Eating along the Sorrento Coast. The best restaurants to try

Overlooking the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrento Peninsula is a scenic oasis that stretches from the Lattari Mountains to the promontory of Punta Campanella. Popular with visitors from all over, it offers countless natural and artistic landmarks, but it is also a suitable destination for those who want a slow-paced experience of picture-postcard views and a rich and radiant gastronomy, like its thriving restaurant industry. Here are a series of must-visit addresses on the Sorrento Coast, without forgetting, between lunch and dinner, to visit one of the areas many small craftsmen to stock up on mozzarella di bufala, limoncello, Provolone del Monaco and all the good things the local countryside, sea and mountains have to offer.

Where to eat along the Sorrento Coast: the best restaurants

Where to eat in Agerola

Ai Galli da Pietro

Pizzeria. Pietro Ioveno is the soul of this popular family-run establishment where the pizzas are  the result of skilfull workmanship and long leavening,filled with qualiy (and seasonal) products and cooked to perfection. Warm and informal location, tables outside. Book well in advance.

Ai Galli da Pietro – via Galli, 45 – 081 8791572 – Facebook

Where to eat in Castellammare di Stabia

Civico Undici by Le Tre Vele

Pizzeria. Ideal if you look for typical cuisine - well made and with seasonal products - and a real pizza, made as local tradition orders. Unmissable fried appetisers to get the ball rolling. The restaurant is small, but with good weather you can count on the outdoor area.

Civico Undici by Le Tre Vele – s.da Santa Maria dell'Orto, 11 – 081 18497020 - Instagram

Piazzetta Milù

Restaurant. "Come un kiwi al mare" is the game concerning an oyster, just one of several that the young and talented Maicol Izzo, who has returned home after remarkable international experiences, accomplishes at this  family restaurant. The tasting menus are journeys through the season, the territory and his fervid creativity. Important wine cellar managed by his brother Emanuele, already an expert and award-winning sommelier.

Piazzetta Milù – c.so A. De Gasperi, 23 – 081 8715779 – piazzettamilu.it

Where to eat in Massa Lubrense

Quattro Passi

Restaurant. A happy oasis of all-round hospitality by the Mellino family, thoroughbred restaurateurs and radiant masters of accomodation. The cuisine, among the best in the country,has as its starting point the excellence of the raw materials and elevates itself with memorable dishes. The wine cellar (that can be visited) is boundless. For an aperitivo with a view, there is the Infinity bar; luxurious suites to extend your stay.

Quattro Passi – fraz. Nerano - loc. Marina del Cantone via A. Vespucci, 13n – 081 8081271  - ristorantequattropassi.it

Relais Blu

Restaurant. It deserves a stop for at least a day, to enjoy an aperitivo on the spectacular terrace with a panorama that takes your breath away, to relax in the wonderful infinity pool, to enjoy a high-level gastronomic experience at the restaurant where the young chef Alberto Annarumma "officiates" and to rest in one of the few elegant rooms available.

Relais Blu – fraz. Marciano Termini - via Roncato, 60 – 081 8789552 – relaisblu.com

Lo Scoglio

Restaurant. Hotel and dining room with highly coveted tables, under the careful management of the De Simone family since 1958. The spaghetti alla Nerano are encore-worthy, so are salads of ox-heart tomatoes from the vegetable garden, friarielli strascinati, always in-house farmed,and shrimp from Crapolla (in season). All literally immersed in the blue sky and sea of the Amalfi Coast.

Lo Scoglio – loc. Marina del Cantone - p.zza delle Sirene, 15 – 081 8081026 - hotelloscoglio.com

Lo Stuzzichino

Trattoria. Mimmo De Gregorio is the soul of a symbolic place of the area with a long family tradition, an unmissable stop to get to know the sincerest local repertoire. In the cosy interior or under the pergola you can enjoy generous and tasty dishes, such as gnocchi alla sorrentina, meatballs, and roast free-range chicken with potatoes. To drink cocktails and select wines, also by the glass. Also owners of a bed and breakfast.

