The best places to eat on the Amalfi Coast

Thanks to a seaside location and sprawling lemon groves, Italy’s Amalfi Coast is known for its fresh seafood and lemon-flavoured everything. These are some of my favourite restaurants to try if you’re visiting Amalfi, Positano or Ravello.

The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive on the Amalfi Coast are the lemons. The sloped mountainsides are covered in rows of netted lemon trees, the narrow streets are adorned with shops selling lemon patterned clothing and memorabilia, and all the restaurant menus have some variety of lemon pasta.

Amalfi Coast lemons aren’t like the ones you’ll find at home – they’re larger and misshapen with a sweeter taste. When you’re here, trying a lemon pasta is a no-brainer – it’s light, fresh and, like most Italian dishes, perfectly simple. Make sure to also try the locally produced lemon liqueur Limoncello, and lemon sorbet. The sorbet is served in an actual lemon which makes it even more fun to eat.

The Amalfi Coast is also known for its seafood and, while we’re not seafood eaters, the main dish to try from this region is a type of seafood pasta called Scialatielli all’Amalfitana.

Here are my favourite restaurants on the Amalfi Coast, bon appétit!

Amalfi

L’Abside
Just off the main square, this restaurant has great atmosphere with alfresco dining, relaxing music, and delicious food. Try the ravioli.

Taverna Buonvicino
Hidden down an alleyway not far from Amalfi’s cathedral, come here for an elegant night out. Get the lemon spaghetti.

Ristorante Marina Grande
This was recommended to us by a local as having some of the best seafood in town.

Ristorante II Chiostro
Very central, great food and a nice casual family restaurant vibe.

La Luna
In a town that has hardly any takeaway options, this was great for a quick and easy pizza. Simple, delicious, and great to take down to the beach.

Pasticceria Andrea Pansa
This is where to go if you’re craving buttery pastries and good coffee. Try and get a table outside to people watch.

Lemon sorbet
There are lots of tiny shopfronts that sell this so just choose whichever one takes your fancy. I think the lemon sorbet looks and tastes better here than other towns on the coast. It’s all very theatrical; choose your sorbet flavour/s and a lemon, they’ll scoop out the insides, pop the sorbet inside, and put the top of the lemon back on.

Positano

Posides
This was my favourite restaurant on the Amalfi Coast. This unassuming spot only seats 15 people and doesn’t take reservations but is worth the wait. You can see the chefs cooking everything fresh on the stoves behind the counter and the daily-changing menu is only written on a chalkboard near the entrance. They serve around five main dishes and a few entrees and desserts, until sold out.

The food was amazing and, had we found this place earlier, we would have come back several times. We ordered slow cooked beef cheek in aglianico wine with lemon mash potato and the “carbonara…inside the ravioli”. We were also eyeing the polpette on our neighbours table as it looked incredible. The lunch was so good we had to get dessert – chocolate almond cake with gelato.

The owners were lovely, and they also offer private dinners and cooking classes which I recommend you check out if you have more time in Positano.

Vini e Panini (The Wine Shop Positano)
A cute little supermarket, wine, and sandwich store in the centre of town. Great for snacks and delicious paninis they make from a huge variety of meats and cheeses.

Buca di Bacco
An indulgent pastry shop with handmade cakes and chocolates where we had delicious gelato-filled cannoli.

Casa e Bottega
After two weeks of primarily eating pizza and pasta, I was craving something healthy, and Casa e Bottega filled this role but also exceeded expectations. Part café, part design store, the menu was full of fresh salad bowls, smoothies, and dishes focusing on local healthy ingredients.

They do breakfast and lunch, and it gets busy so you may have to go on the waitlist for a table if you go at peak lunchtime. The café itself is also covered in plants and greenery and has some cute homewares you can buy.

Ristorante Max
Max is an art gallery, wine bar, and fine dining restaurant in the centre of town. All I can say is order the lasagne – it was the best we’ve ever had. They have a huge selection of wine, great service and also offer cooking classes. Make sure to book in advance to secure a table.

Next2
This is a restaurant to go to if you really want to treat yourself. It’s on the expensive side but the food is elegant and showcases a lot of local flavours. There also a big outdoor dining section with a great vibe for those warmer nights.

Franco’s Bar
While not technically a place to eat, Franco’s Bar is a staple of any trip to Positano and was a favourite of mine. The completely alfresco bar boasts the most picturesque view in town and the best time to go is just before sunset so you can watch the colourful buildings light up as the sun goes down. Franco’s is open 4-10pm and doesn’t take reservations so you’ll have to line up to get in, but it’s worth the wait.

Ravello

Mimì Pizzeria & Cucina
I still think about this meal. If you’re after authentic Italian pizza, Mimi’s should be at the top of your list. The gorgeous restaurant has a great outdoor dining area and ambiance and the pizza I got had lightest dough topped with fresh basil, bocconcini, and a type of pesto cream that just bought it all together.

Baffone Gelateria Artigianale
We ate a lot of gelato in Italy and I would say Baffone was the best (close second is the fruity flavours of Vivoli in Florence). Served from a tiny hole-in-the-wall shopfront near Piazza del Duomo (the main town square), the gelato was exactly what you want – smooth, creamy, and rich. I went with caramel and Kinder chocolate flavours, but you can’t go wrong with any of the options.