There are destinations that naturally spark a sense of joy and serenity. Amalfi Coast and Capri are a fatally charming blend of glamour and rusticity. Pristine beaches, intimate beach clubs with striped umbrellas, breezy terraces overlooking the sea. Everything will make you fall in love with Capri and Amalfi Coast. No matter how you arrive in Capri or Amalfi Coast, the journey is always scenic.
However, we believe in the charm of the unexpected. They say you find the best things when you're not looking for them. We believe that the most unusual spots are often the most spectacular, and in Amalfi Coast or Capri, a simple boat can be the gate to a gastronomic lifetime experience. We've pulled together 9 of the most spectacular beachside restaurants accessible by boat in the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento.
Da Luigi ai Faraglioni should be on your buckle list if you're planning to visit Capri and feel like having a spectacular lunch or dinner in a stunning atmosphere, surrounded by the island's beautiful coastline and sea. You can enjoy traditional seafood cuisine while admiring one of the most spectacular sceneries in the world—Capri's famous Faraglioni.
At Ristorante da Luigi, the kitchen takes inspiration from the catch of the day, and the menu features the most iconic traditional dishes like Caprese salad, ricotta-stuffed ravioli and—of course—the island's famous chocolate and almond Torta Caprese, served with a scoop of gelato. After having lunch, it's time to relax at the beach club, where you will feel the same dolce vita vibes as if you were living in a '50s movie.
If you're on your boat or yacht, Da Luigi ai Faraglioni also has a boat shuttle service available to pick you up anywhere you are.
Via Faraglioni, 5 - 80073 Capri (NA)
+39 081 8370591
Do you also feel like you deserve a touch of elegance and class? The cliffside restaurant is part of the Capri Palace, one of the leading hotels of the world. It overlooks the Blue Grotto and is a veritable gem of luxury and fine cuisine. Awarded with two Michelin stars, the resident chef Salvatore Elefante, will escort you to his realm of luxurious fine cuisine.
A must-try is the signature dish, spaghetti alla chitarra with sea urchins. Fun fact: after the meal, you will be escorted into the "Temptation Room". A sweet tooth dedicated space, where you will get to choose your dessert from a rich selection of sweets from the Neapolitan pastry: babà with rum, Caprese cake, tarts and sfogliatelle.
Via Gradola, 4 - 80071 Anacapri (NA)
+39 0818371380
Bagni Tiberio is located in the north of Capri and is also known as "the Emperor restaurant" because of its vicinity to the ancient ruins of the stunning villa owned by the Roman Emperor Augustus. The restaurant is nestled in a hidden bay of turquoise water. No wonder why Augustus built so many mansions in Capri!
One of the many reasons why we fell in love with Bagni Tiberio is because the restaurant also organizes boat tours on the typical wooden lancia or gozzo around Capri, Positano and Amalfi.
Via Palazzo a Mare, 41, 80073 Capri (NA)
39 081 8370703
Located in a former boatyard in Praiano, Trattoria da Armandino is a friendly, laid-back restaurant serving the most delicious seafood since 1986. The location is unique: nestled between the cliffs of a romantic cove, overlooking crystal clear waters. The restaurant offers the best specialities of the local tradition with a great selection of fish and vegetable dishes.
Do not expect to choose a dish from a pre-setup menu, though. The seafood is so fresh that the menu is regularly adjusted according to the catch of the day.
Via Marina di Praia - Praiano 84010 (SA)
+39 089874087
Another hidden gem worth the visit is Il Pirata, located in Praiano, Amalfi coast. Other than because of the delicious food, we fell in love with the story behind the restaurant. Casimiro, a former fruit trader, decided in the '60s to open a bar with his wife, Pasqualina. It all started from their children's need not to eat sandwiches every day, and so Pasqualina asked his husband to buy a small kitchen and began cooking for his family. Since then, she has never stopped cooking, and now she delights thousands of visitors with her authentic Neapolitan cuisine.
Via Terramare, Praiano, 84010 (SA)
+39 089 874377
This place is a living legend! Located a couple of minutes from the centre of Positano, you won't find it unless you have a boat! The way to reach it is very simple: you book a spot at the restaurant, and then you look out for their boat with a red fish flag. The boat picks you up from the port of Positano starting from 10 am till 1 pm and brings you back around 4 pm. What we love most is how chilled and low-key this place is! The signature dish is the grilled mozzarella served on lemon leaf. Of course, you can't eat the leaf, but it will leave you with an addicting and delicate citrus flavour.
Trust us when we tell you to book at least two weeks ahead as it is one of the most popular restaurants on the Amalfi coast. Da Adolfo also offers an intimate beach club where you can relax and sunbathe after your meal.
Via Laurito, 40, 84017 Positano (SA)
+39 089875022
This restaurant prides itself on being the inventor of the worldwide famous "spaghetti alla Nerano", a typical Italian dish where the spaghetti blends divinely with fried zucchini and provolone cheese. The menu is very well priced, and the cuisine is a true pleasure of the senses. However, what we loved the most is the curious history behind Maria Grazia. Indeed, it seems that the restaurant found its roots in the Middle Age, when the bay was a landing sport for sailors and pirates, attracted by this land's prosperity.
The modern version of Maria Grazia came to life in the early years of 1900 as a nest for local fishermen to enjoy a well-deserved dinner after a long day in the sea.
Since then, the recipes have been transmitted from one generation to another, and the same dishes are prepared with passion and dedication, strictly following the same – secret! – recipe.
Marina del Cantone 80061 Nerano, Campania, Italy
+39 081 808 1011
Sophia Loren visited Da Emilia to enjoy fresh fish while she was working as an actress in Sorrento - it's been open for more than 50 years. It's a buzzing lunchtime spot right on the front of Sorrento's Marina Grande - a laid-back, low-cost place, and rustic with blue-and-white checked tablecloths on wooden tables and a cute little terrace overlooking the fishing boats and the port. The family-run business offers locally caught seafood served with simple yet delicious olive oil and lemon.
Via Marina Grande 62, 80067, Sorrento (NA)
+39 081 807 27 20
Imagine dining by the seaside with the sound of the waves, the sea breeze, the salty skin. Conca del Sogno is an incredibly romantic restaurant only reachable by boat and a lifetime experience to share with someone you love. All is mixed to perfection: the scenery, the quality and freshness of the ingredients, the dim lights. The exquisite cuisine and a cellar up to the expectations of the wine and limoncello enthusiasts will make you fall in love with this stunning spot in Capri.
Via Amerigo Vespucci, 25 Nerano - Massa Lubrense (NA)
+39 081 808 1036
As one of the most famous Italy's destinations, the Amalfi Coast's charm attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. Because of its stunning cliff, turquoise waters and picturesque villages, the region was recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. The allure of this picturesque region and the stunning sceneries have blended with the uniqueness of the traditional Italian cuisine to offer any visitor a lifetime experience. Allow yourself a treat and indulge in these hidden gems of Capri and Amalfi Coast accessible by boat.
Images from Unsplash