Where to Eat in and Around Cagliari

This nine-room boutique hotel is decorated with murals and artworks by a Sardinian artist and has a gourmet restaurant that’s popular among locals. Book a table for dinner in the garden and savor contemporary Italian cuisine. The owners are behind Sardinia’s leading mussel farming and fishing company, so seafood is the restaurant’s strong suit. 

Sophie recommends this intimate restaurant in the center of Cagliari for contemporary cuisine paired with organic wine or craft beer. Put your faith in the talented chef and do one of the tasting menus—you won’t regret it.

Overlooking a scenic bay a ten-minute drive from the center of Cagliari, this family-run restaurant is a favorite for anniversaries and birthday celebrations. Start with an aperitivo at the adjacent Terrazze Calamosca, then head over here for traditional seafood dishes with a twist. (Be sure to book a table in advance.)

Sophie also suggests this sleek, modern restaurant where vinyl records play in the background and Sardinian cuisine is reinterpreted in innovative ways. 

Sophie recommends the namesake restaurant run by chef Luigi Pomata, who hails from Carloforte, the main town on the Isola di San Pietro, a small island just off the coast of Sardinia that’s famous for tuna fishing. Having grown up around his father Niccolo’s restaurant, Luigi went to work at important restaurants in New York and London before returning to Sardinia. In addition to an à la carte menu, he offers a couple of tasting menus, including a tuna-focused menu.

Another pick by Sophie is this bistro in the center of Cagliari that serves market-fresh food made with the freshest local ingredients. The menu changes daily based on what inspires the chef/owner Samuele.

According to Sophie, this seafood-focused restaurant right outside the city is “worth the short drive.” A display case showing the catch of the day greets you as you enter, tempting you with fresh shrimp, sea urchins, lobster, eels, tuna from Carloforte, and much more. This place is especially well known for its grilled seafood.

Located on a thin isthmus in the Lagoon of Nora, near an ancient Roman archeological site, this Michelin-starred restaurant is worth the 45-minute drive from Cagliari. Chef Francesco Stara transforms local ingredients, including fish from the lagoon and vegetables from surrounding farms, into artful dishes using techniques inspired by international cooking. The wine list features an ample selection of Sardinian wines, including many made with native grapes you won’t find elsewhere.

This family-run agriturismo in Santa Margherita di Pula, about 40 minutes from Cagliari, has a handful of simply furnished rooms and a restaurant that draws people for its honest, rustic home cooking in an enchanting setting. There’s no menu; instead, for €50 per person, you get a selection of antipasti (pecorino, salame, grilled or marinated vegetables and other small bites), two primi (including the owner’s delicate ravioli), porceddu, fruit, dessert, water and wine.

Right at the foot of the Bastion of Saint Remy, one of Cagliari’s most iconic landmarks, sits this historic café that’s been around since 1855. Grab a seat on the terrace or in the evocative interiors and refuel with an espresso or a light bite.

Up the street from the bustling Piazza Yenne, this casual bakery/café has a nice selection of sweet and savory treats, including salads, cornetti salati, and a wide variety of cakes available by the slice.