Restaurants in Sorrento

If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that you won't go hungry in Sorrento. It's hard to walk more than a few steps in this resort town along Italy's coast without passing a restaurant...not to mention the cafés, pubs, wine bars, and gelato shops that line the streets downtown.

Everything you need to know about dining in Sorrento:

• Lunch is served from 12:30pm to 3:00pm and dinner from 7:30pm to 11pm (or even later in the summer). That said, there are many restaurants which serve meals all day long, so you can have a late lunch or an early dinner.

• Cafès (called bars in Italy) are different from restaurants. We don't recommend eating at any establishment which calls itself a "bar" (those lining Piazza Tasso, for example), which usually only offer food that is frozen or pre-prepared. Follow the Italians' lead and only order drinks at the bar. Vice versa, it is bad form to occupy a restaurant table if you are only ordering drinks and not a full meal.

• It's a good idea to reserve a table beforehand, especially for dinner...though it is perfectly fine to stop in and request a table spur of the moment without having previously reserved. A day before, or even during the day for the same evening, is usually sufficient to be able to reserve a table in all but the most popular restaurants.

• Italian cuisine does not generally center around a "main dish", but instead consists of a series of courses from appetizer (antipasto), a first course of pasta or rice (primo), a second course of meat or fish and vegetable side dishes (secondo), and dolce. Italians usually order only two or three courses, between an antipasto, either a primo or a secondo, and dessert...unless it's a special occasion! Side dishes must be ordered separately, as they usually are not automatically included with the second course.

• Tips are never required, as most restaurants already add a "coperto", a type of service charge. It is customary to simply leave your small change as a small gratuity. For example, if the bill is EUR 46, you can pay EUR 50 and leave the change.

• Avoid restaurants which have staff outside attracting customers; these are always very touristy and of dubious quality.

• There are no ethnic restaurants in Sorrento...the most "international" you can get is a couple of kebab stands!

• There is one vegetarian/vegan restaurant: "Mondo Bio", an organic shop which has a small restaurant. That said, you'll find vegetarian options on any restaurant menu, as Italian cuisine has many traditional dishes that are vegetarian.

• Cappuccino is strictly a breakfast drink. You can order it after dinner, but it would be like ordering a bowl of corn flakes!

Dining Experiences in Sorrento: Where to Eat and Drink

Traditional dishes and foods from Sorrento:

• Gnocchi alla sorrentina: fresh pasta tossed with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella

• Citrus: Sorrento is famous for its lemons and oranges, grown in local groves covered in traditional shades known as "pagliarelle". Local lemons are used to make "limoncello", a traditional sweet liqueur served after meals.

• Provolone del Monaco: a local soft cheese aged from 6 to 18 months, slightly sharp.

• Extra-virgin olive oil

• Walnuts from Sorrento: used to make "nocino", an after-dinner liqueur.

Our Favorite Restaurants in Sorrento

Sorrento Centre (Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia, and the Old Town)

Ristorante Tasso

Behind the square that shares its name, this restaurant consistently delivers: large dining rooms that accommodate groups easily, quality cooking, and menu options for most preferences. The menu includes pizza with gluten-free options.
Speciality: ravioli stuffed with eggplant parmigiana.
Location: Via Correale, 11/d (behind Piazza Tasso)
Telephone: +39 081 8785809

Ristorante Zi' Ntonio

A spacious restaurant between Piazza Sant'Antonino and Piazza Tasso, where getting a table without a reservation is usually possible. Service is friendly and attentive. The menu follows traditional recipes, executed well. Pizza is also available.
Specialty: the signature dish is "Risotto Special for 2," served directly in the pan—a seafood risotto loaded with lobster and prawns.
Location: Via Luigi de Maio, 11
Telephone: +39 081 878 1623

Ristorante Accénto

A modern spot on Corso Italia that has quickly built a following with traditional dishes reworked creatively using quality ingredients.
Specialty: paccheri with pistachios and clams.
Location: Corso Italia, 38/D
Telephone: +39 081 878 5216

