10 Spots for Discovering Local Flavours in Palau

Ristorante Da Robertino is a Michelin-starred restaurant that serves traditional seafood. The Sardinian sea's not only good for beach days; it's the source of much of the produce used in the local cuisine. You can savour the flavour of traditional seafood dishes, particularly the wonderful fregula con pesce (a type of small, round pasta typical in Sardinia served with seafood), safe in the knowledge that this is a restaurant acclaimed not only by tourists but also by locals.

The atmosphere is evocative, elegant and welcoming at the same time. The portions are generous and will satisfy your craving for a good seafood dinner.

Ristorante Pasta e Vino is a delicious seafood restaurant in Palau’s port area. If you’re in the area and looking for somewhere you can eat without spending a fortune, Ristorante Pasta e Vino is for you. You can sit at one of the tables with a sea view as you savour some of the most beloved Sardinian fresh fish specialities.

Two of the standouts are the risotto alla pescatore (seafood risotto) and the carpaccio. If you love real flavours of the sea, there are also some great options on the antipasti menu. Since this restaurant is popular with locals and tourists alike, book ahead to skip the queue.

Il Vecchio Pirata is a charming restaurant near the beach that serves Sardinian specialities. In a slightly hidden position behind a big rock, it's halfway between a pub and restaurant and is a nice surprise to discover. Located on a little slope leading down to the beach, Il Vecchio Pirata has tables a stone’s throw from the sand and an informal, unique atmosphere.

The specialities here are the cured meat and cheese boards featuring typical Sardinian products, served with honey for an elegant way to experience the local flavours. It’s perfect for a tasty pause between walks.

Hostaria Cuppulata is the perfect restaurant for gourmet pizzas using traditional recipes and ingredients. First of all, the dough for the pizza is leavened for 72 hours, making it so light and digestible you’ll be tempted to order another one.

At this pizzeria, you’ll be able to try both traditional pizzas as well as experiment by adding various local ingredients. And if you decide you’d rather go for something that’s not pizza, there are many Sardinian dishes to choose from, all served in generous portions.

Ristorante Cucumiao offers delicious local meat dishes in unique recipes. While Sardinian cuisine may be famous for its fish dishes, it’s also largely based on the tasty local meats. The speciality here is grilled meat, and you can also book the porceddu, the traditional Sardinian roast suckling pig that everyone should try at least once in their lives.

Besides the delicacies on the menu, the restaurant’s appeal also lies in its pleasant setting, which has both indoor and outdoor seating so you can enjoy the cool garden.

II Kalamaro is a seafood restaurant in the centre of Palau near the marina. The focus of the menu here will be clear from the setting: totally maritime in style, reminiscent of a ship’s prow, with an intoxicating aroma from the kitchen.

The dishes are traditionally Sardinian, so be ready to stuff yourself with fregula ai frutti di mare (the typical small, round Sardinian pasta served with seafood) and mixed fried fish. One added bonus of this restaurant is the little square adjacent to it, perfect for savouring the local delicacies in the fresh air on outdoor tables.

Ristorante Faro is an authentic restaurant that serves dishes of land and sea. Even if this restaurant’s name, which translates to ‘lighthouse’, might make you think it focuses on seafood, the menu at Ristorante Faro is a perfect balance between sea and land. You’ll find a wide array of traditional dishes, from exquisite antipasti to delectable first and second courses.

Some of the highlights include the pear and pecorino carpaccio and grilled fresh catch of the day. The sea and land also come together in the captivating scenery that surrounds this restaurant: a window overlooking the sea has views of La Maddalena island, next to the lighthouse that gives the place its name.

Isule Surelle is a local gastronomy restaurant with a wine bar and flavourful local dishes. Sipping an aperitif while savouring the delicacies of the local gastronomy is the idea of heaven for a foodie. It’s not just a wine bar, but also a shop where you can find typical local products for an original experience that’s full of flavour.

The ‘sister islands’ the bar’s name refers to are Sardinia and Corsica, so it should be no surprise that the menu focuses on traditional products from both places. Its setting is charming; sit at a table made from a wine barrel and try beers and wines from local producers, paired with tasty food boards featuring exquisite products handpicked by the owner.

Ristorante Re Ferdinando & Gabrielitos is the perfect restaurant for a late dinner of Sardinian specialities. Located at the middle of the action in Palau, Ristorante Re Ferdinando & Gabrielitos is open late into the night and there's double the choice here since you can order both local Sardinian specialities as well as ones from Naples, in a mouth-watering fusion of Mediterranean flavours.

Local clientele recommend the fregula con frutti di mare (traditional small, round Sardinian pasta with seafood), but don't forget to try one of the pizzas that are made just like in Naples.

To finish off a culinary tour of Palau, head a bit off the beaten track. Just a short walk from the town’s historic centre, you’ll find the Pescheria Friggitoria Il Peschereccio di Capitan Pintus fish bar. The premises are modest and simple, while the fish is exceptionally fresh and cooked on the spot. You pay by weight, just like in a fish market, choosing from products sourced from the local waters. You can choose to eat in at one of the indoor tables or get your fish to take away. This is where real foodies come in search of the most authentic flavours.