Lo Stuzzichino – fraz. Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi - via Deserto, 1 – 081 5330010 – ristorantelostuzzichino.it

La Taverna del Capitano

Restaurant. Even those who have never been here are familiar with the iconic dishes (the spaghetti alla Nerano is unbeaten) of the Taverna del Capitano, named in honor of the former officer of the house Salvatore, son of the Alfonso who inaugurated the family business in the 1900s and father of the namesake who now runs the kitchen with excellent results. Complementing it all are a full-bodied wine selection, a beautiful terrace overlooking the beach and comfortable rooms with a view.

Taverna del Capitano – fraz. Nerano - loc. Marina del Cantone - p.zza delle Sirene, 10 – 081 8081028 – tavernadelcapitano.com

La Torre One Fire

Restaurant. Located a stone's throw from the striking belvedere is the Mazzola family's headquarters. Their cuisine draws heavily from the rich regional repertoire and interprets it using quality raw materials, many of them Slow Food Presidia. Lots of fish, seasonal vegetables and greens, fresh pastas and a few pinches of creativity write a mouthwatering and convincing menu.

La Torre One Fire – fraz. Santa Maria Annunziata - p.tta Annunziata, 7 – 081 8089566 – latorreonefire.it

Where to eat in Meta

La Conca

Restaurant. The pleasant interior space is dominated by the blue sea, while outside you can sit at tables on the beach, weather and season permitting. The menu is seafood and Neapolitan,but there is no lack of imaginative digressions.

La Conca – III Traversa Alimuri – 081 5321495 – ristorantelaconca.net

Where to eat in Piano di Sorrento

Le Tre Arcate

Trattoria. Spacious establishment that travels on a double track: pizzeria/rotisserie on one side, restaurant on the other. Much attention is paid to ingredients used, many selected from trusted local producers. Good technique and close ties to tradition in the kitchen, apart from something more modern like the beef tataki. The food is good.

Le Tre Arcate – p.zza Cota, 9 – 081 5321849 – letrearcate.com

Where to eat in Sant'Agnello

Don Geppi del Majestic Palace Hotel

Restaurant. An elegant hotel table with only 12 seats for an engaging and exclusive experience. Here, chef Mario Affinita offers fun and inventive dishes along tracks that do not ignore local traditions and use their basic ingredients, only to take creative and surprising paths. Carefully selected wine cellar.

Don Geppi del Majestic Palace Hotel – corso M. Crawford, 40 – 081 8072050 –  majesticpalace/dongeppirestaurant

Where to eat in Sorrento

L'Antica Trattoria

Restaurant. Walking through the alleyways of the old town, the sight is caught by this beautiful terrace, with its pergola of lemons and vines, where the D'Oria family has been welcoming customers for many years with quality cuisine and always new proposals on the extensive menu of land and sea food. Also children's menus and options for vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free.

L'Antica Trattoria – via P. R. Giuliani, 33 – 081 8071082 – lanticatrattoria.com

Antonino Esposito - Pizza e Cucina

Pizzeria. A restaurant with a double soul that also offers well-executed traditional cuisine. As for the pizzas, careful study of flours and doughs, quality fillings and millimetric cooking make them light and digestible.

Antonino Esposito – Pizza e cucina – p.zza Marinai d'Italia, 2 – 081 19005967 – antoninoesposito.it

Il Buco

Restaurant. Peppe Aversa, chef and owner but above all ambassador of his land thanks to his identity cuisine, calls his restaurant “the expression of a lifetime's passion”. True passion in every dish, which exudes taste, study and emotion. Important wine cellar, evocative dehors.

Il Buco – II Rampa Marina Piccola, 5 - p.zza Sant'Antonino – 081 8782354 – ilbucoristorante.it

Lorelei

Restaurant. Elegant and cosy. Ingredients, workmanship, service and wine care give an excellent ensemble, flavoured with smiles that invite you to return. Four menus, in addition to the main one, with tradition but also innovative dishes.

