The best restaurants Ile d'Elbe

A bar-restaurant open only in season, located on the small beach of Madonna delle Grazie, ideal for a simple lunch in the shade on the terrace, facing the waves. Its rustic decoration and succinct menu do not prevent this address from being an institution! The strong personality of the owner, Tosca Sardi, has something to do with it. The seafood cuisine, local, simple and tasty too. The place seems to have survived the tourist wave, and we like that! As well as the beautiful sunsets from the terrace...

Holy Gianni! Extra fresh seafood, cooked with simplicity, to which are added specialities from the Apulia region, such as the famous orecchiette. This family restaurant, which has been in operation for over forty years, offers a homemade guarantee in a simple, relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. The location is central but quiet, just next to the port of Portoferraio. It is better to book, especially in the evening in season.

There are places that keep their souls intact over time. This is the case of La Bussola, a piece of Portoferraio's history, a meeting point for the Elboe generations and tourists. Its terrace, on the beach of Les Ghiaie, was the dance floor for summer evenings. Today, the restaurant has been renewed and Chef Filippo offers an affordable menu, a clever blend of tradition (all'Elbana octopus, cacciucco, fish carpaccio) and more unusual dishes (spaghetti with tuna belly or three fish eggs).

The osteria PepeNero, run by the two friends Marco and Antonio, is a delicious and quiet place, where all the dishes are taken care of and prepared on the spot with fresh products. Tagliata with arugula and parmesan, nettle gnocchetti with tomato and basil, spaghetti with seafood, tagliolini with the fish of the day... The menu, which is constantly evolving, favours the finest seasonal ingredients. It also offers several tasting menus, from three to five courses, to discover the flavours of the moment on the island of Elba.

A well placed restaurant, offering a beautiful, comfortable and shaded terrace, certainly on the side of the road (this is often the case in Rio Marina) but with a nice view of the port. The address is famous, it offers a varied, family, robust and quality guaranteed cuisine. We come here to buy the fresh fish of the day, at an honest price for the quality of the dishes. The dessert assortment closes the meal well for the sweet beaks. Classic but entirely homemade.

Family-run trattoria-pizzeria with a large original terrace, decorated with different tables (wooden, marble, terracotta...) and refreshed by a pleasant sea air. Simple, fresh cuisine at reasonable prices. The service is not constant, however. But the focaccia is unbeatable! The wood-fired pizzas are a great success. For dessert, a schiaccia briaca (typical cake from Elba), made by the mamma, isto try! Claudio Caffieri has been in charge of the Mambo for many years and is a well-known figure in Rio Marina.

This excellent restaurant is part of the Pilade Hotel, in operation since 1965. Open to all and frequented equally by locals, this place has everything to please. Beautiful terrace, typical Tuscan dishes, grills, home made olive oil and a very good wine list. The carnivores will be satiated, Elio and Angelo will prepare you succulent pieces of meat, grilled on a wood fire. Some even come from far away to appreciate the reputation of these two cooks, whose philosophy could be defined in two words: "carne diem"!

Small bar-restaurant, rather rustic, with a warm family atmosphere. The kind of place where you mingle with the locals. Da Cipolla is located in front of the main square of Rio nell'Elba. The traditional island dishes are highlighted (sburrita, stoccafisso alla riese, gurguglione...), as well as fish dishes. Take advantage of the pretty shaded terrace around an ancient fountain to relax. On some summer evenings, concerts are organised there.

The simple and cosy terrace, the relaxed atmosphere and the careful cooking make the success of this restaurant-pizzeria. Fresh and varied antipasti, dishes well in their plate, especially the tasty tagliata served with rocket and parmesan, as well as the fine and crispy pizzas. Desserts also work, such as the traditional schiaccia briaca. At the height of the season, the terrace is quickly taken over, so a piece of advice, better to reserve!

Restaurant Da Ledo was the first tourist establishment in Lacona, opened by Bolano Ledo in the 1940s. Since 1992, it has been brilliantly managed by the Barresi family. On the Lacona waterfront, practically with your feet in the water, the terrace of this restaurant-pizzeria offers a charming panorama that attracts many people. And rightly so! On the menu, a cuisine dedicated to seafood and excellent pizzas cooked over a wood fire. There is also a bar service with breakfast in the morning, ice creams and aperitifs, with a view of the sea.

In Viticcio Bay, just a few metres from the sea, this family restaurant is a famous island meeting place for a romantic dinner at sunset. From the terrace with sea view you can admire neighbouring Corsica and the island of Capraia, with one of the many dishes typical of the Elboise kitchen.

At the foot of Nisportino beach, north of Nisporto and west of Rio Marina, stands Luigi's delicious restaurant. Don't pay attention to the somewhat Spartan décor, the important thing is on your plates! La zuppetta di mare is fabulous, but you can also find pizzas baked over a wood fire. You dine while listening to the sound of the surf, on the beach, very popular with the French in the 1960s (so much so that fireworks were fired there on 14 July, recalls a former miner!).