Our top recommendations out and about
Sunset bars and restaurants
Here are a few of our favourite bars and restaurants to take in a fantastic scenic sunset with all the right vibes.
The location of this restaurant speaks for itself. This place is probably our favourite place to pop into for an amazing romantic sunset cocktail. Walk ins accepted for the bar.
Reserving a table in advance for the upmarket seafood restaurant is highly recommended. Great restaurant for a special occasion or celebration.
Note: The head chef left here at the end of 2023, to open his own restaurant ‘Nakoa’. We do not know if the food is still as good for 2024, as we have not returned yet.
68 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
La Paillote
The location of this restaurant speaks for itself. This place is probably our favourite place to pop into for an amazing romantic sunset cocktail. Walk ins accepted for the bar.
Reserving a table in advance for the upmarket seafood restaurant is highly recommended. Great restaurant for a special occasion or celebration.
Note: The head chef left here at the end of 2023, to open his own restaurant ‘Nakoa’. We do not know if the food is still as good for 2024, as we have not returned yet.
High up in the historic ‘Castello’ area in town, this place boasts an amazing sunset to have an aperitivo, have dinner or a late night drink.
183 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Caffè Libarium Nostrum
35 Via Santa CroceHigh up in the historic ‘Castello’ area in town, this place boasts an amazing sunset to have an aperitivo, have dinner or a late night drink.
A relatively new place offering music, cocktails and food under exotic umbrellas in front of the port of Sant’ Elmo. Booking a table is recommended
Bacan Cagliari
Calata MercedariA relatively new place offering music, cocktails and food under exotic umbrellas in front of the port of Sant’ Elmo. Booking a table is recommended
We haven’t tried the restaurant yet, but the aperitivo bar upstairs is a great place to have drinks and a few nibbles.
Sea Flower --Ristorante & Lounge Bar Pizzeria
Pennello di BonariaWe haven’t tried the restaurant yet, but the aperitivo bar upstairs is a great place to have drinks and a few nibbles.
A local institute, lo Scoglio is the place to have a romantic dinner right next to the sea. The seafood menu is pricey but you are paying for good quality traditional seafood and a very beautiful setting.
28 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ristorante Lo Scoglio
Località Spiaggiola S.EliaA local institute, lo Scoglio is the place to have a romantic dinner right next to the sea. The seafood menu is pricey but you are paying for good quality traditional seafood and a very beautiful setting.
Beautiful rooftop terrace, with great views of the sunset at the top of hotel Palazzo Tirso. Advance reservations recommended.
Cielo Rooftop Experience
Beautiful rooftop terrace, with great views of the sunset at the top of hotel Palazzo Tirso. Advance reservations recommended.
Lovely hidden garden in this hotel offering delicious aperitivos. Advance reservations recommended.
Casa Clàt
Lovely hidden garden in this hotel offering delicious aperitivos. Advance reservations recommended.
Restaurants Poetto
These are favourite local restaurants.
A reliable place for good fish and seafood dishes. This is a regular haunt for locals. The owners Alberto and Alina also have two other restaurants in via Sardegna in the town centre. The restaurant upstairs boasts lovely views of the sea and serves an a la carte seafood menu. Downstairs there is an informal pizzeria. Reserving a table in advance is highly recommended as it is very popular.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Antica Cagliari Lungomare e Terrazza
238 Viale Lungo Mare PoettoA reliable place for good fish and seafood dishes. This is a regular haunt for locals. The owners Alberto and Alina also have two other restaurants in via Sardegna in the town centre. The restaurant upstairs boasts lovely views of the sea and serves an a la carte seafood menu. Downstairs there is an informal pizzeria. Reserving a table in advance is highly recommended as it is very popular.
A trendy beach bar and restaurant at the start of poetto beach. Good quality food and nice atmosphere. On Thursdays evenings they have the sunset event ‘Bellini’ and on weekends there is a DJ playing ambient music from lunch til late. We recommend booking in advance for lunch and dinner.
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Le Palmette Beach Club - Cagliari
Lungomare PoettoA trendy beach bar and restaurant at the start of poetto beach. Good quality food and nice atmosphere. On Thursdays evenings they have the sunset event ‘Bellini’ and on weekends there is a DJ playing ambient music from lunch til late. We recommend booking in advance for lunch and dinner.
A typical Cagliari restaurant serving fish and seafood. Nice location overlooking the port.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
La Pirata Due La Vendetta
Via Marina PiccolaA typical Cagliari restaurant serving fish and seafood. Nice location overlooking the port.
Great casual restaurant that serves up typical Italian seafood, pasta, mains etc. Good value for money.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Otium
128 Viale Lungo Mare PoettoGreat casual restaurant that serves up typical Italian seafood, pasta, mains etc. Good value for money.
Restaurants in town centre
There are an abundance of restaurants in the town centre, but it’s difficult to know which ones serve good food. Here is a round up of our personal favourites.
You will find their new sister restaurant at poetto, but this is the original one, a very popular traditional restaurant serving good quality, reasonably priced seafood dishes.
69 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Antica Cagliari
49 Via SardegnaYou will find their new sister restaurant at poetto, but this is the original one, a very popular traditional restaurant serving good quality, reasonably priced seafood dishes.
Great historic restaurant serving Cagliari’s specialities. The food is so fresh that they serve the day’s catch and there is no set menu. It’s pretty chaotic but great fun!
