Explore the Amalfi Coast shoreline dripping in colorful buildings and beaches dotted with striped umbrellas with a checklist of must try regional dishes. Nothing sounds more glamorous than spending a vacation on the Amalfi Coast but it can be overwhelming. Read below for the top dishes to try on your next trip to get the full experience and ensure you have the culinary adventure you want.
Pasta Al Limone
Lemons are EVERYWHERE in the Amalfi coast and you will notice them in the decor to the cheesy bucket hats in the tourists shops. The most exciting place you will see them is in the cuisine. Pasta Al Limone is a creamy pasta brightened with lemon and usually has seafood like shrimp or lobster on top with parsley. It is simple, zesty, and delicious.
Places to try in Positano: Il Tridente Positano, Lo Guarracino
Places to try in the town of Amalfi: Da Gemma, Taverna degli Apostoli
Places to try in Ravello: Ristorante Dei Cavalieri, Ristorante Bella Vista Sul Mare, Mimi Pizzeria and Cucina
Places to try in Capri: Da Paolino, Ristorante Buca di Bacco
Spaghetti alla Nerano
You may have heard Stanley Tucci rave about this pasta which is what intrigued me to try it. The name came from the town of Nerano where it originated near the tip of the peninsula at the beginning of the Amalfi coast. It is a simple and delicious pasta of spaghetti noodles, fried zucchini, and provolone or parmesan cheese.
Places to try in Positano: Saraceno d’Oro
Places to try in Ravello: Mimi Pizzeria and Cucina
Places to try in Capri: Da Paolino, Pulalli
Gli Scialatielli All’Amalfitana
Gli Scialatielli All’Amalfitana is a treasure trove of seafood like clams, mussels, calamari, and shrimp on a fat spaghetti noodle with a seafood base sauce topped with tomatoes and parsley. It is a dish that truly shows off the region’s abundance in fresh seafood.
Places to try in Positano: Da Vincenzo, Mediterraneo, Saraceno d’Oro
Places to try in the town of Amalfi: Marina Grande, Da Maria, Taverna degli Apostoli
Places to try in Ravello: Ristorante Dei Cavalieri, Ristorante Bella Vista Sul Mare, Rossellinis, Ristorante Vittoria, Mimi Pizzeria and Cucina
Places to try in Capri: Ristorante Pizzeria Verginiello
Spaghetti alle Vongole
Another seafood pasta that is similar to all’Amalfitana is Spaghetti alle Vongole. It is made with spaghetti noodles with clams and mussels with a seafood sauce topped with tomatoes and parsley. You will see this dish almost EVERYWHERE on the coast in Italy.
Places to try in Positano: Il Tridente Positano, Saraceno d’Oro, Lo Guarracino, Da Vincenzo
Places to try in the town of Amalfi: Marina Grande, Da Maria, Taverna degli Apostoli
Places to try in Ravello: Ristorante Dei Cavalieri, Ristorante Bella Vista Sul Mare, Salvatore Ravello
Places to try in Capri: Da Paolino, Ristorante Buca di Bacco, Ristorante Pizzeria Verginiello,
Pizza!
The Amalfi Coast is in the Campania region like Naples so Neapolitan pizza can be easily found. The tomato sauce is so fresh and tangy mixed with the creamy Bufala di Mozzarella making it one of my favorite meals. We took pizza down to the free beach in Positano to enjoy an easy lunch taking in the views and cooling off in the sea water.
Places to try in Positano: Lo Guarracino, Saraceno d’Oro
Places to try in the town of Amalfi: Da Maria
Places to try in Ravello: Salvatore Ravello, Ristorante Vittoria, Mimi Pizzeria and Cucina
Places to try in Capri: Ristorante Buca di Bacco, Ristorante Pizzeria Verginiello
Seafood
You can get your seafood fix on the Amalfi Coast in countless ways. You will see appetizers of anchovies at the fanciest of restaurants, fried shrimp at beachside restaurants, and whole fish being served tableside. They pile a medley of seafood in risotto, on top of pasta, or fritto misto, which is a fried mix of seafood and veggies. Any way you want it, you can have it on the Amalfi Coast.
Places to try in Positano: Il Tridente Positano, Lo Guarracino, Da Vincenzo, La Sponda, Il Tridente Positano, Mediterraneo
Places to try in the town of Amalfi: Marina Grande, Da Maria, Da Gemma, Taverna degli Apostoli
Places to try in Ravello: Ristorante Dei Cavalieri, Ristorante Bella Vista Sul Mare, Salvatore Ravello, Ristorante Vittoria
Places to try in Capri: Da Paolino, Pulalli, Ristorante Pizzeria Verginiello
Mozzarella
Bufala mozzarella is a creamy cheese from the Campania region which houses the Amalfi Coast and Naples. You will see it on menus especially in appetizers paired with melon, on salads, on the side or prosciutto, and on the famous Neapolitan style pizzas. We enjoyed it everyday of our trip.
