Best Hidden Speakeasies in Capri You Need a Tip to Find

How I Found the Best Hidden Bars on an Island That Keeps Its Secrets Well

People come to Capri for the Faraglioni, the Blue Grotto, the perfectly maintained symmetry of the Piazzetta, and they leave thinking they know this island. They do not. Behind the pastel shutters and the linen boutiques of Via Camerelle, behind the tucked corners of the Certosa di San Giacomo where monks once kept medicinal herbs, there exists a network of underground bar Capri insiders have whispered about for decades. The best speakeasies in Capri do not announce themselves. Some do not even have a sign. Others operate out of what appears to be a private residence and will deny having a drinks menu if you arrive without the right introduction. I have spent eleven seasons on this island, working seasonal jobs, studying architecture at the local institute, and quietly mapping every doorway that leads somewhere unexpectedly good after midnight. Here is what I have found.

The Back Room Behind Anacapri's Farmacia

Tucked behind the old pharmacy on Via Giuseppe Orlandi in Anacapri, there is a heavy wooden door with no handle on the outside. You have to knock twice, wait, then push when the panel slides open. Inside, the space was once a storage room for medicinal compounds, and the original ceramic tilework still lines the walls behind the bottles. They serve a house-made limoncello infused with wild thyme collected from the slopes of Monte Solaro. The bartender, a woman named Paola who grew up three streets over, told me the recipe has not changed since her nonna ran a similar operation out of her kitchen in the 1940s. Order the thyme limoncello neat, then follow it with a Negroni made with locally foraged gentian root. It tastes nothing like a standard Negroni, drier and more bitter, closer to an Alpine amaro. Late weeknights on Thursdays and Fridays are the best time to appear because the owner trusts the crowd that arrives before Saturday noise. The room seats maybe eighteen people, and once it fills, the panel stays closed. Most tourists walking Via Orlandi never notice the door because it sits between a tobacco shop and a hardware store, and the unmarked entrance blends into the plaster facade entirely. Knowing someone who lives in Anacapri still matters here. If you are staying in Capri town, you will need a local to vouch for you, or at minimum, an Italian friend who can explain your intentions convincingly.

The Cellar Below Taverna del Pietro

This one sits on the narrow pedestrian lane behind the Chiesa di San Michele in Anacapri, the same street where residents hang their laundry between balconies on weekday mornings. Ta del Pietro has operated as a trattoria since the early 1980s, and for most visitors, it is a reliable place for fried Neapolitan pizza. What fewer people realize is that the kitchen's back staircase leads down to a cellar bar that opens only after the last dinner order is taken, usually around 10:30 PM. The cellar is low-ceilinged and cool, carved from the same tufa limestone that forms the island's geological foundation. A handful of tables sit against the rock walls, and the wine selection is entirely local, including a rosso from a vineyard near the cemetery that most people on the island forgot about years ago. I once sat here with a retired fisherman who told me the cellar was originally used to store amphorae of Roman wine when this part of Anacapri still connected to ancient trade routes. He may have been embellishing, but the atmosphere supports the story. The staff makes a simple but excellent spritz using Aperol, local prosecco from the mainland, and a slice of Amalfi orange rather than the standard lemon. Go on a Sunday or Monday when the trattoria crowd is thinner and the cellar does not fill with yacht crews. The only complaint I can honestly offer is that ventilation in the cellar is inadequate. By midnight, the warmth of bodies in that enclosed stone space becomes noticeable, and a few of us have slipped outside more than once for air. Still, it is one of the most grounded drinking experiences on the island, a genuine underground bar Capri locals treat as their own living room after hours.

Baretto Nano on Via Canolle, Near the Marina Piccola Ferry

Down near the Marina Piccola jetty, just before the path bends toward the rocky bathing platforms, there is a small kiosk that sells granita and soft drinks during the day. After 9 PM on summer evenings, the door behind the counter leads into a back room that functions as a very informal hidden bar. They stock the essentials, beer, prosecco, Campari soda, and a surprisingly decent Grappa di moscato. Nothing is priced on a menu. You tell the owner what you want, and he tells you what it costs, and this changes depending on the season and the crowd. The setting is nothing fancy. Plastic stools, a few crates turned upside down, a portable speaker playing old Italian pop. But the view from the enclosed terrace, facing the Faraglioni at sunset, rivals anything you will get at the rooftop terraces charging triple the price back in the Piazzetta. I recommend arriving around 7:30 PM to secure a terrace spot for sunset, then staying as the light fades and the room behind the kiosk comes alive. Order a Campari soda and keep it simple. The appeal is the rawness of the setting, the salt air mixing with cigarette smoke, the sound of ferry engines echoing off the rocks. The practical downside is the lack of restroom facilities. Being down by the water means no public amenities nearby, and the nearest option involves a ten-minute walk back up the hill. If you are spending a full day at the Marina Piccola beaches, plan accordingly. This spot captures the best of old Capri, the version that existed before luxury brands colonized the main streets, when the waterfront was for fishermen and families rather than superyachts.

