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Restaurant File: Ravello, Italy’s Alfresco & Romantic Dining
Best Seaside Terraces, Fine-Dining & Neapolitan Cuisine in Ravello, Italy
In the seaside town of Ravello, Italy, dining out is as much about cliffside restaurants with amazing views as it is about authentic, regional cuisine made from ultra-fresh seafood and locally grown produce. Romance and unforgettable panoramas abound in this magical spot on the Amalfi Coast, so bring a camera and settle in for several memorable meals (just go easy on the limoncello!) …
Cumpa' Cosimo
A beloved local eatery for more than sixty years, this authentic, family-owned restaurant close to the cathedral square is a must when visiting Ravello (notable patrons back in the day included Jackie O. and Gore Vidal). Expectant diners must often wait patiently to score a table in one of the two simple but attractive dining rooms. Weekends and summer evenings are especially busy, but guests at Palazzo Sasso or Hotel Caruso can sometimes secure advance bookings via their hotel concierges. At Cumpa Cosima, the homestyle regional specialties are prepared lovingly, much of them made with produce from the family's kitchen garden. The food is good, but not great—the convivial atmosphere, overseen by Italian-grandma-esque chef/proprietor Netta Bottone, is the reason to come!
Cumpa' Cosimo
44 Via Roma
Ravello, Salerno, Amalfi Coast 84010
Italy
+39 (0)89 857156
Rossellini's at Palazzo Sasso
Named after film stars Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman, and boasting two Michelin Stars, the fine-dining restaurant at the historic Palazzo Sasso is the place for a romantic, gastronomic experience, although the cuisine is a bit stuffy for my taste. Try to book a table on the candle-lit terrace overlooking the Mediterranean (expect lots of honeymooners), a spot I also recommend highly for lunch. (The indoor dining room, with elegant vaulted ceilings, is open only for dinner.) Be sure to ask the sommelier for tips on top local wines. For lunch I also like the hotel's new "Sasso Mare" beachside restaurant. Excellent.
Palazzo Sasso
28 Via San Giovanni del Toro
Ravello, Salerno, Amalfi Coast 84010
Italy
+39 (0)89 818181
Ristorante Garden
A hidden surprise! Given that this casual cliffside restaurant is run by the no-frills Albergo Garden hotel, it's not an obvious choice. Go for the breathtaking panorama overlooking the Bay of Salerno from the outdoor terraces, where they serve delicious regional cuisine in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere; great value for the price.
Ristorance Garden
4 Via Bocccaccio
Ravello, Salerno, Amalfi Coast 84010
Italy
+39 (0)89 857226
Il Flauto Di Pan at Villa Cimbrone
Do not visit Ravello without seeing the magnificent gardens and seaside terraces of Villa Cimbrone. Better yet? … have a leisurely lunch there in between strolling the grounds. The views from the historic villa-turned-hotel are renowned as among the most spectacular in the world! Book a table on the portico terrace and dine on fresh Neapolitan and Mediterranean cuisine (several organic ingredients are grown in the villa's own gardens). You can also eat at the more casual café or have drinks and light fare in the lovely "tea garden." Such a pretty setting! NB: Dinner is reserved for hotel guests only.
Villa Cimbrone
26 Via Santa Chiara
Ravello, Salerno, Amalfi Coast 84010
Italy
+39 (0)89 857459
Belvedere at Hotel Caruso
Ravello has an embarrassment of riches, as this is yet another gorgeous cliffside terrace for fine-dining! Hotel Caruso, an 11th-century palazzo hotel run by Orient-Express, sits at the highest point in Ravello. Go for lunch or dinner at its outdoor Belvedere restaurant, which serves regional and Neapolitan cuisine in a formal, quiet setting. Try the lobster medallions with green beans and oranges from Sorrento, or the home-made spaghetti with mussels and caciocavallo cheese on broccoli dry soup. Delicioso!
Hotel Caruso
2 Piazza San Giovanni Del Toro
Ravello, Salerno, Amalfi Coast 84010
Italy
+39 (0)89 858 801
Mama Agata Cooking Class & Lunch
How can you not trust the culinary skills of a jovial Italian woman called Mamma Agata, especially one who's prepared meals for the likes of Fred Astaire, Humphrey Bogart and Jackie O.? It's a family affair at Mamma Agata's home on the Amalfi coast, where she holds half-day cooking classes: her husband, Salvatore, tends to the organic garden and farm and makes homemade limoncello, and their daughter, Chiara, plays translator and hostess to English speaking visitors. Spend the morning learning from Mamma's cooking demonstrations, during which she prepares basic but delicious Italian staples, such as eggplant parmesan, spaghetti with tomato sauce, and chicken with herbs and lemon. Then everyone enjoys lunch on her terrace overlooking the Med, and caps off the feast with homemade limoncello. For a special romantic evening, you can arrange to have Mamma orchestrate a private dinner served on the terrace at sunset.
€185 per person for a half-day class with lunch and wine.
Mama Agata
9 Piazza San Cosma
Ravello, Salerno, Amalfi Coast 84010
Italy
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