Eating well on the Amalfi Coast is easy. Home to no fewer than 7 Michelin starred restaurants, this 50km stretch of the Italian coastline boasts a string of gourmet restaurants and any number of family-run eateries in which to enjoy good, honest, home cooking.
Whether you decide to treat yourself to an unforgettable epicurean experience, savoring the creations of some of Italy's most famous chefs, or a leisurely lunch in one of the Amalfi Coast's casual, sea edge restaurants, you can expect some of the finest Mediterranean cuisine you'll ever eat.
Below, you'll find a selection of what we consider to be the best restaurants on the Amalfi Coast... buon appetito!
Restaurant opening hours on the Amalfi Coast
Lunch: from 12.30 to 15.00
Dinner: from 19.30 to 23.00
In the summer, restaurants tend to stay open beyond normal opening hours. In the evening, Italians, in particular, rarely sit down to eat before nine and in high season might not even start ordering until 11 pm! It's always a good idea to reserve your table, especially if you want to dine in one of the Amalfi Coast's more famous restaurants or during the weekend.
Positano
Da Adolfo
This casual restaurant on the Laurito beach is accessible from Positano by boat or by taking the footpath that begins near the Hotel San Pietro. The restaurant offers a boat service back and forth between the Spiaggia Grande beach in Positano; you will recognize the boat by its bright red paint and fish sign hanging from th emast. It has become “The Place to Eat” for tourists on the coast recently, but it's not always easy to book a table as they don't answer the phone with any regularity. Ask your hotel concierge to book for you.
Try this: mozzarella grilled in lemon leaves (mozzarella grigliata nelle foglie di limone)
Location: Arienzo beach (you can get there by sea, or on foot via a rather difficult path)
Tel:+39089875022
La Tagliata
Another "must experience" meal at Positano is lunch at La Tagliata: this restaurant is on the Montepertuso hill and has beautiful views over the Li Galli Islets and the stretch of coast ending with the Faraglioni sea stacks off Capri. They are specialized in grilled meats, and you can spy their own animals grazing on the small terraces and visit the farm. We suggest booking a table for lunch to enjoy the view; you can also request a shuttle service from Positano. An informal atmosphere and reasonable prices.
Try this: mixed grill (grigliata mista)
Location: via Tagliata 32, B (Montepertuso)
Tel: +39089875872
Chez Black
For lunch or dinner on the Spiaggia Grande beach in Positano, this restaurant is a classic. Traditional dishes, generous portions, impeccable service...the prices are rather expensive, but the location is unbeatable. You will often be sitting elbow to elbow with a celebrity!
Try this: sea urchin linguini (linguine ai ricci)
Location: Via del Brigantino 19, Spiaggia Grande
Tel:+39089875036
Casa e bottega
For a light lunch or healthy snack, this small eatery is perfect. They serve salads made with organic products, fruit smoothies, homemade cakes, and natural snacks. They also have a cute shop where you can buy unique crafts and home decor, much of which - from the tableware to the pillows - is used to decorate the dining room.
Try this: avocado toast
Location: viale Pasitea 100
Tel: +39089875225
Rada
To celebrate an important occasion or simply a romantic dinner for two by candlelight overlooking the sea, this is the perfect choice. Located on the Spiaggia Grande beach in Positano, it sits just above the level of the water for a stunning view. The menu features Mediterranean cuisine with a fusion twist.
Try this: any of the fish dishes
Location: località Grotte dell'Incanto (Spiaggia Grande di Positano)
Tel:+39089875874
Da Vincenzo
At the top of Positano, this historic restaurant is known for its "homestyle" food, serving surprising and creative modern interpretations of classics. The presentation and decor is very attentive to details, and the service is friendly.
Try this: taglioni pasta with shrimp and citron cream (taglioni con gamberi e crema di cedro)
Location: viale Pasitea 172
Tel:+39089875128
La Sponda
For the most elegant atmosphere and unforgettable cuisine, book at table at this Michelin-starred restaurant in the luxury Le Sirenuse hotel. The portico and terrace overlook the sea, and are illuminated each evening by over 400 candles while a mandolin and guitar duet strum historic Neapolitan tunes. Choose the tasting menu paired with selected wines by the glass.
Try this: lemon risotto with capers (risotto al limone con i capperi)
Location: Via Cristoforo Colombo, 30 (inside Le Sirenuse hotel)
Tel: +39089875066
Praiano
Il Pirata
The tables at this restaurant are set right on the waterfront rocks, so you feel like you are eating directly over the water. Known for its fish and seafood, this is a unique favorite.
Try this: with with Amalfi herbs (tonno agli aromi amalfitani)
Location: via Terramare
Tel: +39089874377
Il Tramonto d’oro
As the name of this hotel restaurant suggests, it offers a spellbinding view of the sunset over the coastline and the towering Faraglioni. Delicious fish and seafood specialites.
