Lunch at Da Adolfo | Must-Do in Positano

When the summer season is in full swing, and the sunny, magical times on the Amalfi Coast are as dreams are made of, a staple on our must-do list is to head to the beautiful, picturesque town of Positano for a little fun in the sun, boat ride, and lunch at Ristorante Da Adolfo.

From the moment we arrive at the port in Positano, I feel a surge of happiness and eagerly await the arrival of the long wooden boat with the big, red fish mounted atop a tall pole at its front.

Just a short 5 minute complimentary boat ride away, lies this hip, shack-style restaurant in an oasis of tranquility and natural beauty, right on the tiny, pebbly Laurito beach.

And even though it is a short ride, it’s a memorable one. The coastal views are breathtakingly beautiful along the way—with the rows of colorful houses blanketing the dramatic cliffs straight down to the crystal-blue of the sea. Take a look!

 

Da Adolfo is a great place to go for a delicious lunch of simple, local specialties at the beach, laid-back Positano style. And if you happen to be a beach-goer/nature-lover, I also recommend planning to spend some time on the beach before or after your meal for a more lovely, local experience that arises all the senses. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the pristine nature that surrounds the restaurant —relax, take a swim in the sea, bask in the warmth of the sun, and enjoy the simplicity of the beautiful Italian lifestyle at its best, otherwise known as “La Bella Vita”.

It’s a great place for kids, too—good food and fun in the sun by the sea. The perfect paring!

Da Adolfo offers beach chair and umbrella rentals for the comfort of its patrons, but keep in mind reservations must be made at least a day in advance due to limited space and availability.

The restaurant offers a short-list of simple, local specialties to choose from, which are often presented on a large, colorful chalkboard, or quickly recited by one of the waiters that are usually wearing a Da Adolfo tee-shirt, bathing suit and flip-flops.

Here’s ‘Adolfo’s’ son, Sergio, who runs the delicious show, and his beautiful wife Miriam.

At Da Adolfo you can count on friendly service, good food and chilled local wine (with sliced peaches, if you like), and a pleasant, relaxed ambiance. Plus, lovely views of the crystal-blue sea, steep cliffs covered in greenery, and beautiful sky.

To begin the meal, try some of the local favorites, like the mozzarella grilled on lemon leaves…

their famous mussel soup…

and the grilled freshly-caught octopus or anchovies, or a mixture of both.

First course-wise, try one of the simple classics, like spaghetti with clams or mussels, or spaghetti with lobster and tomato. Or else, try one of the house specialties, like the homemade gnocchi (little potato dumplings) in tomato sauce with flying squid and zucchini…

or the spaghetti with a sweet Italian pepper pesto sauce, which is an excellent choice. Follow up with the fresh catch of the day (whole fresh fish)—their signature second course dish—which is always grilled to delicious perfection, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil, and served with lemon wedges.

On our recent visit, we capped off the meal with their tasty version of tiramisu (the classic Italian dessert made with ladyfinger cookies, expresso, marscapone, and heavy cream), but we usually go with the typical southern Italian-flow and order a pile of watermelon slices on a plate. Must say, both are always fresh and delicious, delightful in fact, but for me there’s nothing quite like a cool slice of juicy watermelon on a hot summer day at the beach to finish off the meal perfectly.

≈

Open for lunch only. Reservations for the restaurant and boat shuttle service required. The shuttle leaves the port in Positano from 10 am to 1 pm, every 30 minutes. And returns, from 4 pm on…

For more information → Ristorante Da Adolfo

Address: Via Laurito, 40, 84017, Positano, Italia

Tel: 39 089 875022

Email: info@daadolfo.com