Il Rifugio Hidden Inside a Ceramics Workshop on Via Tuoro

In the tangle of lanes between Via Camerelle and Via Federico Serena, there is a small ceramics workshop that has been operating since the early 1970s. The shop sells hand-painted tiles and decorative plates during normal business hours, and it looks entirely ordinary from the street. However, on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, the workshop's inner room converts into a private tasting bar for a rotating selection of mainland Italian natural wines. The owner, a ceramicist originally from Ischia named Raffaele, collaborates with a Campanian wine importer who delivers small-batch bottles by boat twice a month. You taste three or four wines in a sitting, seated at the workbench among half-glazed vases and jars of pigment powder. There is no cover charge, but you are expected to buy at least one bottle before you leave, usually between 14 and 28 euros. The experience feels closer to a gallery opening than a bar, which is exactly the point. Capri has always attracted artists, from the Romantic painters who arrived in the 1800s to the expatriate writers who colonized the island between the wars, and Raffaele sees his evening tastings as part of that lineage. He will sometimes play vinyl recordings of Italian jazz from the 1950s on a portable turntable while you taste. The crowd is small, rarely more than ten people, and it is almost entirely Italian-speaking. If you do not speak Italian, brush up on a few wine terms before going, because Raffaele does not translate. Most tourists never discover this spot because it requires a specific local connection or an intuition about which workshop doors might lead somewhere unexpected. My advice is to ask about it casually at one of the ceramics shops on Via Camerelle and see who looks interested in the question. Negatively, Raffaele has a habit of holding forth at length on the history of Campanian winemaking while the wines sit untouched. It is educational, but patience is required if you would rather drink than listen.

The Sottozero Behind Capannina Restaurant on Via Le Botteghe

Capannina is one of Capri's better-known restaurants, located on Via Le Botteghe near the beginning of the route toward Villa Jovis. Because it is well known, most visitors do not suspect it has a secret bar Capri regulars have frequented for years. Beneath the main dining room, accessible through a staircase near the restrooms, there is a subterranean lounge called Sottozero that operates from late spring through early autumn. The room is modern compared to the rustic Capannina dining hall above, with poured concrete walls, low ambient lighting, and a cocktail menu that leans heavily on Campanian citrus. Their signature drink is a variation on the spritz using limoncello instead of Aperol, which sounds like it should be cloying but achieves a balanced sharpness when made with their house recipe. The bartender uses freshly squeezed Capri lemon juice, genuine stuff from trees grown on terraces above Marina Grande, not bottled concentrate. I visited on a Tuesday evening in late June and was the only customer for the first forty minutes, which made pairing up with the bartender for conversation easy enough. He told me the underground space predates the restaurant, having served as a wine cellar when this hillside was part of a private estate in the 1960s. The estate was eventually subdivided, but the cellar remained, and Capannina incorporated it when expanding in the 2000s. Go on any weeknight to avoid the Friday and Saturday crush, when the upstairs restaurant's overflow crowd pushes downstairs and kills the intimate atmosphere. The practical drawback is that the staircase down is steep and poorly lit. If you are wearing heels, or if you have had a few drinks before descending, take your time.

