A couple of months ago I did a post on Positano restaurants (you can read about it here), now I will move on to Sorrento. Sorrento is a touristy popular destination among Americans, just like Positano. Unlike the latter I found the food in Sorrento to be a bit more genuine. I wrote an article depicting an overall comparison of both places here. When deciding where to eat in Sorrento, you have (slightly) more authentic choices than in Positano. Of course, neither compare to Sicily or any less touristy Italian area, but beggars cannot be choosers.
I am going to give you the best Sorrento restaurants I can remember. Please consider that this is still a tourist town, so the food will be a notch lower. Like Positano, when thinking of the best restaurants in Sorrento there was one stand out and others that were just very good, but not outstanding. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the restaurants in Sorrento, I was not expecting much but I did not think the food was bad.
I probably should discuss the elephant in the room. Clearly these days many of us Americans will not be traveling to Sorrento anytime soon. It is still good to have a couple of the best Sorrento restaurants in your back pocket for when travel does open again. I will also give you an alternative spot to eat, near Pompeii if you are site seeing from Sorrento. Additionally, I will add three spots in Sorrento that I was told were good, but did not make it to. To begin with here is where to eat in Sorrento, my 5 best Sorrento restaurants. One last disclaimer, I wanted all the places on my list to be within walking distance from the main square, there may be a lot of good ones on the outskirts, but these are not mentioned here.
1. Porta Marina Seafood
This restaurant is a little gem right near the docks. It is a bit of a maze to find, and it is exceedingly small, but worth the work to discover. Even though it was only a lunch, I would say this was one of my favorite lifetime eating experiences and certainly the best restaurant in Sorrento.
The Atmosphere
Maybe it was the (almost) perfect weather…although it did sprinkle for about 10 minutes. Or more likely it was the view since we were almost on top of the water. We must have sat outside for over two hours after eating, just drinking wine and relaxing. This is the kind of restaurant experience you do not get in the United States, where a 17-year old waitress comes by every two seconds and then just drops the bill off after 15 minutes. The relaxed atmosphere of Porta Marina Seafood makes you realize we are doing something wrong in America. Unfortunately, our way of eating is spreading to other countries.
The Food
All the great atmosphere in the world means nothing if the food is not up to par, luckily the food is just as good as the setting. The first course was fried calamari, I usually hate calamari (or anything) fried. Give me a grilled squid any day. This was the best fried dish I have ever had. The calamari were so light you could blow them off the plate. It was so good that after our meal, we ordered a second round.
My main course was Frutti di mare, with beautiful shrimp and mussels. The seafood was so fresh I looked over in the water and I noticed the mother of the shrimp crying (holding his lunchbox) as I bit into him. The octopus was also delicious, my one regret is that we missed out on visiting this establishment a second time. To make this all even better, the price was right, I think it was like $60 (after conversion) for all the food and at least two liters of wine. It almost makes me sad to think about how poorly we eat in the United States.
The Service
I believe (do not quote me) this place is run by two sisters who were both genuinely nice. Once again, a family run establishment shows why it is superior to a chain. Yes, maybe it takes longer to get your check, but I was not trying too hard to grab it. I would much rather have a long, relaxed meal where I felt like I was at someone’s home, than a rushed Applebee’s experience. Therefore, Porta Marina Seafood was one of the best Sorrento restaurants (if not the best).
2. Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso
This place was odd, it felt like a fine dining establishment, yet once you cleared your plate, some things did not add to that environment. Still I really enjoyed my meal here, since the restaurant has such good Margherita pizza, it is hard not to like. I found the pizza here to be better than most places and I certainly would return.
The Atmosphere
The restaurant was quiet when we arrived, but nice inside. White tablecloths and an open, almost courtyard like atmosphere and interesting decorations. One of the more interesting decorations was our plate, which had a naked woman staring at us. It was a weird combination, like someone from Teasers Strip Club snuck over and swapped dinnerware. Yet, I liked the inside, it was quiet and a bit more upscale.
The Food
The wine was great, but all wine in Italy is typically good. I did not sample a large array of the menu, it is called Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso, so I ordered…you guessed it Pizza. Two different types, one plain Margherita and one with sausage. The pizza was of course, incredibly good. Margherita pizza is in a different class then what we get in the United States (although I love New York Pizza also). The price is also right, the pizza was on average only 10 euro. You can get out of there for under $40 even if you go crazy on drinks. I am always looking for the best Pizza in an area, if you are looking for the best pizza in Sorrento Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso is a good contender.
The Service
I found the service to be good, but not too memorable. The wait staff was friendly and professional given the upscale atmosphere. Overall, no complaints with the service.
3. Fauno Bar
Of all the Sorrento restaurants I went to the Fauno bar was the most frequented. It happened to be right outside the apartment style condo I was staying in. Located in the middle of Piazza Tasso, you would think this place would be a tourist trap. In some ways it is, but it had consistently good food and service. I felt like this is the best option when trying to figure out where to eat in Sorrento and you are in the Piazza Tasso. Do not expect a fancy meal, just a solid bite to eat at a good price.
Atmosphere
This place feels big, and yes it feels a bit touristy. It is still a really nice atmosphere; I personally like to watch people and this Piazza is a nice place to do it. Sit back enjoy some wine and watch the hustle a bustle of the family from Louisville wearing cargo shorts holding an upside-down map. It could get crowded due to its location, but overall a nice spot.
