Caracol
Bacoli, Italy
⭐1 Star
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
The coast of Campania, and in particular the Bay of Naples, boasts a wealth of breathtaking views – and this is one of the most spectacular. Once you arrive at the Cala Moresca hotel, leave your car in the car park and hotel staff will accompany you to the restaurant. On a tranquil promontory surrounded by greenery, take a seat on a terrace overlooking the sea, with views of the islands of Procida and Ischia in front of you, the unmistakeable silhouette of Capri to your left and the mainland and mountains of Procida to your right – simply magnificent! At the helm in the kitchen, Angelo Carannante is the chef with the daunting task of competing with all this beauty, which he does with real aplomb. His long tasting menu features surprise courses in which he reinterprets regional traditions with freedom, creativity and the occasional exotic touch with outstanding results.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
- Snail-Shaped Ceiling Feature: The restaurant’s name, Caracol (Spanish for snail), is inspired by a snail-shaped feature on the ceiling, a subtle but unique architectural detail.
- Arrival by Shuttle to a Rocky Promontory: Guests arrive via a small shuttle bus from the Cala Moresca hotel, descending to a rocky promontory for dining, creating a sense of being on the prow of a ship with panoramic sea views.
- Surprise Courses with Exotic Touches: Chef Angelo Carannante’s tasting menu features surprise courses that reinterpret regional traditions with creative, sometimes exotic, twists, offering an unconventional take on Mediterranean cuisine.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at the Michelin-starred restaurant Caracol in Bacoli are:
Seafood from the Campi Flegrei area, including mussels, clams, shrimp, anemones, and sea bass. These ingredients celebrate the local sea and are central to many dishes, reflecting the restaurant’s strong connection to the marine environment.
Seaweed and algae, used to impart a distinctive salty, umami flavor. For example, in the signature dish of spaghetti with garlic, oil, chili, miso, and seaweed powder, these ingredients provide a unique and memorable taste profile that highlights the sea’s essence.
Local vegetables and herbs from nearby gardens and hills, which are integrated into the menu to emphasize the territory’s bounty and freshness, often featured in antipasti and first courses.
These ingredients are significant because they root the cuisine deeply in the local terroir of Bacoli and the Gulf of Naples, showcasing a refined yet natural expression of the region’s flavors through meticulous preparation and respect for raw materials.