An Unmarked Door on Via Croce, Behind a Green Curtain

This is perhaps the most genuinely secret bar Capri maintains. On Via Croce, one of the quieter residential streets that runs between the main piazza and the Certosa, there is a wooden door behind a floor-length green cloth curtain. There is no signage, and from a distance, the curtain itself looks like part of a shop display. You enter, climb one flight of stairs, and arrive in a narrow apartment that has been converted into a tiny cocktail bar with six stools at the counter and two small window seats. The person running it is a young mixologist who trained in Naples and returned to Capri specifically to create something the island lacked. The menu changes monthly but always features one cocktail incorporating wild herbs from the Monte Solaro trails. During my last visit in August, that drink was a gin-based number with rosemary, wild fennel, and a smoked salt rim. It was exceptional. There is no entrance fee and drinks run between 10 and 14 euros. The real reason to come here, though, is the conversation. The bartender is genuinely curious about who walks through that green curtain, and she remembers repeat visitors with an accuracy that suggests a space capable of building real rapport rather than merely pouring drinks. The opening hours are irregular, posted sporadically on a handwritten sign inside the curtain, and the bar may not open at all during slower months. Your best bet is Friday or Saturday evening between 8 and midnight. One tangible complaint: the space is extremely small. Six people at the counter feels full. More than eight, and the room becomes claustrophobic quickly, especially when the summer heat radiates upward through the floor from the street-level shops. The bartender knows this and limits entry accordingly, but it means there can be waits during peak evenings. If she is not there, no amount of knocking will help. Leave and try again another night.

The Cocktail Service at Quisi Hotel Bar on Via Camerelle

This entry is less a hidden bar in the speakeasy sense and more a place that hides in plain sight. Hotel Quisi sits on Via Camerelle, the most expensive shopping street in Capri, and from the outside it looks like a standard upscale hotel. The ground-floor bar, however, serves some of the most thoughtfully constructed cocktails on the island. What makes it a secret to most visitors is that the hotel actively discourages outside clientele. The bar has no public-facing signage, the entrance is discreet, and the reception staff will politely direct random passersby toward the more commercial bars further down the street. Knowing someone staying at the hotel, or simply appearing confident enough to walk in and sit at the bar without hesitating, is usually enough to get you served. The cocktail menu draws from a curated selection of Italian spirits, and the bartender prepares a Capri Sour that combines rum, lemon, white peach, and a basil syrup made with leaves from the hotel garden. During off-season months when the hotel is quieter, from late October through April, the bartender has more time to experiment, and the quality of off-menu requests improves dramatically. I once asked for something using carciofo, artichoke, and received a mezcal-based drink with cynar, artichoke-infused vermouth, and a lime twist. It worked better than it sounds. Visit in the late afternoon between 5 and 7 PM, when the natural light coming through the bar's front windows softens and the after-work crowd has not yet arrived. The one downside is the pricing. A cocktail here costs between 15 and 20 euros, and the snacks or small plates served alongside are marked up accordingly. It is not the place to drink on a budget, but for a single refined evening drink with genuine craft behind it, the value is defensible. This spot reflects the tension at the heart of modern Capri, a place that sells exclusivity behind open doors and charges you for the privilege of being let in.

Ventotto Degrees at the Former Lighthouse Keeper's Apartment, Faro di Punta Carena

Punta Carena is Capri's southwestern lighthouse, and most tourists come here for the sunset views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. What they do not realize is that a short distance from the lighthouse, in what was once a residential annex for the keeper's family, there is a small lounge space that opens a few evenings per week during summer months. The space serves aperitivo cocktails and small bites through a partnership with a seasonal events company that rents the municipality-owned property. The drinks are not as skilled as what you will find at the Via Croce curtain bar, but the setting compensates. You are essentially sitting in a converted apartment on the edge of a cliff, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing west. The last light of the day hits the water at an angle that makes the Faraglioni look like they are on fire. Order the house Aperol spritz and a plate of bruschetta with local cherry tomatoes. The bruschetta alone is worth the trip south from Capri town. Getting here requires either renting a scooter or paying for a taxi from the Piazzetta, roughly 12 to 15 euros and a fifteen-minute ride along the coastal road. Buses run infrequently to Punta Carena, and the last return bus departs before the bar typically opens. Factor that taxi cost into your evening budget. This spot is not underground in the physical sense, but it qualifies as a hidden bar Capri visitors routinely overlook because they come for the sunset and leave before the lounge service begins around 8 PM. Staying past the manufactured Instagram moment and actually sitting down for a drink is what separates the people who know from the people who just visit.

When to Go and What to Know

Summer, late June through early September, is when the hidden bars Capri depends upon come alive with the widest operating hours and the most consistent openings. However, summer also means the island is at maximum capacity. If you truly want to experience these places the way locals do, aim for shoulder season, late April through mid-June, and then late September through mid-October. The temperature is manageable, the ferry service remains reliable, and the owners of these small operations have time to talk to you rather than simply keeping up with a never-ending line of tourists. Speaking Italian, even basic Italian, is advisable at nearly every location I have mentioned above. The secret bar Capri scene is not hostile to foreigners, but it operates on trust and familiarity, and language is the quickest way to establish both. Finally, be prepared for irregular schedules. These are not corporate establishments with posted hours and online booking systems. Many of the places I have described operate on the owner's temperament as much as any formal calendar. Flexibility and a willingness to walk away and try again later are essential qualities for anyone seeking the underground bar Capri circuit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Capri?

