In short: Positano’s food is about seafood and lemons: scialatielli ai frutti di mare, fish of the day and delizia al limone. The best-known places to eat are Chez Black on the main beach, Da Adolfo on Laurito beach (reached by its own boat), La Tagliata and Il Ritrovo up in Montepertuso, and La Sponda at Le Sirenuse for a special evening. Book ahead from June to September, and remember many restaurants close from November to March.
Last updated: September 2026
Our drivers take guests to dinner in Positano every night of the season, and the question we hear most is the same: where should we eat? This is our short, honest answer: what to order, where to sit, and how to get there without climbing a thousand steps in evening shoes.
What to eat in Positano
The cooking of Positano is simple and local: fish landed in the morning, lemons from the terraces above the village, and pasta made by hand. These are the dishes to look for on the menu.
Where to eat in Positano
Restaurants in Positano fall into four groups: on the beach, reached by boat, up in the hills, and the special-occasion tables of the grand hotels. Here are the places our guests ask us about most.
Spiaggia Grande & Fornillo
Chez Black — A Positano institution on the main beach, known for seafood pasta and its view of the boats.
Beach restaurants at Fornillo — Simple, relaxed lunches with your feet almost in the sand, 10 minutes on foot from the centre.
Laurito beach
Da Adolfo — The legendary beach restaurant, reached by its own boat (look for the red fish on the mast) from the Positano pier. Grilled mozzarella on lemon leaves and fish of the day; book ahead.
Montepertuso & Nocelle
La Tagliata — Family-run, with a fixed menu of home-made antipasti, pasta and grilled meat, and a view over the whole coast.
Il Ritrovo — A long-standing trattoria in Montepertuso with traditional cooking and a cooking school.
In the village
La Sponda — The restaurant of Le Sirenuse hotel, lit by hundreds of candles every evening.
Zass at Il San Pietro — Fine dining at one of the coast’s most famous hotels, just outside the village.
Next2 and Da Vincenzo — Two favourites on Viale Pasitea for modern Amalfi Coast cooking at more relaxed prices.
Beyond Positano: worth the drive
Nerano and Marina del Cantone, on the Sorrento side, are where spaghetti alla Nerano was born; restaurants on the water make it a classic lunch or dinner trip, about 40 minutes by car. Ravello, an hour away, pairs dinner with the sunset over the coast, and in summer with the concerts of the Ravello Festival. In Amalfi, Da Gemma has served traditional cooking for generations.
These roads are narrow and winding, buses stop early and taxis are scarce at night. That is why many of our guests book a chauffeur by the hour: the driver takes you to dinner, waits, and brings you back to your hotel.
Getting around Positano for dinner
Positano is built on a cliff, with one road through the village and steps everywhere else. A private driver solves the uphill part of the evening.
- Private driver in Positano: pick-ups at your hotel and short rides on the coast
- Chauffeur by the hour: dinner in Ravello, Nerano or Amalfi, with the driver waiting
- Naples to Positano transfer: €200 per vehicle, door to door
Eating in Positano: frequently asked questions
What food is Positano famous for?
Seafood and lemons. Look for scialatielli ai frutti di mare, spaghetti with clams, grilled fish of the day, totani e patate (squid and potatoes) and, for dessert, delizia al limone, finished with a glass of limoncello.
Do I need to book restaurants in Positano?
In summer, yes, especially for dinner with a view and for beach restaurants at lunch. Book a few days ahead from June to September; in spring and autumn a day or two is usually enough.
Are restaurants in Positano open in winter?
Many close from November to March, when most hotels are closed too. A few stay open all year; always check with the restaurant before going.
How do I get to restaurants outside Positano, like Nerano or Ravello?
By private car. Nerano is about 40 minutes from Positano and Ravello about an hour, on winding roads with no late buses. A chauffeur by the hour drives you there, waits during dinner and takes you back.
Can I reach the beach restaurants at Laurito and Fornillo on foot?
Fornillo is a 10-minute walk from the main beach along a cliff path. Laurito, home of Da Adolfo, is reached by the restaurant's own boat from the Positano pier.