The recently renovated Il Capri Hotel is full of surprises. Originally built as a private home, this 19th-century peppermint-pink villa became a hotel in 1899 and occupies a prime position in the heart of Capri town. Its nonchalant, bohemian attitude is unlike that of any other lodging on the island. Just in time for the summer season, it’s been reimagined by a husband-and-wife team of taste-makers: Arnaud Lacombe, the founder of Savoir Vivre (a collection of some of the trendiest restaurants in Paris, including Déviant, Vivant 2, and Le Collier de la Reine), and Naples-born restaurateur Graziella Buontempo. The result is a winningly retro take on Italian pensiones from the 50s and 60s. Do not miss Il Capri Hotel’s rooftop swimming pool and restaurant, Vesuvio. It stays open late, but that’s not the only reason we like it—it operates in the lobby as well as on the roof, and the people-watching is excellent in both venues. True hedonists will enjoy Rumore, the hotel’s subterranean nightclub. —Alexander Lobrano