Capri's restaurant scene leans heavily on seafood and Mediterranean cuisine that naturally includes many vegetable-forward dishes, such as caprese salad, pasta al pomodoro, and grilled vegetables. Fully vegan or plant-based dedicated restaurants are extremely limited on the island, with only a handful of establishments offering specific vegan menus, usually in Capri town along Via Camerelle or around the Piazza Umberto I area. Most traditional trattorias can accommodate vegetarian requests by removing cheese or meat from standard dishes, and some Neapolitan pizzerias serve a marinara pizza that is naturally vegan. Travelers who require strictly plant-based meals should communicate their needs clearly when ordering, preferably in Italian or with a written note, and consider calling ahead during peak season to confirm availability.

Is Capri expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.

Mid-tier travelers should budget approximately 200 to 350 euros per day for a comfortable but not luxurious stay on Capri. A mid-range hotel or bed-and-breakfast costs between 120 and 250 euros per night depending on season, with prices spiking significantly between July and August. Meals at casual trattorias run 15 to 25 euros per person for a main course, while a two-course lunch with a drink at a mid-range restaurant costs around 35 to 50 euros. A single ferry ticket from Naples to Capri costs 20 to 25 euros on a standard ferry or 35 to 45 euros on a fast ferry. Local buses charge roughly 2.20 euros per ride, and a 15-minute taxi trip within the island costs 12 to 18 euros. Budget an additional 15 to 30 euros for museum entries, beach club access, or miscellaneous expenses.

Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Capri?

Capri is a stylish destination and the Piazzetta area and upscale restaurants along Via Camerelle generally expect smart casual attire in the evenings, meaning collared shirts or blouses and shoes rather than sandals or swimwear. Swimwear is appropriate only at beach clubs, lidos, and the Marina Piccola waterfront. Most restaurants and bars do not enforce a rigid dress code, but beachwear in a sit-down dining room during dinner service will draw disapproving looks. Tipping is not expected locally, as a coperto, cover charge, of 1.50 to 3 euros per person is standard, but rounding up the bill or leaving 5 to 10 percent for exceptional service is appreciated. When visiting the bars and smaller establishments described in this guide, a relaxed but respectful demeanor and basic Italian greetings will serve you far better than any specific wardrobe choice.

Is the tap water in Capri to visit, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?

The tap water throughout Capri and the broader Campania region is treated and officially classified as safe to drink by local authorities. Water comes from mainland aqueduct supplies and island sources, and most restaurants, hotels, and cafes serve it without issue. However, the taste of tap water on Capri can be noticeably mineral-heavy compared to other parts of Italy due to the limestone geology of the island, and some travelers find the flavor off-putting. Many locals and long-term residents prefer filtered water or bottled water for drinking, and filtered water stations have become increasingly common in Capri town in recent years. Water vending machines marked "Acqua Purificata" are located in several spots around the Marina Grande area and near the Piazzetta, where you can fill bottles for approximately 0.20 to 0.50 euros per liter. Travelers with sensitive stomachs may find it more comfortable to rely on filtered or bottled water for daily hydration, particularly during the summer months when water demand outpaces supply.

What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Capri is famous for?

The most iconic local specialty of Capri is the torta caprese, a flourless chocolate and almond or walnut cake that originated on the island in the early 20th century. According to local accounts, a Capri baker in the 1920s accidentally omitted flour while preparing a cake for a group of visiting Austrian tourists, and the dense, fudgy result became an immediate staple. The cake features a thin, slightly crisp exterior and a soft, intensely chocolate interior with a subtle bitterness from ground almonds or walnuts. Several bakeries in Capri town sell their own versions, but the recipe variations between establishments are a source of endless local debate. Beyond food, Capri is equally known for its limoncello, produced from lemons grown on the island's terraced gardens, which tends to be more aromatic and slightly sweeter than mainland versions. The best limoncello is served ice-cold in small ceramic cups rather than the mass-produced shot glasses pushed at tourist-oriented bars.