Lorelei – via A. Califano, 2 – 081 19022620 – loreleisorrento.com

Terrazza Bosquet del Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria

Restaurant. This charming establishment offers elegance, meticulously detailed mise en place and a rewarding view of the Gulf from the expertly lit terrace. Plus, the hand of a chef like Antonino Montefusco who capably weaves territory and flair into his menus.

Terrazza Bosquet del Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria – p.zza Tasso, 34 – 081 8777836 –  terrazzabosquet.exvitt.it

Where to eat in Vico Equense

Bikini

Restaurant. An evergreen, on the track since the 1950s and founded by Riccardo Scarselli, father of current owner Giorgio. We are on the slopes of Monte Faito and at the same time practically with our feet in the water of the Gulf of Naples. The menu harks back to the heart and classicism of the area's generous culinary epic, ranging with dexterity between seafood and land-based recipes.

Il Bikini – s.s. Sorrentina 145 km 13,900 – 081 19840029 – ilbikini.com

Da Gigino Università della Pizza - Pizza al Metro

Pizzeria. For decades, the ritual of the “pizza al metro” has been celebrated in this historic establishment. Prepared with good ingredients, well-leavened and baked in a wood-fired oven, it is especially appreciated in the traditional versions and in the very tasty one with endives, olives, capers, anchovies, fiordilatte (cow’s milk mozzarella) and extra virgin olive oil. The ambience is very roomy and there is a pleasant garden for the fine weather.

Da Gigino Università della Pizza - Pizza al Metro – via Nicotera, 15 – 081 8798426 – pizzametro.it

Laqua Countryside

Restaurant. The well-known chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo, together with his wife Cinzia Primatesta, created this gorgeous country residence with six rooms, immersed in the green hills of the neighbourhood. The table recounts his roots and his career path, in which Piedmont plays a fundamental part. Cellar of great personality.

Laqua Countryside – fraz. Ticciano - via Ticciano, 137 – 081 19460050 - laquacountryside.it

Antica Osteria Nonna Rosa

Restaurant. This is the winter venue, while from June onwards the team moves to the heights at Villa Rosa - La Casa di Lella, an inn with a vegetable garden and panorama (all directions on the website). Peppe Guida's table remains generous, sunny and welcoming, a place where his family has made hospitality a reason for living. The cuisine can be politely creative but also genuine (meat sauce or meatballs with encore sauce).

Antica Osteria Nonna Rosa – fraz. Pietrapiano - via Laudano, 1 – 081 8799055 – peppeguida.com

Nonno Luigino

Trattoria. This agriturismo was founded by Giovanni Caccioppoli (known to everyone as Grandpa Luigino) with his wife Bianca and children Mena, Raffaele, Mauro and Luigi, focusing on the well-being of the guest. The proposal is simple and down-to-earth, traditional, made with products mostly from the 5 hectares of the property's vegetable garden.

Nonno Luigino – fraz. Massaquano via R. Bosco, 392 – 081 8016520 – nonnoluigino.com

La Torre del Saracino

Restaurant. It is the realm of Gennaro Esposito, a celebrity chef , genial, genuine, an extraordinary interpreter of his land: a perfect setting for one of the best gastronomic experiences in the Italian Boot. The daily catch contrasts with the vegetables from the garden, thus creating excellent, memorable dishes. Dehors overlooking the sea, impressive wine cellar.

La Torre del Saracino – fraz. Seiano - loc. Marina - via Torretta, 9 – 081 8028555 – torredelsaracino.it

La Tradizione

Bistrot. The De Gennaro family's shop is a wonderland for gourmets: eyes and tummy here cannot help but be enraptured by the counter full of excellence, and the shelves full of wine, preserves, spirits and handcrafted pastas. It is also the right place to taste, at all hours of the day, food and dishes from the Campania region in a quiet and familiar atmosphere.

La Tradizione – fraz. Seiano - via R. Bosco, 969 – 081 8028437 – Instagram

by Clara Barra and Valentina Marino