Places to try in Positano: Il Tridente Positano, Lo Guarracino, Da Vincenzo Places to try in the town of Amalfi: Marina Grande, Da Maria, Da Gemma, Taverna degli Apostoli
Places to try in Ravello: Ristorante Bella Vista Sul Mare, Ristorante Vittoria, Mimi Pizzeria and Cucina
Places to try in Capri: Da Paolino, Pulalli, Ristorante Pizzeria Verginiello
Lemon Desserts
The most famous lemon dessert is the Delizia al Limone or Lemon Delight which is a sponge cake drizzled with limoncello and covered with a lemon creme. Its a must try! You will also see lemon sorbet piled high in lemon peels and various other lemon cakes.
Places to try in Positano: Il Tridente Positano, Da Vincenzo, Paradise Lounge Bar, Saraceno d’Oro, Collina Positano Bakery
Places to try in Amalfi town: Andrea Pansa, Taverna degli Apostoli,
Places to try in Ravello: Ristorante Dei Cavalieri, Ristorante Bella Vista Sul Mare, Rossellinis Places to try in Capri: Da Paolino, Pulalli, Ristorante Pizzeria Verginiello
Gelato
With its slow churn process at a higher temperature, gelato has a more intense flavor and denser texture than ice cream. My favorite flavor is the nocciola which is a light hazelnut and cream flavor similar to, but as overpowering as Nutella. I also love pistaccio and for those who want to feel like a kid again try Stracciatella which is a fancy name for vanilla with chocolate chip shavings.
Places to try in Positano: Paradise Lounge Bar, Collina Positano Bakery
Places to try in the town of Amalfi: Andrea Pansa
Places to try in Ravello: Baffone Gelateria Artigianale
Place to try in Capri: Buonocore Gelateria Pasticceria
Limoncello
Another lemon based treat is Limoncello, and it is ubiquitous with the Amalfi Coast and makes a perfect ending to any meal. It is a simple liquor made from vodka-like alcohol, sugar, and lemons.
Aperol Spritz
You will see spritzes on the menu at almost every restaurant or bar. The most common is an Aperol spritz made of Aperol, Prosecco, and a splash of sparkling water. Aperol has a bitter and sweet taste with flavors of orange, rhubarb, and herbs. If you want something a little sweeter try the lemon spritz made with limoncello or a peach bellini.
Places to try in Positano: Il Tridente Positano, Paradise Lounge Bar, Franco’s Bar
Places to try in the town of Amalfi: Andrea Pansa, Taverna degli Apostoli
Places to try in Ravello: Ristorante Bella Vista Sul Mare, Ristorante Vittoria, Rossellinis
Places to try in Capri: Da Paolino, Ristorante Pizzeria Verginiello, Gran Caffe R. VUOTTO
Coffee
Espresso is serious business in all of Italy and you can see it everywhere. Most people start their day with an espresso that is rich and thick. I preferred a cappuccino along with my breakfast, as tradition has it in Italy – no cappuccinos after noon. Also, the price to enjoy your coffee standing at the bar is a fraction of what you will pay to sit at a table with service so take your pick. The best part of a coffee break in the Amalfi Coast is the view that comes along with it.
Places to try in Positano: Bar Internazionale, Collina Positano Bakery
Places to try in Amalfi town: Andrea Pansa
Places to try in Ravello: Sisina’s Snack Bar
Places to try in Capri: Gran Caffe R. VUOTTO
Wine
One of my favorite things about traveling is trying the regional wine. When on the Amalfi Coast look for wine from the Campania region which should be on the label. For a nice dry, full-bodied red try an Aglianico which is grown in the volcanic soil with tasting notes of pepper, leather, and dark stone fruit on the more tannic side. It pairs well with pasta alla Genovese, ragu, or other meat dish. For white try Falanghina which is a dry, light-bodied wine with a nice acidity and tasting notes of citrus, peach, honey, and almond perfect with seafood.
Tip #1: Service is usually included in the coperto and additional tip is not expected but appreciated.
Tip #2: Make reservations. I thought we didn’t need one for lunch and found that because of the ferries bringing in loads of tourists, it was very hard to find a place to eat especially in Positano. Just spend a little time planning and make reservations or be ok getting pizza or something to go.