Donna Rachele Capri

An intimate bistro in which to spend an evening among friends, enjoying a glass or two of good wine and a tasty snack? A welcoming wine bar open until the early hours, even in the heart of winter? Donna Rachele, within steps of the Piazzetta, is just the kind of place which the island has been waiting for - for years.

Capri's Donna Rachele is comprised of a dining room, in which to enjoy a leisurely meal, and a wine bar, for customers dropping in for a quick snack or a glass of one of the 160 labels housed in the cellar. Those who have yet to quit the evil habit, can smoke on the small balconies overlooking the historic center.

Clients should not be surprised if the 'ravioli capresi' they ordered arrive with their creamy ricotta filling brazenly on show, or if the seafood salad has been transformed into Neapolitan Sushi: Donna Rachele's chef is known for his talent in making traditional local dishes look and taste wonderfully contemporary. The selection of fresh seasonal ingredients is meticulous, as is the choice of Italian cheeses and cold cuts which embellish the wine bar's impressive, meter-long tray of appetizers.

A passion for good food and wine is something which runs in the owner's family: Donna Rachele was, in fact, the name of proprietor Loredana's late great grandmother who, in the 19th century, ran Anacapri's 'La Murena" inn. Word of Rachele's little restaurant spread far beyond the island and King Umberto II himself decided to dine at La Murena during one of his visits to Capri. A portrait of a smiling Donna Rachele takes pride of place in the dining room.