Hotel Mamela

There’s been a hotel on this site since 1830, but after a complete renovation, the Hotel Mamela opened as its present form in 1991. The hotel is large and bright, its lobby decorated almost entirely in white, with whitewashed walls and white marble tiles, and pops of color that come from bright orange and chartreuse sofa cushions. The lobby is a vast space, but it feels much more intimate than it is because it is divided by wide arches into smaller sitting areas with cozy white couches, black-and-white photo gallery walls, and potted plants.

This area leads to the large pool terrace with sweeping panoramic views over the slopes that lead down to the blue Mediterranean Sea, populated with lush trees and white villas. There's also a chic covered seating area with modern wicker couches and adjacent stone bar. The hotel’s breakfast room is a large and elegant space decorated with bentwood and rattan chairs, attached to a patio that overlooks much the same vista as the pool’s terrace, albeit from a floor up. The hotel largely attracts couples with its mix of stylish and homey design and quiet atmosphere.

The Hotel Mamela enjoys the seclusion of a country property while only being a six-minute walk from the Piazzetta, the center of Capri’s social scene. The Giardini di Augusto (botanical gardens) is the same distance away in the other direction, while the picturesque Certosa di San Giacomo is only two minutes away. The Via Camerelle, home to a number of designer shops and classy restaurants, is a three-minute walk away, and the Punta Tragara, from which the Faraglioni are visible, is thirteen minutes away on foot. On the other side of the island is the Blue Grotto, which is a 20-minute drive away. Naples is 90 minutes away by ferry. Expect airport transfers to take approximately 90 minutes by ferry and car.

The hotel’s 48 rooms are all spacious and bright, with a charming design, though not chic like the rest of the property. Like rooms in many of Capri’s hotels, they have whitewashed walls, hand-painted tile work in mostly blue and white, and old-fashioned furniture. All have space for a seating area with comfortable armchairs and a coffee table, as well as a full-size writing desk. While Superior Country View rooms look inland toward Capri, Sea View rooms have terraces that look out over the pool terrace and the Mediterranean. 

Bathrooms -- many with the same busily patterned or bright-yellow tile -- will feel either dated or charming. The small spaces have a shower/tub combo and bidet, as well as high-end C.O. Bigelow toiletries and a hairdryer. Superior Suites have a separate bedroom, with an open-plan seating and dining area, walk-in closet, and a large terrace with comfy sofas and loungers that overlook the pool and sea to one side, and the town of Capri and the mountains beyond on the other. All rooms come with a flat-screen TV, safe, and a minibar. 

The hotel has a large freeform pool with hydrotherapy jets, next to two separate hot tubs, and two large baths with jets. This pool is set on a broad terrace with plenty of loungers and a few canopied daybeds from which to soak in the Mediterranean sun and the stunning view of the richly forested slopes that lead down to the sea. Set back from the terrace is a pool bar that serves cocktails and light snacks. A continental breakfast is available in the large and light-filled breakfast room, but guests have to pay for it. The hotel doesn’t offer full restaurant service for lunch or dinner, although room service is available, as are snacks at the pool bar. However, given the hotel’s relatively central location, sustenance should not be hard to find. Although Wi-Fi is free, the signal is poor. Another downside is the lack of fitness or spa facilities.