On the Amalfi Coast, the saying “love passes through the stomach” gains a complete meaning; the gods of cuisine ( long before the Michelin age  ) endowed this land and its inhabitants with some really ex-tra-or-di-na-ry powers and skills of cooking.

Colazione, pranzo, aperitivo, cena (you don`t need Google translate, do you?) can be decadent and delicate, fine and stunning, flavorful and creative, as you wish, dream or expect.

And in order not to keep you waiting any longer and go straight to tasting, here`s my list of restaurants (most of them in Positano) but also two with a view, one from Ravello and one from the nearby Amalfi:

1. Da Vincenzo, which is no.1 to my mind, I admit, it`s genuine, classic, traditional, delightful, what else to say?… it has everything! The food is, as you can presume, typical of the area-pepper stuffed with vegetables and tuna, parmigiana with zucchini and octopus plus grilled fish and seafood, a great variety of pasta, such as those with clams, potatoes and parmesan or spaghetti with baby squid. And the desserts get an A from me. Bonus: the evening is amazing on the terrace, you can have dinner by candlelight.

2. Next2 was born out of the passion for gastronomy and design of its owner and is the result is more than successful. Besides the great cibo they make, the restaurant organizes cooking classes, too, as the Casa Mele does. They have fish and seafood, but also pasta and meat-based dishes.

3. Bruno is the typically coast restaurant, Mediterranean, chic and fancy, with tables on the terrace that offers a splendid view over the colorful houses on the hillsides, but also super-duper dishes. If you want to try paccheri (pasta) here, with fish and egg-plants plus extra yummy tomatoes, or a smoked fish salad with rucola and parmesan +mix fish grill or gnocchi with fresh and juicy seafood, go for it!

4. Casa Mele impressed me with its exciting, eclectic and original design, with modern touches, but also with its concept of open kitchen, with a chef! I recommend octopus in chick pea, cream soup and pasta with zucchini and anchovy, honey and fish. Ultra-cozy and welcoming ambiance!

5. Pe Buca di Baco You can find Buca di Baco in the harbor and has something of the Italian dolce vita, that makes you fall in love with it on the spot. The food here is true and extremely good; I recommend the grilled squid and the octopus in tomato sauce. Good!

6. And if you still haven`t had enough of the Amalfi delicacies, I have another ace up my sleeve: ChezBlack, inPositano, is, as it seems, a “fave of the stars” with a view of the harbor and extra fancy atmosphere. Besides the traditional specialties, that are all #sogoodthatyoulickyourfingers, they have a great variety of pasta and the dish of the day, too which is obviously in tandem with the rest. Careful!: it is always full, so don`t forget to book in advance!

7. La Cambusa is already steeped in the history of Positano, as it has stood there for several decades, since it was a tiny, fishing restaurant, with simple dishes, made from local ingredients, always fresh and of good quality. The menu includes fish and seafood only, ”picked up” every day and “arranged” in different ways; I recommend sardines and shrimps with lemon sauce and garlic or the famous and tasty zuppa di pesce and mix fish grill. Golosissimo!

And if you fancy 3 more sophisticated restaurants with a super view, too, here they are:

1. Santa Caterina from Santa Caterina di Amalfi Hotel, shouldn`t miss from the bucket list of the marvelous things you can find on the Amalfi Coast, mainly for the connoisseurs of the Italian gourmet. The view and the terraces are gorgeous, the décor is just as spectacular, stylish and exquisite, and the culinary creations are perfect, as the old school serving. The pea cream and ravioli with mushrooms are heaven on earth!

2. When you feel like luxury, sophisticated and with a Michelin star, La Sponda ( from Le Sirenuse Hotel, din Positano) is exactly the  spot you are looking for. The panorama over the village is lovely, the interior décor and the terrace can exalt even the most querulous person, and chef Genaro Russo knew how to skillfully and perfectly combine the freshness and the unique taste of the local ingredients with the Italian recipes and his passion for gastronomy.

3. Sigilgaida from the Villa Rufolo from the magnificent Ravello definitely needs to be tried for its extra mega view of the Villa gardens and coast, for its amazing pasta, for its setup,for the inclination toward organic and fresh ingredients. Have I been convincing enough?