Il Riccio

Verdict: Worth Booking, But Plan Well Ahead for the Right Spot

Il Riccio is one of Anacapri's most recognisable seafood addresses, positioned directly above the water metres from the Blue Grotto. Getting a table here is not complicated by most Capri standards; booking difficulty is rated Easy; but that does not mean you should be casual about timing. The restaurant draws serious summer crowds, if you want the right seat (more on that below), you need to plan further out than the last-minute approach that works at lesser-known spots on the island. The Michelin Plate recognition it earned in 2025 confirms this is a kitchen operating at a credible level, not coasting on its location. At €€€€ pricing, the question is not whether Il Riccio is good, it is, but whether it is the right choice for your group and occasion.

The Setting and What It Means for Your Booking Decision

Il Riccio functions as both a fine-dining restaurant and a beach club, which shapes the experience in practical ways. The terrace sits close enough to the water that you are genuinely above the sea, with views toward the Blue Grotto. This is the detail that separates Il Riccio from comparable seafood restaurants elsewhere on Capri, including the more formal dining room at L'Olivo, which trades the maritime immediacy for a more composed hotel-restaurant setting at Villa San Michele's sister property. At Il Riccio, the outdoor terrace is the room you want. Request it specifically when you book, the interior, while tasteful, does not deliver the same return on the €€€€ spend.

The menu focuses exclusively on fish and seafood. That singular focus is a strength: kitchens that do not split their attention between meat and fish programmes tend to execute the fish better. The Michelin Plate signals that the food quality is real, not a scenic surcharge. Michelin awards this designation to restaurants where the cooking is worth a stop, even if it falls short of Star level. For a beach club restaurant in a tourist-heavy location, that is a meaningful credential. If you are looking for comparable seafood quality on Italy's Tyrrhenian coast, Alici Restaurant on the Amalfi Coast and Quattro Passi in Marina del Cantone operate at similar or higher levels, but neither gives you the Blue Grotto proximity.

The dessert buffet is a consistent feature in how the restaurant is described by Michelin's own notes. This is worth factoring in even if you are not a dessert-focused diner: the spread is reportedly generous enough to be a draw in itself and rounds out the meal in a way that feels celebratory rather than perfunctory.

Private Dining and Group Bookings

If you are considering Il Riccio for a group meal or a private event, this is where your booking window matters most. As a beach club and restaurant combined, Il Riccio has the physical infrastructure to accommodate larger gatherings, but specific private dining arrangements need to be confirmed directly with the venue, the database does not detail a dedicated private room, this is not a detail to assume. Contact the restaurant well in advance of your travel dates: for summer visits (June through August, when Capri is at its most crowded), you should be reaching out at least six to eight weeks ahead for any group of six or more.

For groups, the terrace configuration is more flexible than a traditional fine-dining room, which works in your favour. The beach club format means larger parties can be accommodated in a way that feels convivial rather than formal. That said, the €€€€ price point means group bills accumulate quickly, this is not the venue to use as a casual group lunch stop. Compare this to Da Gelsomina, which operates at €€ and is far better suited to a relaxed group meal where cost is a factor. Il Riccio earns its price when the occasion calls for it: a celebratory lunch, a small group of food-focused travellers who want the full Capri-above-the-sea experience, or a semi-formal dinner where the setting does some of the work.

For context on what Italy's finest seafood-focused kitchens can deliver at the leading end, Uliassi in Senigallia and Gambero Rosso in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica represent the benchmark. Il Riccio does not reach that level, nor does it claim to, but it offers something those restaurants cannot: a table above the water on Capri in summer, with serious enough cooking to make the price defensible.

Practical Details

Reservations: Easy to book by Capri standards, but do not leave it to the week of travel in summer, two to three weeks out is the minimum, six to eight weeks for groups or terrace-specific requests. Budget: €€€€, expect a meaningful per-head spend even before wine. Dress: No confirmed dress code in the venue data, but the setting and price tier suggest smart-casual at minimum, beachwear is not appropriate for the dining room. Getting there: Il Riccio is on Via Grotta Azzurra in Anacapri, close to the Blue Grotto, a taxi or scooter from central Anacapri is the practical option. Timing: Lunch has the edge over dinner for the full impact of the water views and natural light.

For a broader look at where to eat, drink, stay on the island, see our full Anacapri restaurants guide, our Anacapri hotels guide, our Anacapri bars guide, our Anacapri wineries guide, and our Anacapri experiences guide.