Capri Palace Hotel and Spa

LIFE DOESN'T GET MUCH RITZIER than at the Capri Palace. This temple of conspicuous wealth boasts superlative views of the Bay of Naples, utterly fabulous interiors and reams of A-list celebrity guests (Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts and Mariah Carey just for starters).

Follow the serpentine path draped in billowing muslin up from Anacapri’s busy square and enter another world. Everything at the Capri Palace is done out in cool, expensive ivory with sprawling sofas, huge burnished gold mirrors, towering candelabra and audacious modern artworks. The phalanx of designer-suited staff are clearly used to cossetting the odd diva among their well-heeled clientele.

Vaulted ceilings and colonnades perfectly set off the Capri Palace's bold mix of modern design and Louis XVI antiques, while decadent marble bathrooms are equally statement-making. Our junior suite, brilliantly toned in shades of cream and cappuccino, had a Berber style tented bed and vast terrace. The outdoor pool is heated (naturally) and the beauty farm is just the place to indulge – if your plastic can take the pace.

Swish private yacht

Scented candles, petals and lemon trees make L’Olivo at the Capri Palace – the holder of Capri’s only Michelin star – a dreamy setting for dinner. Dig into creatively themed dishes such as red shrimp with burrato cheese and caviar on asparagus and apple salad. People-watch in the bar, or step aboard one of the hotel’s private yachts to watch the island's glittering lights, cocktail in hand. And forget about watching the pennies – this is a place to leave your credit cards unleashed.

© Room for Romance