Amalfi Coast restaurants: where to eat in Positano
Positano’s magical setting makes it the perfect place to dine out with your friends or partner. The charming setting, the views of the sea and the delicious local food make it a must-try when it comes to lunch or dinner. So if you’re stopping by this stunning Amalfi Coast town on your trip to the costiera, here’s a list of my favorite restaurants in Positano.
Buca di Bacco
Via Rampa Teglia, 4€50+
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A stone’s throw away from Spiaggia Grande, Buca di Bacco holds a special place is my heart. It’s the first restaurant I’ve dined at in the Amalfi Coast, and it’s also where we celebrated my boyfriend’s birthday years ago. To have the amazing dining experience that you deserve, let me in you on a little secret. Buca di Bacco is set on three floors: the ground floor hosts the cafe and bar, and the second and third floors are dedicated to the restaurant. But while the second floor restaurant has beautiful views of the sea, the third floor is the real deal, and it’s a must that you get yourself a table there. As you arrive to the third floor, a rooftop with only eight tables awaits you. Here, you will have the ultimate romantic experience, dining under the starry sky and with the sea right in front of you. The lights are dimmed, the tables candle-lit, and a few string lights give it an extra glow. Now, if this atmosphere isn’t the perfect way to being your Amalfi Coast trip, I don’t know what will do! I can only tell you that the food is just as exceptional. What’s great about Amalfi Coast cuisine is that the food isn’t very elaborated, it’s simple, the ingredients are what make the dishes unforgettable. To start off, the salmon tartare is so delicious I can’t even describe. And if you like courgette flowers, you must try their fried ones! To continue, outstanding seafood and fish awaits you, but as an Italian, I went for the good-old pasta dish, the scialiatielli (a typical Neapolitan thick pasta) with seafood, and they were definitely the right choice to make. And to accompany your meal, the wine selection is superb.
Chez Black
Via del Brigantino, 19€60+
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Immersed in the magic of Positano, just off the beautiful Spiaggia Grande, Chez Black is one of the Amalfi Coast’s most delicious restaurants. As you walk along Positano’s beautiful seafront, something will definitely catch your eye, it’s Chez Black’s ship, and no, it’s not on the water! Established in 1949, Chez Black faces the wonderful Spiaggia Grande and features a characteristic design. Its decor, inspired by a traditional wooden ship, features sleek wooden panelling all throughout, and beautiful wooden columns and chairs in an open space. Warm, lively and fun are the adjectives that best describe the atmosphere at this restaurant. And rest assured that the staff is friendly and fun, and will definitely contribute to a fabulous dining experience. But wait until you open the menu to be fully surprised. Local produce, fresh ingredients and simplicity reign in this restaurant. As a starter, the octopus carpaccio is divine and melts in your mouth, but to get a taste of the ultimate fresh ingredients, the buffalo mozzarella with tomatoes and basil is just heaven on a plate. And this is just to start off your meal. Wait until you order the spaghetti with sea urchin, Chez Black’s signature dish, served in a giant sea urchin-shaped plate! Yum! But if soups are your thing, the local fish soup, prepared using Positano’s original fisherman’s recipe, is literally to die for and rich with flavour! And of course, your meal is not perfect until you order a dessert from the dessert trolley, and I definitely suggest the delizia al limone: fluffy, creamy, lemony and just perfect.
Da Vincenzo
Viale Pasitea, 172/178€45+
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Da Vincenzo is an incredible restaurant in Positano located in the upper part of Positano. While it doesn’t have a view it’s one of my favorite ones in the famous cliffside village. They have the best service I’ve seen in Positano, everyone is so friendly and attentive and they have a wonderful wine selection. The sommelier recommended an outstanding local bottle of falanghina and told us the story of the label. The menu has an unmistakable imprint of the flavors of the past but with a contemporary twist. We started off with two seafood cruditè with oysters, red shrimp and prawns which came with a yummy aperol spritz sauce. The quality was outstanding. They also offered us two fried zucchini flowers with homegrown tomatoes, heavenly. Then Luca had ravioli stuffed with ricotta and tomatoes and I ordered the lemon scented tagliolini pasta with shrimp. Everything was outstanding. The atmosphere is familiar and relaxing with some cute outdoor tables along the sidewalk. I can’t recommend this restaurant enough.
Ristorante Bruno
Via Cristoforo Colombo 157€50+
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If you want to enjoy lunch or dinner with one of the most beautiful views of Positano, you need to reserve a table at Ristorante Bruno. With tables along the sidewalk facing Positano and the sea, this restaurant has a dreamy view, delicious food and a lovely service. They have an extensive menu and wine list but we ordered from the specials of the day: the tuna tartare, the delicate seabass with escarole (outstanding), the spaghetti with clams and the lobster pasta. It’s definitely one to put on your list! Reserve your table for 8pm to get the most perfect lighting. Afterwards, head to Franco’s Bar for drinks.
La Sponda
Via San Sebastiano, 2€90+
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As one of the most romantic restaurants in the Amalfi Coast – if not the world – La Sponda is dedicated to those that want to live an unforgettable dining experience. Walking inside La Sponda restaurant inside the stunning Le Sirenuse Hotel, you will feel like you’ve been cast under a spell. Enchanting is the word that comes to mind. The setting is as romantic as it gets, lit up by 400 candles that create the most intimate atmosphere and the most magical scenario for a meal to remember. In what occasion should you come dine at La Sponda? A special one, of course. The restaurant has an indoor and outdoor area that seem like they just came out of a Disney movie. The terrace is sensational: dining in a candlelit setting while overlooking the Mediterranean and Positano is incomparable. And I’m not the only one to think so, the Michelin guide has awarded La Sponda a Michelin star.
Next2
Via Pasitea, 242€60+
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Away from the crowds of Spiaggia Grande, immersed in a chic setting, Next2 is an outstanding restaurant that serves a mix of tradition and innovation. Its outdoor veranda is the perfect place to soak up on a summer evening. The menu is a tribute to fresh local ingredients, from the starters all the way to the main courses, fresh products are used to create the most delicious dishes. I highly recommend the deep fried small pizza with fresh buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil or the zucchini blossom filled with ricotta cheese and zucchini parmigiana. Followed by the homemade gnocchi with pumpkins, clams and cuttlefish or the delicious mixed seafood grill or catch of the day. And to accompany your meal, a fabulous wine selection awaits you. And of course, desserts have their part in the meal! if you have a sweet tooth, you’re in the right place, or maybe you’d like to finish off with a yummy limoncello? But don’t leave just yet, Next2 with its cool jazz background music is also a great location to stop by for cocktails before heading to the famous Music on the Rocks. Don’t forget to make a reservation.
