13 Great Restaurants on the Amalfi Coast

La Caravella is a historic restaurant inside a medieval palace that serves authentic Amalfi cuisine. The ceilings are frescoed, the walls decked with exquisite 18th-century silk tapestries and the tables arranged in rooms featuring works by master potters.

The cuisine is equally sophisticated, with different meat, fish and vegetable menus. You can opt for a four-course dinner, or a full-blown culinary journey with 10 local specialities. There are also gluten-free dishes if you have intolerances.

La Tagliata is an iconic hilltop restaurant a short drive east of Positano. The owners offer a free pick-up/drop-off service. Thanks to its 3 sea-facing terraces, the venue affords spectacular Amalfi views. Book a table before dark so you can tuck into delicious Campanian dishes while admiring cragged cliffs and the sparkling Tyrrhenian Sea.

Although the view takes centre stage, it’s hard to complain about the food. Home-style Italian delicacies skew more towards turf than surf, with juicy steaks and flame-grilled chops as some of the menu’s highlights. Some ingredients come fresh from the onsite farm. Come hungry because there’s no à la carte dining; only a hearty set menu.

Ristorante Da Armandino is a beautiful restaurant that serves gastronomic specialities. Located in a cove in Praiano, practically nestled in a niche between the rocks, it's an enchanting setting for a romantic date. To add a unique touch to your evening, you can travel there by sea in a taxi boat. The restaurant's specialities are tubetti con i totani (tube pasta with squid) and risotto con limone e gamberetti (risotto with lemon and shrimp).

The main courses vary depending on the catch of the day, though you might find anchovies, mussels, scampi, prawns, red mullet, flying squid, red seabream and Tyrrhenian Sea species. The desserts are also excellent and 100% homemade.

Ristorante La Caravella is a well-regarded, 1-Michelin-star venue in the heart of Amalfi town. Unlike other fine-dining places in the area, this cosy establishment adopts a relatively lowkey theme. Its homely interior, complete with hanging silk textiles and art, has remained essentially unchanged since it opened in 1959.

Although à la carte dishes are available, most would swing for the chef’s famous seasonal tasting menu. Pair each plate with a glass of locally grown wine for extra indulgence. Large groups should order the signature lemon soufflé – a big, decadent dessert intended to share.

Hit Salvatore Ravello for sensational seafood and pasta with a knock-out Amalfi Coast view. Classic Italian dishes come with a distinctly contemporary twist, either served à la carte or from an indulgent set menu. Crowd favourites include risotto, crespelle, and fried potato dumplings with squid.

Save room for dessert because the tiramisu is next-level. Another popular and filling option is the rabbit fritters, an unusual yet delicious deep-fried treat. Immaculate plate presentation – some entrees come with customised squid ink messages – complements the spectacular views.

Il Pirata is an elegant restaurant in a gorgeous location on the Praiano coastline, serving traditional and nautical cuisine. House specials include grigliata di crostacei (grilled shellfish) and totani con patate alla praianese (flying squid with Praiano potatoes), with tomato, white wine, chilli and olive oil. There’s also a gluten-free menu featuring gluten-free pasta.

First courses include scialatielli all’amalfitana con calamari, gamberetti, scampi, cozze e vongole (short, thick pasta, squid, shrimp, prawns, mussels and clams) or pasta mista con datterini gialli, fiordilatte e scorza di limone (mixed pasta, yellow datterino tomatoes, mozzarella and lemon zest). Mains include polpo grigliato con crema di patate agli agrumi (grilled octopus with creamed citrus potatoes) or filetto di scottona al pepe verde (green pepper heifer fillet).

Baglio Amalfi is a popular Italian bistro outside the tiny hamlet of Conca dei Marini. The elegant whitewashed venue sits within a pretty patio jutting out over the sea. It’s a picturesque spot to enjoy a romantic meal, especially as the sunset casts its last golden rays.

A friendly husband-and-wife team has been running the bistro since the ‘70s, offering personalised service with a smile. Their classic Italian dishes lean heavily on Amalfi’s most ubiquitous fruit. Must-tries include the lemon stuffed ravioli for mains and the lemon cake for dessert.

Porca Vacca does succulent steaks in a laidback Salerno locale. While you won’t get a sea view, the restaurant offers first-class flame-grilled beef at a reasonable price. As you’d expect, there’s an eclectic wine selection to wash down each serving of their tender, meaty offerings.

Kickstart your meal with a delicate plate of antipasto or an entrée like an arancino with broccoli, ragu and flakes. If you’re feeling decadent, the 1.5 kg dry-aged steak is among the best meat you’ll ever eat on the Sorrentine Peninsula – it comes served on a steamy hot lava stone. Top it off with a cherry mille-feuille to round out the superb meal.

Gli Impastati Pasta & Co is an elegant Salerno venue serving a range of homemade wheat-based Campanian treats. Try the signature ravioli, made in-house each morning with traditional, labour-intensive methods. Toppings like black truffle and gorgonzola ensure each bite-sized morsel goes down a treat.

Other popular menu items include the parmigiana slathered with hearty homemade tomato sauce and the meaty ragù pasta. While the restaurant is on the pricey side for Salerno, it’s well worth the splurge for its sophisticated ambience and top-grade dishes.

La Posteria is a go-to for an eclectic small plates experience on the historic street of Via Duomo in Salerno. The intimate delicatessen carves cured cuts and cheese from its in-house stock, plating up a range of shared antipasto-style dishes. There’s a solid selection of locally grown wines – plus a few Tuscan favourites – to help wash down your meal.

If you fancy a traditional Campania main course, try the aubergine meatballs or the spaghetti frittata. Soft lighting, friendly service, and smooth lounge tunes evoke a pleasant ambience. Eat outside on the paved patio to partake in people-watching with your wine and nibbles.

Ristorante Franchino is a family-run establishment serving Italian seafood classics for over 50 years. Set on a clifftop near Praiano, the lofty venue affords sweeping coastal views. The place packs out with sun-lovers from nearby Marina di Praia seeking a post-beach aperitif or a satiating meal.

The most popular dish is the seafood risotto, a mouthwatering mix of shrimp, scampi, mussels, and clams. You’ll also find land-based options on the menu, such as succulent steaks and creamy pasta dishes. Impeccable service and mesmerising views make this a go-to dining spot in Praiano.

Casa Mele is a sophisticated fine-dining restaurant with an open kitchen on the eastern edge of Positano. Famed for its innovative 6-course tasting menu, the perpetually booked-out venue is a hit among the jet-setting crowd. Dress well and be prepared to splurge – but the high-quality dishes are worth every euro.

More of a gastronomic experience than a meal, dishes range from Caprese salad to zucchini blossoms and filet mignon. Fussy eaters can choose the “pick ’em menu” to maintain complete control. Sign up for in-house cooking classes to learn how to prepare these refined culinary creations from the head chef. Though upscale, the venue is also family-friendly.

Agricola Fore Porta is an endearing farm-to-table venue offering a down-to-earth alternative to Amalfi’s glam oceanfront restaurants. Set on a farm near the Valle delle Ferriere nature reserve, this pristine property hosts a plethora of leafy trees and luscious ferns.

The family-run agritourism venture plucks almost all its ingredients on-site, plating up traditional Campanian dishes like pasta, paninis, and salads. Affordable prices, tranquil surroundings, and an unpretentious vibe make it a great pitstop en route to Valle delle Ferriere. Grab a bag full of fresh produce to take away and nibble on throughout your travels.