Food
I was pleasantly surprised that everything we tried we liked in this establishment. Somethings were just pretty good, others were excellent. I think we ate at Fauno Bar at least 7 times in our short stay. It was open late, so it made for a perfect evening snack. The pizza here was almost as good as the Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso (some would say better), and I believe a bit cheaper. Everything was surprisingly fresh for a place that looks so touristy, especially when compared to other places in the area, and we tried them all in the Piazza
Service
We had an unfair advantage here, since we came back so many times and at such off hours, people remembered us. Therefore, I found the service to be great, very personable. There was one time I had something wrong and they replaced it without a second thought. The staff really worked hard to make things right. I do not care if there are errors, I care how spots respond to those errors. People were very nice here, but we were turning into regulars by the end of our trip.
4. Da Lucariello
I should probably give a full disclosure on this one. There was a lot of alcohol involved when we stumbled into this place. Still from the flashes I have it was an excellent experience. If you are looking for the best sandwich in Sorrento, Da Lucariello can be given that distinction. The service was great, and the sandwiches are perfect for a late-night snack/meal.
Atmosphere
This is not a place to bring your date after the prom…it is a small shop with barely enough room for a tiny group. The owner was extremely friendly, and we talked most of the time. One odd thing, it is always strange to see dogs in a restaurant, but this is something that is common in Italy, so I had to accept it.
Food
As mentioned, Da Lucariello serves up the best sandwich in Sorrento that I could find. This establishment is a perfect snack after you just got through sampling every limoncello within a mile. It is drunk food for sure, but good drunk food. Da Lucariello probably will even make a nice quick lunch. Not a sit-down dinner with the family, but something unique and high quality for a quick meal.
Service
Just good people work at Da Lucariello, they were friendly and welcoming. As opposed to Positano (read my review here) the restaurants in Sorrento just had nicer locals. That might be why I hate Positano so much, the staff in all the restaurants were cold and aloof. Places like Da Lucariello had a much warmer atmosphere.
5. Acqu’ e sale
If you are looking for another solid seafood place near the water come to Acqu’ e sale. I do not think it holds a candle to the food at Porta Marina Seafood, but it is better than anything you will get in almost every corner of the United States. Take the long (kind of cool) staircase down to the docks, and you will come across this establishment.
Atmosphere
Maybe the main reason why this is on the list is for the atmosphere. I can see fish swimming from my table, that is how close you are to the water. This was another spot that we were drinking at and before we knew it, they were picking up the tables. It is a perfect place to grab a cocktail and a snack. Maybe it was just the time of year we went, but I think the long walk prevents the crowds from overwhelming this establishment. The atmosphere is why I put Acqu’ e sale as one of the best restaurants in Sorrento.
Food
I am about to shock you…you get fresh seafood here. For me this was more of a drinks and snacks place than a full meal place, but others would disagree. The mussels we ordered were tasty as well as all the other seafood. Being that close to the water, even by accident a restaurant will have fresh seafood.
Service
Admittedly, fine, but not memorable. It is a big place, they do not have time to hobnob with all the guests which is understandable. The price was a bit higher than a lot of other places, but Sorrento is not known to be cheap. Overall, no real complaints.
That is where to eat in Sorrento: A Recap
- Porta Marina Seafood – Best overall restaurant in Sorrento. Laid back great food amazing atmosphere
- Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso – A little more upscale (but still a casual vibe), quality food…very nice pizza
- Fauno Bar– A great place to eat in Piazza Tasso, good for families and solid food.
- Da Lucariello – The best sandwiches in Sorrento. Perfect for those who were overserved wine. Nice people very good food.
- Acqu’ e sale – Really nice atmosphere, pretty solid food.
Other Restaurants in Sorrento
I did not try EVERY restaurant in Sorrento, I am only human. Below are a couple that I missed that some people recommended.
Il Buco – If you are looking for a fancy (IE expensive) place to have a romantic dinner Il Buco was recommended by more than one person(and website).
Bagni Delfino – Another Seafood spot right on the water. Just looked great, but for some reason it was closed when we went.
Trattoria dei Mori – We walked past this many times and I am still kicking myself for not trying it.
If you run into any of the above when deciding where to eat in Sorrento, please give me your opinion of the places you tried.
If You are Visiting Pompeii
I know this is an article on where to eat in Sorrento, and you are looking for the best Sorrento restaurants. If you are visiting Sorrento, there is a good chance you will be breaking off to see Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. I would be doing a disservice if I did not mention the following:
Cantina del Vesuvio Russo Family Winery
This is first and foremost a winery, but it is a great place to eat as well. There were kids here so it is not exclusively a wino establishment, but I am not sure if I would go if I did not drink. The wine was amazing, the pasta was very fresh. It is a preset meal, pasta, antipasto etc… So at least glance at the menu before you go to see if you like it. If you like Italian wine and great pasta stop by if you are in the area. It is somewhat of a trek from Pompeii, so you will need to take a cab…it is well worth the price.
Conclusion on Where to Eat in Sorrento: The Best Sorrento Restaurants
Everyone has their own list as to where to eat in Sorrento. I tried to find the best Sorrento restaurants that were somewhat close to the center of town. Sorrento is a walkable area; so there is no need to take a cab to find great food. Sorrento is still a touristy destination, the food was not stellar like much of Italy. It was still better that Positano; which is not hard to do and had its standouts.
