Hotel La Palma : Oetker Collection Opens First Masterpiece Hotel In Italy

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. Conceived as a unique, elegant Mediterranean retreat on the fabled Italian island for the modern traveller, the original hotel on Capri, which first opened over 200 years ago, is once more the chicest address on the island.

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. The culinary vision for all restaurants is led by Neapolitan Chef Gennaro Esposito.

In a stunning renovation led by internationally acclaimed designer Francis Sultana, Hotel La Palma has been designed to be an inviting home away from home. Featuring 50 rooms, including 18 suites, each room is complete with its own private balcony or terrace. Francis has personally designed 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. 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.

All rooms lead into marble and bronze-lined bathrooms, paying homage to its roots and ensuring the hotel retained an authentic sense of place. “Capri is an island that I love. Hotel La Palma is an iconic hotel that everyone will adore in its new lease of life. I wanted my design to reflect the very special relationship I have with Capri, that was love at first sight from my first visit in my early 20s; an island of romanticism and great aesthetes with a beauty and great inspiration for creativity, in all its forms,” he comments.

 From the moment one enters the hotel, ceiling frescos by Roberto Ruspoli – known as “the artist who reinvented frescos” – honour Italy’s classical past, harmoniously complimenting the soul of the island. “In these paintings, conceived as contemporary frescoes, the classical figures have been inspired by the Roman world. The passage of emperors floats dramatically in blue and green tones, evocative of the sky, sea, and nature; and like ancient fallen plaster, leaves room for the shape of palm trees,” Ruspoli shares.

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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. A simple, stylish step back in time to the Capri of the 1950s, Gennaro’s embraces the timeless romance of the island, serving unpretentious, authentic Italian cuisine. A contemporary, vibrant place that shuns formality and celebrates the spirit and cuisine of Capri, Gennaro’s also benefits from being right above the great Taverna Anema e Core. With an enviable vantage point looking down upon the bustling streets of Capri.

Another highlight is Bianca, a glamorous, newly built rooftop restaurant and bar open for dinner till late with spectacular views over Capri Village and the sea in the distance. In addition, Hotel La Palma is home to a brand-new pool deck complete with an elegant pool bar – Aqua Bar & Pool – which pays homage to the ‘classic Capri’ of the golden age.

A short drive to Capri’s southern coast, 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. After a day by the sea, 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.