QUI Sorrento

A restaurant on Corso Italia with a seasonal menu and a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. The cooking stays close to local tradition but with a personal touch that shows in individual dishes. The menu changes regularly to follow ingredient availability.
Speciality: the tasting platter for two "QUI t'annammur" and the catch of the day.
Location: Corso Italia, 325
Telephone: +39 081 1813 7127

Fuoro51 vinery

If you're more interested in something to nibble with a good glass of wine than a full dinner, look for this wine bar in the historic center's narrow streets.
Specialty: their charcuterie and cheese board paired with a good wine. The wine list is extensive.
Location: Via Fuoro, 51
Telephone: +39 081 878 3691

Ristorante 0’ Parrucchiano - La Favorita

For the most classic Sorrento cooking, this is the place. A historic restaurant famous for over a century; cannelloni were invented here in 1870. The interior garden features a lemon pergola, and the covered terrace offers a beautiful dining space.
Specialty: cannelloni, created here in 1870.
Location: Corso Italia, 71
Telephone: +39 081 878 1321

La Cantinaccia del Popolo Trattoria

Set back from Sorrento's tourist center, this trattoria is popular with locals for authentic cooking featuring meat and fish dishes, excellent house wine, and reasonable prices.
Specialty: spaghetti with polipetti alla Luciana and the house mixed antipasto.
Location: Vico Terzo Rota, 6/8
Telephone: +39 081 1871 7929

Ristorante Museo Caruso:

A retro spot dedicated entirely to tenor Caruso, who spent his final days at the nearby Excelsior Vittoria hotel. Memorabilia covers the walls, creating a warm atmosphere.
Specialty: fusilli degli Antichi Pastai with wild boar ragù, coffee powder, and hints of truffle.
Location: Via Sant'Antonino, 12
Telephone: +39 081 807 3156

Marina Grande

Trattoria Da Emilia

The oldest and most traditional of all the restaurants in Marina Grande's fishing village. Scenes from "Pane, Amore e..." with Sophia Loren were filmed here. No reservations accepted; tables are filled on a first-come basis. Portions are generous, and the atmosphere sits right on the water.
Specialty: gnocchi tossed with seafood.
Location: Via Marina Grande, 62
Telephone: +39 081 807 2720

Ristorante Bagni Sant’Anna

A restaurant with a beach club attached, where you eat lunch and dinner on a platform built over the water. The menu adds creative touches, and the view covers Sorrento's entire coastline.
Specialty: risotto with stracciatella, prawn tartare, sea urchin pulp, and lemon.
Location: Via del Mare
Telephone: +39 081 807 4178/+39 339 620 6647

Ristorante Soul and Fish

A new generation from a historic Sorrento restaurant family has completely renovated this spot, giving it a modern look while keeping the traditional spirit. Fish-only menu with beautiful plate presentations. Featured in the Michelin Guide.
Specialty: mixed pasta in a fish and shellfish stew.
Location: Via Marina Grande, 202
Telephone: +39 081 878 2170

Outside of Town

Ristorante Don Alfonso 1890

The temple of Southern Italian fine dining with 1 Michelin Star and a name now recognized worldwide. High-level cooking created with the best local ingredients—produce comes from the family's farm at Punta Campanella. Located in the center of Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi.
Specialty: don't miss the excellent tasting menus.
Location: Corso Sant'Agata, 11 - Sant'Agata Sui Due Golfi
Telephone: +39 081 878 0026

Ristorante Lo Stuzzichino

Also in Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi, this modern osteria started as a simple village rotisserie and has evolved over the years by focusing on quality ingredients and impeccable execution of traditional recipes. Now a reference point in the slow food movement.
Specialty: pasta and potatoes with provolone del Monaco.
Location: Via Deserto, 1/A - Massa Lubrense
Telephone: +39 081 5330010

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