Food is no longer just part of the holiday; it’s becoming the reason to travel. In fact, insights from a report by Italian travel specialists Citalia reveal that over two in five (42%) travellers say food and drink is the most important factor when selecting a destination. Fine dining experiences (28%) and wine tasting and vineyard tours (27%) rank among the most appealing activities, reinforcing how sharing incredible meals creates connection, not just with the people we travel with, but with the culture and community around us.
The appetite for gastronomic travel is evident online too, with searches for “Italian food culture” exceeding 5,000 in the past three months and #dinnerwithaview amassing over 10.4k TikTok videos of golden hour plates by the sea. Against this backdrop, Italy’s coastline is setting the table for food led travel, serving up long lunches on the Amalfi Coast, seafood along the Ligurian Sea and sunset aperitivi in Sicily. With this in mind, Heather Green, Head of Product at Citalia, has revealed her pick of the coastal restaurants worth travelling for, chosen for both their cuisine and their setting.
1. La Sponda – Positano
What dish to try: Spaghetti with lobster
Best time to eat: Dinner at sunset
Where to stay: Palazzo Murat
La Sponda is the kind of restaurant you plan a holiday around. This Michelin-starred dining room is famously illuminated by hundreds of candles each evening, creating an atmosphere that feels as memorable as the menu itself. Here, classic Mediterranean cooking is elevated, like the spaghetti with lobster fished from the waters around the Li Galli islands. It’s long been admired not just by guests, but by culinary greats such as Massimo Bottura for its seamless blend of flavour and setting.
Heather explains “It’s best enjoyed as sunset dinner here well in advance and making time for a relaxed afternoon exploring Positano. The golden light over the coastline, the music, the candlelight, it becomes a full sensory experience.”
By day, embrace the Amalfi rhythm with a boat trip to Capri or a leisurely coastal passeggiata. Pair your culinary highlight with a stay at the elegant Palazzo Murat in the heart of Positano. As Heather adds, “Staying somewhere central like Palazzo Murat means you can truly savour the evening without worrying about logistics, this is what transforms a beautiful dinner into a seamless food led escape.”
2. Le Dune – South coast Sardinia
What dish to try: Bottarga-topped pasta
Best time to eat: Long coastal lunch or aperitivi at dusk
Where to stay: Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia
On Sardinia’s south coast, Le Dune blends beach club ease with thoughtful seaside cooking. The menu celebrates island flavours, grilled catch of the day, seafood spaghetti and bottarga-topped pasta, served with uninterrupted views across Campana Beach.
Heather explains: “Le Dune is all about embracing Sardinia’s natural beauty. A long lunch works perfectly here, though early evening drinks as the sun sets are equally special.”
Between meals, access stunning panoramic views of turquoise coves from the Chia Tower (Torre di Chia) or explore some of the local archaeological sites of Nora by just taking a short drive to Pula. Base yourself at Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia, where comfort meets white sand shorelines. “It’s relaxed but refined, exactly what you want from a Sardinian escape,” Heather adds.
3. Ristorante Sarri – Liguria
What dish to try: Seafood crudo with Ligurian olive oil
Best time to eat: Dinner, when the complete tasting menu is in full flow
Where to stay: Royal Hotel Sanremo
On Liguria’s Imperia Coast, Ristorante Sarri is a destination for those who plan their travels around the freshest catch. Led by Michelin-starred chef Andrea Sarri, with sea bass tartare, fish carpaccio and seasonal pasta shaped by what’s landed that morning on the menu.
Heather points out “This is a place to experience in the evening, when the full seasonal menu is available. Liguria is all about simplicity and quality, the olive oil, the citrus, the freshness of the fish, and Sarri captures that beautifully.”
Spend your days exploring Porto Maurizio’s pastel hued old town, strolling along the Riviera dei Fiori or visiting a local olive oil frantoio for a true taste of the region, before retreating to the elegant Royal Hotel Sanremo. As Heather notes, “Pairing exceptional dining with a relaxed seaside base allows you to enjoy Liguria at its natural pace, unhurried, authentic and entirely centred around flavour.”
