At the end of the nineteenth century, after crossings with small ships from Naples and Sorrento that lasted up to 4 hours, it was essential for the traveler to find a welcoming and safe place to drink a hot drink. In the place where the Blue Grotto Bar now stands, tourists arriving and departing were hosted since 1875.

It was the Orrico family, who had the contract for the construction of the

Capri-Marina Grande provincial road, to create these rooms that opened onto the ancient seaside village which at the end of the century became the Emporio del porto. A photo from 1905 makes us understand how, in this welcoming environment, the ticket offices of the Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen shipping company were located, which managed the “vaporetti” to Naples and in front of the premises there was the fixed parking of the carriage of the Grand Hotel Quisisana.

In the first Emporio in Marina Grande you could enjoy a coffee, an English tea, an original light or dark Munich beer, vermouth, marsala and various liqueurs. However, inside, the traveler could also find everything necessary for the journey and, while waiting for boarding, even reading a foreign newspaper, thus becoming the equivalent of the Caprese Zum Kater Hiddigeigei for Marina Grande.

Andrea Nastri, renowned maitre of Amalfi, who had worked at the Villa d’Este in Como and at the Quisisana in Capri, took over the place in 1939 calling it Bar Grotta Azzurra and with his wife Elena Margiotti and his children Nino, Anna and Corrado made this the meeting and refreshment point of the Marina is local.

Nino Nastri and his son Luciano have continued this ancient tradition by transforming this café into an American bar with an international flair.

In recent years Irma Nastri and her husband Adelmo Viva have made the Bar Grotta Azzurra a refined patisserie-gourmet bar of the highest level.

The innovative creations of its patisserie make it an excellence in the ancient tradition of Capri sweets. In 2020 it turned into a colorful and cheerful fashion catwalk where, between one delicacy and another, the creations of the Capri fashion house Yam Capri by the designer Valeria De Gregorio were presented.

“Tradition and innovation” seems to be the motto of Irma and Adelmo who enthusiastically manage this marine welcome bar 12 months a year.