rooms that are tranquil, tactile, and ultimately, welcoming. All rooms lead into marble and bronze-lined bathrooms that reflect Francis’ signature aesthetic. Paying homage to its roots and ensuring the hotel retained an authentic sense of place, Francis commissioned acclaimed Italian craftsmen and local artisans; with in-room artworks by Luisa Lambri, handmade rattan furniture by Bonacina and custom bathroom fittings by Stella.
In true Italian fashion, Hotel La Palma is a gourmand’s delight, with Gennaro’s restaurant, bar, and terrace, under the direction of Chef Gennaro Esposito. Esposito is a culinary hero in Italy, having run his own two-Michelin Star restaurant, Torre del Saracino in Vico Equense, Naples, for the last 23 years.
A short drive to Capri’s southern coast, guests will discover Hotel La Palma’s chic yet laid back Da Gioia by La Palma beach club in Marina Piccola. This is the place where fabulous people come and go, to watch sun-drenched days flow into glittering twilight evenings. Open to non-hotel guests as well, visitors will come from yachts and neighbouring hotels as Da Gioia by La Palma beach club becomes the meeting place of choice on the island for long, lazy lunches created by Esposito.
By day, it is a playground for the great and the good and by night, home to carefree indulgence and the place to rendezvous and soak in Capri’s animated social scene. The menu emphasises fresh, locally sourced produce, with great Italian classics such as aubergine parmigiana, lobster pasta, and salt-crusted catch of the day. Da Gioia by La Palma offers 42 sun loungers and a separate private beach that can accommodate up to eight guests, serviced by a dedicated team.
After a day by the sea, guests can return to the hotel and indulge in La Palma Spa. The wellness area offers three treatment rooms, including a double suite, and a dedicated beauty cabin. There is also a wet area with a salt room, sauna, Turkish bath, and sensory showers. A fitness area includes state-of-the-art Technogym machines, while the treatments use Tata Harper products, a brand renowned for its natural and organic ingredients.
In a hotel first, legendary Italian beauty brand Santa Maria Novella, founded in 1221, provides Hotel La Palma’s bathroom amenities. The hotel has also collaborated with renowned editor and tastemaker GianLuca Longo for an exclusive Hotel La Palma capsule collection, which includes an expansive selection of bespoke products from Italian brands that represent craftsmanship and quality. This includes designs by La Double J, Marinella, Farella, Aquazzurra, Panizza 1879, Marella, Allegra Hicks, Chiara Grifantini, Emilia Brano, La Gae L, and others.
