The Best Restaurants on the Amalfi Coast
Cafés and shops surround you on patios overlooking the sea. Shops selling caprese cheese and salami, local wines, olive oils, fresh bread and an endless selection of pastries prime your appetite. Find a shady spot under a colorful umbrella, order a light snack and sample a refreshing limoncello made from lemons grown locally on the island. When you're ready for the main course, here are our recommendations in this region:
Amalfi
Da Gemma
One of Amalfi's best restaurants for succulent seafood fresh pasta. Located near the Cathedral, the restaurant spills onto the outdoor terrace in the summer months.
Positano
Chez Black
With a popular beachfront location and comfortable nautical decor, Chez Black is an ideal spot for great food and even better people watching.
La Cambusa
Right on the beach, for perfectly baked slices of eggplant, served with cherry tomatoes, black olives, fresh basil leaves and oregano, then drizzled with olive oil.
Buca di Bacco
Book a table on the lovely terrace of this restaurant that has a history dating back to the early 1900s and enjoy authentic local cuisine.
Sardinia
Ristorante Giagoni
Make sure to try this romantic courtyard restaurant in the hillside town of San Pataleo. As typical to Italian restaurants, the menu boasts vegetarian and healthful options.
Phi Beach
Head to Phi Beach to watch the sunset as you sip a cocktail. DJs frequently make appearances here (including Martin Solveig and Solomon.)
Restaurant Casablanca
The restaurant Casa Blanca is not just a restaurant, but a charming and sophisticated place with a seafront terrace and stunning views of Baja Cala Battistoni.
Specialties
A vacation along the Amalfi Coast calls for fabulous fresh seafood. A typical frutti di mare can brim with calamari (squid), tonno (tuna), aragosta (lobster), cozze (mussels), ostriche (oysters), gamberetti (shrimp), and polpi (octopus), all of it flavored with green extra-virgin olive oil, dry white wine, garlic, fresh vegetables and incredibly ripe tomatoes. Pesce spada (swordfish steak) is a universal favorite, as are triglie (mullet) and seppie (cuttlefish). Of course you are in Italy where rich pasta dishes are never very far away, and in these parts the local specialty hands-down is spaghetti alle vongole (pasta with clams and tomatoes). Naples happens to be home of the world's greatest thin-crust pizza, so dive into a delicious pizza Napoletana (thin pizza topped with tomato, garlic, basil and anchovies). The top southern cheeses include mozzarella di bufala (buffalo mozzarella), Provolone, scamorza and ricotta. Good local wine in coastal Campania includes sweet Sicilian Marsala, Moscato and Malvasia. And finally, there is fruit: The abundance of lemons, oranges and other fruits ensures their role in most local recipes. Virtually every meal finishes with a small glass of limoncello–whether you order one or not. This lemonade with a kick is made with fresh lemons, water, sugar, and vodka, and as it is a product of local pride, many restaurants bring a glass to the table gratis.