4 Best Restaurants in Sorrento and the Sorrentine Peninsula, Italy

Overlooking rows of olive trees that seem to run into the sea, this superb eatery is away from the throng, halfway between Sant'Agata and Massa Lubrense. Two huge, beamed dining rooms with brick archways, old chandeliers, antique mirrored sideboards, hundreds of mounted plates, and tangerine tablecloths make for an atmospheric place to dine.

With its sparkling spiaggia views and seafood freshly caught by local pescatori, it's hard not be lured by the siren charms of this prime place in Marina di Cantone. Expect lots of grilled fish, platefuls of small-bite antipasti di casa, and possibly the creamiest spaghetti alla Nerano on the planet.

In the spirit of the "slow food" movement, this colorful contemporary restaurant just off Piazza Sant'Antonino uses only local and seasonal ingredients of the highest quality in its nouvelle creations. Ask your waiter what inventive sea and land dishes make up the day's specials.

The fascinating cuisine here is based on old recipes from the various cultures—Norman and Moorish among them—that loom large in regional history. You can rely on the knowledgeable maître d' for an absorbing commentary on the various seafood dishes and advice on the right wine from a siege-ready cellar. Above the restaurant area is a select 11-room hotel (La Locanda del Capitano) run by the same family, with smart rooms overlooking the waterfront although can be noisy in the evening. Lodging prices ($$) include full beach facilities.