4. Ristorante Lo Scoglio – Amalfi Coast
What dish to try: Spaghetti alla Nerano – the restaurant’s signature dish of fried zucchini and Provolone del Monaco (highlighted by Stanley Tucci)
Best time to eat: A leisurely lunch that rolls into early evening
Where to stay: Hotel Marincanto
After a morning swimming in the sheltered coves of Marina del Cantone, or walking the coastal paths above Nerano, settle in at Ristorante Lo Scoglio, a third-generation family restaurant set directly above the sea. Founded in 1958, it’s known for ultra-fresh seafood and ingredients from the family farm, a reputation cemented by its appearance on Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy.
The signature spaghetti alla Nerano is a must, alongside daily crudo and grilled local fish. Heather says “One of my favourite ways to experience this is for lunch or early dinner, when the sun is low and the light shimmers across Marina del Cantone. It’s seasonal cooking in its most beautiful setting.”
She also recommends staying at Hotel Marincanto, a chic sea view base near Positano: “Staying close to the coast means you can balance time on the water with memorable dining, effortless and beautifully Italian.”
5. La Pineta – Tuscany
What dish to try: Octopus with peas, plums and almonds
Best time to eat: Lunch, barefoot on the sand
Where to stay: Augustus Hotel and Resort
On the sands of Marina di Bibbona, La Pineta offers the rare pleasure of Michelin-starred dining with your feet in the sand. Run by the Messina family, it champions exceptional Tuscan produce – from octopus with peas, plums and almonds to spaghettini with mussels, mint and lemon.
Heather Green suggests “La Pineta feels effortlessly special because it doesn’t try too hard, you’re dining barefoot on the beach, yet the sourcing and technique are exceptional. I’d suggest timing your visit for lunchtime, when the sea and sunshine become part of the experience.”
Start the day swimming or cycling through the coastal pine forests or head inland to Bolgheri’s celebrated vineyards. Stay at Augustus Hotel and Resort, where private beaches and elegant gardens create a refined Tuscan retreat. “Combining relaxed beachfront dining with a polished resort nearby gives you the best of both worlds,” Heather adds.
6. Grotta Palazzese – Puglia
What dish to try: Sea bass, scallops, lobster and caviar – showcasing Adriatic seafood
Best time to eat: Dinner, arriving before sunset
Where to stay: Il Melograno
Suspended inside a limestone cave above the Adriatic, Grotta Palazzese is one of Italy’s most theatrical dining rooms. Once used for 18th-century banquets, it’s now led by Apulian-born chef Martino Ruggieri, whose tasting menus showcase regional seafood and refined southern flavours.
Explore Polignano a Mare’s old town or spend your time swimming and chilling at Lama Monachile, the iconic cove beneath the town’s bridge Monachile, before retreating to Il Melograno, a serene 16th-century masseria surrounded by olive groves. “Balancing such a striking dinner with a peaceful countryside stay makes the whole experience feel beautifully considered. This is a restaurant you visit for the drama, so arrive before sunset so you can watch the sky change colour as you dine” Heather emphasises.
7. Da Gemma – Amalfi Coast
What dish to try: Linguine alle vongole
Best time to eat: Lunch after exploring Amalfi Town
Where to stay: Hotel Marina Riviera
Welcoming guests since 1872, Da Gemma is one of Amalfi’s most enduring culinary addresses. Just steps from the Cathedral of Sant’Andrea, it blends historic charm with bright, seafood-focused Campanian cuisine and lemon inspired desserts. If embracing the past is up your street, try visiting the Amalfi Paper Museum that’s housed in an old paper mill dating back to the 13th century.
“Da Gemma has a wonderful sense of place, I love recommending it for lunch after exploring Amalfi, it feels rooted in the town’s heritage and culinary traditions,” shares Heather. “Staying within walking distance lets you soak up Amalfi’s atmosphere from morning to night,” Heather concludes. With both views over the Tyrrhenian Sea and a rooftop swimming pool, the Hotel Marina Riviera is the perfect choice, located just a five-minute walk away from the delights of Amalfi Town.
If you’re planning your next Italian escape, why not start with the reservation? Citalia’s team can design a tailormade coastal itinerary centred around the restaurants, and the sea views, worth travelling for.