Try this: lemon ravioli (ravioli ripieni di limone)
Location: Via Gennaro Capriglione, 119
Tel: +39089874955
Da Armandino
A simple and authentic trattoria in Marina della Praia specializing in fish and seafood served right on the beach.
Try this: seafood linguini (linguine ai frutti di mare)
Location: Via Marina di Praia
Tel:+39089874087
Bar Mare Petit Restaurant
A bar and restaurant located on the beach at Marina della Praia. Donna Clelia rules the kitchen, preparing the most ionic dishes along the coast like the Praiano specialty, "tubettoni con i totani" (pasta with squid).
Try this: spaghetti with anchovy walnut sauce (spaghetti con colatura di alici e noci)
Location: Via Marina di Praia 9
Tel: +39089874706
Conca dei Marini
La Tonnarella
This was a favorite of Jackie Kennedy and the Agnelli family in the 1970's, when VIPs would order cases of Moet-Chandon to be delivered here directly from France. This jet-set vibe has largely disappeared over the past few decades, but the stunning location on the beach along the tiny bay and the excellent cuisine have remained the same. Shuttle boat service to and from Amalfi.
Try this: Spaghetti alla Jaqueline (spaghetti with zucchini)
Location: Via Marina di Conca 5
Tel: +39089831939
Amalfi
Da Gemma
A landmark restaurant in Amalfi that has been one of the most popular and beloved eateries on the coast since 1872. The restaurant has managed to remain a favorite over the years because of the consistently wonderful food, classics served with an updated twist.
Try this: raw seafood plate (il Gran Crudo)
Location: via Fra Gerardo Sasso 11
Tel: +39089871345
La Caravella
A gourmet restaurant in the center of Amalfi serving dishes rooted in local tradition and ingredients. Try the tasting menu based on the local heirloom sfumato lemons from Amalfi.
Try this: Caravella cream (Crema de La Caravella)
Location: via Matteo Camera 12
Tel:+39089871029
Lido Azzurro
This restaurant is part of the beach club of the same name in Amalfi, serving fresh fish with a sea view.
Try this: seafood spaghetti (spaghetti ai frutti di mare)
Location: via Lungomare dei Cavalieri 5
Tel:+39089871384
Trattoria da Rispoli (Pogerola)
If you are looking for a spot to sample real coastal cuisine with no modern reinterpretation in an informal and authentic atmosphere, then head up to Pogerola and pull up a chair at this no-frills, all food oasis run by the Rispoli sisters. This trattoria has been around since the ’50s, when it was a gathering place for the local men to play cards, drink wine, and indulge in a steaming plate of pasta. It hasn't changed much since then: Enza is in the kitchen, Marina is in the dining room, and both work to make sure no one leaves hungry after their generous portion of pasta. Their most famous dish are fried anchovies stuffed with provola cheese.
Try this: fish filet with anise and potatoes (filetto di pesce con anice e patate)
Location: Via supportico Marinella 6
Tel: +39089872712
Furore
Da Bacco
This restaurant is set on the clifftop of the coast above the famous Furore Fjord, and has a beautiful terrace overlooking the water. Here you can try traditional country cooking with a modern presentation. Make sure you tour the wine cellar, with its 5,000 bottles, including important vintages from Marisa Cuomo's nearby winery. If you are a wine aficionado, book a tour of the Marisa Cuomo winery followed by lunch here.
Try this: Ferrazzuoli alla Nannarella (a pasta dish in homage to Anna Magnani)
Location: via Lama 9
Tel:+39089830360
Maiori
Torre Normanna
This restaurant is located in a historic watchtower with a terrace directly over the sea, perfect for a romantic meal. For special occasions or proposals, book the "Ulisse table", a table for two set out on the cliffs over the water with complete privacy and a breathtaking view.
Try this: seafood casserole (la gran cassuola di pesci di scoglio con crostacei e molluschi)
Location: via Diego Taiani 4
Tel: +39089877100
Minori
Giardiniello
A pretty spot that has no view of the water but does have a lovely pergola where you can relax in the shade and sample fish and seafood specialties or traditional pizza. Over the years, this restaurant has made a name for itself with excellent traditional dishes served with just the right touch of modernity.
Try this: Pizza and fish fry (frittura di pesce)
Location: corso Vittorio Emanuele 17
Tel:+39089877050
Cetara
Il Convento
As the name suggests, this restaurant is set in a former convent in the center of Cetara, a town famous for its "colatura di alici," a fermented fish condiment that is served tossed with spaghetti. Their signature dish is "la genovese di tonno".
Try this: spaghetti with anchovy sauce (spaghetti con la colatura di alici)
Location: Piazza San Francesco 16
Tel: +39089261039
Acqua Pazza
Just a few steps from the port of Cetara, this restaurant is specialized in anchovies and dishes featuring "colatura di alici".
Try this: salted anchovies marinated in oak barrels
Location: Corso Garibaldi 36
Tel: +39089261606
Where to Eat in Capri: A Restaurant Guide
See also: Fine dining on the island of Capri