Sorrento is a must-visit location for anyone coming to Campania and one of the top reasons is for its amazing food and drink scene. You’ll find a large range of dining options from budget-friendly take out to a Michelin star restaurant, with everything in between. On this page I’ll cover:

• A brief introduction to Sorrento
• Top tips for dining and drinking in Sorrento
• Our favorite places to eat in Sorrento
• Coffee in Sorrento
• Gelato in Sorrento
• Aperitivo and drinking in Sorrento
• Cheap eats in Sorrento
• Seafood in Sorrento
• Mid-level and regular restaurants in Sorrento
• High end dining options in Sorrento
• Non-Italian restaurant options in Sorrento
• Eating near Sorrento

If you’ve found this guide, there is a strong chance you are already planning a trip to Sorrento, or are thinking about planning one to our favorite town in Campania.

If this isn’t the case, here’s a brief introduction to Sorrento:

• Sorrento is located 25km (as the crow flies) from Naples and most easily reached via train or ferry making it a great base to stay in and explore famous sites like Pompeii, Capri and Amalfi Coast.
• This town is quintessentially Italian with beautiful streets and piazzas, sweeping views and vistas of the sea, welcoming and friendly locals and only the best quality produce – you will struggle find somewhere which embodies ‘La Dolce Vita’ – The Sweet Life – more than Sorrento!
• Sorrento’s history stretches back over 2000 years and there is no shortage of things to do here – you’ll find something for everyone packed in to this relatively small town.

Before sharing our favorite places to eat in Sorrento I want to provide some insights based on our years of experience:

Sorrento is an extremely popular destination, especially during the busy months of the year (June–September). As such, you should absolutely reserve a table anywhere you really want to eat and drink in advance.

This doesn’t apply to breakfast, take outs, coffee or gelato, but does apply to everything else; lunch, dinner and aperitivo.

The majority of restaurants in Sorrento are focused on Italian cuisine, including Campanian/Neapolitan cuisine.

If you are the kind of person who likes to enjoy lots of different types of cuisines during your travels, Sorrento might not be the best place for you. That said, there are some non-Italian options to be found and we detail them on this page.

While there are several lower-cost places to get food and drinks in Sorrento, on average the prices are above the Italian average. For instance, in my experience the average cost of a spritz in Italy is 7€-9€ but in Sorrento you will be looking at 10€-12€ in regular bars, and up to 25€ in the high-end establishments.

That said, like anywhere you will get what you pay for – the most expensive are made with the highest-quality ingredients, come with the best service (and fantastic complimentary snacks) and incredible views of the Bay of Naples.

In Sorrento you won’t find anywhere that offers exclusively vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free options. This is because most restaurants (and this in the case in Italy generally) are very happy to cater to different diets if you ask them to do so.

More often than not, dishes can be customised to remove elements (such as meat/fish on pizzas, in salads etc) or ingredients can be substituted – such as swapping out traditional pasta for a gluten-free alternative. All you have to do is ask if it’s not clear from the menus.

Sara and I don’t hide the fact that Sorrento is our favorite place in Campania – we have been visiting regularly for holidays and work since 2014, and as such have some go-to places that we love to eat and drink at every time we visit:

• Terrazza Vittoria at Hotel Continental – This is our top place to eat if we are looking for a more intimate dining experience, or celebrating a special occasion. The team here is second-to-none in Sorrento and the views of the Bay of Naples are impossible to top. The food is more refined than what you find at a traditional restaurant and everything we’ve had here has been excellent.

• Inn Bufalito – On every trip I have ever made to Sorrento, I have eaten here. Even if I am only passing through for work, I will always find time to have lunch at Inn Bufalito. Their speciality is buffalo produce, as their name suggests, and anyone who enjoys meat or cheeses will not be disappointed. This is definitely one of the best restaurants in Sorrento for us, and guests we’ve brought here have agreed!
• Ikura Sushi – If, like us, you occasionally want a break from Italian cuisine, head here and take advantage of their reasonably priced all-you-can-eat menu with a huge range of Asian options. Both Japanese and Chinese dishes are on the menu, with lots of vegetarian options also.

Finding somewhere good for coffee in Sorrento is easy. All the bars and cafes in town serve tasty coffee in our experience so anywhere you go is guaranteed to give you that caffeine fix needed for sightseeing, shopping or pursuing outdoor activities in the surrounding countryside.

If you’re looking for a sit-down coffee spot (versus the traditional Italian approach of having it at the bar), we’d recommend going to Bar Fauno in Piazza Tasso.

This cafe is an institution in Sorrento and the best place in town to people watch. Situated on the main square of Sorrento you can sit back and relax, watching visitors and locals alike pass by.

On the opposite end of the spectrum from coffee, not all gelato places in Sorrento offer good gelato. Unfortunately Sorrento has plenty of low-quality gelato stores, offering artificially flavored scoops to tourists who are unfamiliar with what makes good gelato.

The best way to recognise the authentic gelato places is how they display their product and the color of it. If the gelato is stacked high (making it look incredible and inviting admittedly), and/or is brightly colored, this tells you that the gelato is full of preservatives stopping it from melting and has been made with artificial ingredients.

Authentic gelato should not be exposed, so it can be maintained at an optimal, lower temperature. Look for places that either store their gelato in tubs out of sight, or shallow, smaller trays that keep it constantly cooled.

Our go-to place is Fresco Sorrento, where everything has been made with authentic ingredients, following traditional methods. They’re happy to let you try a few flavors before making your decision, and also do a great granita!

Aperitivo is my favorite meal of the day (I’m not joking), and as such I take this sacred time before dinner very seriously whenever I’m in Sorrento.

Nine times out of ten you’ll find Sara and I at Terrazza Vittoria and Hotel Continental for aperitivo as the quality of their drinks, their customer service and the views of Vesuvius are unrivalled.

That said, we also love La Pergola, located on Piazza Tasso. This intimate bar set in the gardens of the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is the perfect place for a special toast or to escape the crowds. While a cocktail costs around 25€ here, the ingredients are second to none and the peaceful surrounding makes having a drink here much more special.

However, aperitivo is a bit like getting coffee in Sorrento. If you enjoy a beer, glass of wine or cocktail before dinner, almost any bar in Sorrento is a good idea. Competition is fierce in this small town so the quality is high all round!

If you’re travelling to Sorrento on a budget there are plenty of cheap places to choose from. Yes, of course you can always get street food, but these places come with affordable prices but they still offer fantastic quality and service.

• For pizza, go to Basilico Italia near Sorrento’s train station. This large restaurant is great for a quick meal and for families, and very fairly priced.
• For sandwiches we love A’Marenna. This small place creates some of the most delicious sandwiches I’ve ever eaten (seriously), and is perfect for a quick lunch on the go.
• For pasta, check out Semola which offers classic Italian pastas at fantastic prices in a relaxed environment. If you’re not sure what to do one evening for dinner, this is the perfect no-nonsense place.