Where to Eat in Positano {2016 update}

Even though I live in Rome the most popular post here on my blog is about where to eat in Positano. So I thought I would update it and tell you about a few more places that we tried on our quick visit a few weekends ago.



The mercurial late spring weather gave us creatures of habit a good excuse to branch out from habitual haunts. Change is good.

Casa e Bottega
via Pasitea 100
Open Everyday 09:00-16:00

I love melty mozzarella grilled on lemon leaves, and pizza the size of a dinner plate and hot afternoons washed with cold white wine as much as the next girl, but after a few days of all that indulgence I am usually craving something green and healthy. Case e Bottega is the place to head when you need a fresh juice and a cold salad to offset your vacation eating. 

I had a beet, ginger, lemon juice and a salad with anchovies from Cetara and the season's first tomatoes.  Mark had a green juice made with spinach, apple and citrus and a cold rice salad with skewers of grilled vegetables. 

Love to shop? You don't have to leave your table! the glassware, ceramics, table linens and beach bags in the same soothing sea glass pallet as this cheerful cafe are all for sale.

Ristorante da Vincenzo
via Pasitea 172/178
+39 089 875 128

Dinner reservations recommended

We had planned on spending a lazy Saturday in Positano with our pal Holly who lives in Capri. The choppy sea had another plan stranding her on her island and making it clear that we would not be spending a day at the beach.  Holly's husband, Gianluca had arranged for us all to have lunch at da Vincenzo and despite only the two if us showing up for the reservation Vincenzo welcomed us like family. 

While we chatted about Instagram and restaurant life in a seasonal destination we started our very long and lazy lunch with deep fried zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta, anchovy and lemon zest. For antipasto Mark had a tomato stuffed with super-fresh gamberi rossi on top of a cloud of buffalo ricotta. My plate of tiny moscardini, fried with lemon and garlic and the skinniest, crispiest wisps of chili peppers was a revelation. For seconds we stayed with shellfish and I had the very traditional zuppe de cozze, a tomato-y mussel stew and Mark had linguine with three enormous scampi. We finished with fresh strawberries and a homemade delizie al limone, that was tart and creamy. 

After lunch stroll a few doors up to the new shop at #200 where you can find ceramics, small producer olive oil, liquors and such, tablecloths and glassware. All of it is pretty. 

Ristorante Santa Croce
via Nocelle, 19

089 811260 

The large gray cloud that had been hanging on top of the mountain for days decided to make it's way down to the beach so in the spirit of if you can't beat them, join them, we headed up to Nocelle. Nocelle is a town at the end of the (very narrow, very twisty) read at the top of the mountain that rises above Positano. The fog was thick, but we wandered up and down the steps to the main square, which probably has an incredible view on a sunny day. If you are doing the Walk of the Gods make a note that there is a stand in the piazza selling water, cold lemon juice, and icy lemon granite. 

After our exploring we found the restaurant and sat down in front of an enormous picture window to a complete fogged in view, but as soon as our wine and water arrived the sun started to burn through revealing an incredible sight of Positano far far below us. We were so high up that we were looking down on a hawk!

We began with a plate of grilled vegetables and a selection of local cheese and cured meats; a braid of fresh mozzarella, honey and walnut topped ricotta and a very delicious olive and ham stuffed smoked provolone. For pasta I chose the very homey and traditional genovese, which is a slow cooked onion and beef stew that Santa Croce adds tiny pieces of smoked provolone to, an addition I heartily approve. Mark's paccheri with octopus and squid was also excellent. 

Collina Positano Bakery
Via C. Colombo, 1/3
Fantastic pastries, takeout coffee, craft beers and a terrific wine selection Collina Positano Bakery has all of this and more. Make sure you include a stop here at some point in your visit.