50 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Trattoria Lillicu
78 Via SardegnaGreat historic restaurant serving Cagliari’s specialities. The food is so fresh that they serve the day’s catch and there is no set menu. It’s pretty chaotic but great fun!
Another institution in Cagliari, high end restaurant with excellent food and service.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Da Marino al St. Remy
7 Via S. Salvatore da HortaAnother institution in Cagliari, high end restaurant with excellent food and service.
Lovely little restaurant serving excellent traditional Sardinian food with a twist. A little expensive but worth it.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ristorante Sa Piola
3 Vico I Santa MargheritaLovely little restaurant serving excellent traditional Sardinian food with a twist. A little expensive but worth it.
If you want traditional Sardinian specialities, then this is the place to go!
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sa Domu Sarda Cagliari
51 Via SassariIf you want traditional Sardinian specialities, then this is the place to go!
Fashionable historic bar and restaurant where people go to people watch and be seen.
60 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Antico Caffè
10 Piazza CostituzioneFashionable historic bar and restaurant where people go to people watch and be seen.
Our favourite pizzeria at the moment. In a lovely setting, they do amazing pizzas and cocktails. Their Bloody Mary is highly recommended!
Maiori
1 Vico LogudoroOur favourite pizzeria at the moment. In a lovely setting, they do amazing pizzas and cocktails. Their Bloody Mary is highly recommended!
Sushi is extremely popular here, and this restaurant in the heart of Marina area has lovely interiors creating a nice atmosphere.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Toyo Sushi Cagliari
81 Via Lodovico BaylleSushi is extremely popular here, and this restaurant in the heart of Marina area has lovely interiors creating a nice atmosphere.
Great little Japanese street food place, for a quick lunch or dinner.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bento
14 Via Enrico GianturcoGreat little Japanese street food place, for a quick lunch or dinner.
This street food joint has four outlets in cagliari serving up poke bowls. There is one even along poetto beach.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Makito Casteddu
26 Via Giovanni Maria DettoriThis street food joint has four outlets in cagliari serving up poke bowls. There is one even along poetto beach.
Great place if you’re in a large group and have different preferences as there is something for everyone. This place serves up good quality Italian dishes as well as pizzas and sushi.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
S'Incontru
74 Viale TriesteGreat place if you’re in a large group and have different preferences as there is something for everyone. This place serves up good quality Italian dishes as well as pizzas and sushi.
Great place for brunch, lunch or dinner. Friendly staff and good honest food.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ex Tipografia Cagliari
80 Largo Carlo FeliceGreat place for brunch, lunch or dinner. Friendly staff and good honest food.
New upmarket restaurant ‘Terra’ in the hotel. There is also wonderful rooftop bar for sunset aperitivos on the rooftop. Advance reservation recommended.
Palazzo Tirso Cagliari Mgallery
New upmarket restaurant ‘Terra’ in the hotel. There is also wonderful rooftop bar for sunset aperitivos on the rooftop. Advance reservation recommended.
New on the restaurant scene in Cagliari. The ex head chef from Paillote Luca, has finally opened his own restaurant. Specializing in dry aged fish, it is truly a feast for the eyes. Luca has put his years of experience cooking all over the world, into making a truely unique restaurant. You can expect high quality modern cuisine, we have tried here and highly recommend it.
Nakoa
New on the restaurant scene in Cagliari. The ex head chef from Paillote Luca, has finally opened his own restaurant. Specializing in dry aged fish, it is truly a feast for the eyes. Luca has put his years of experience cooking all over the world, into making a truely unique restaurant. You can expect high quality modern cuisine, we have tried here and highly recommend it.
Best places for breakfast
Start the day like a ‘cagliaritano’.
La Speciale
30 Via Pasquale CugiaBest conchiglia in town
Pasticceria Piemontese
4 Via Francesco Cocco OrtuBest cannoncino in town
Bar/Pasticceria Equador
387 Corso Vittorio Emanuele IIBest brioche in town
Coccodi Dolce e Salato Cagliari
9 Via Santa MargheritaEx Tipografia Cagliari
80 Largo Carlo FelicePasticceria Tramer
11 Piazza Martiri D'ItaliaAmazing cream filled meringues!
Caffè Svizzero Cagliari
6 Largo Carlo FeliceBest ice cream joints
A holiday in Italy is incomplete without a good ice cream!
Prize winning gourmet gelateria and probably my favourite.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I Fenu gelateria e pasticceria
35 Piazza Galileo GalileiPrize winning gourmet gelateria and probably my favourite.
Best Ice cream place along poetto, and the queue affirms this!
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bobocono Beach
248 Viale Lungo Mare PoettoBest Ice cream place along poetto, and the queue affirms this!
Gli Stefini - Artigiani del Gelato
194 Via Giovanni Maria DettoriKremet Gelateria
22 Piazza YenneBoat Tours
Hop aboard this lovely vintage Gozzo Cilentano for a sail around the local area. Various tours available, departing form Marina Piccola.
Escursioni in barca attorno alla sella del Diavolo - Meet Santiago
Hop aboard this lovely vintage Gozzo Cilentano for a sail around the local area. Various tours available, departing form Marina Piccola.
Beaches
Spiaggia di Porto Giunco
Cala Sinzias Beach
SP18