Local heroes
From rustic warehouses to beachside classics with la dolce vita spirit, we reveal the best restaurants loved by locals in popular cruising destinations. Curated by Georgia Boscawen
Italy
Lo Scoglio
Marina del Cantone, Italy
Less of a hidden gem and more of a local institution, Lo Scoglio is famed for its southern Italian flavours. The al fresco restaurant’s deck sits precariously on a boulder, looking out over the sea in Marina del Cantone.
Since it was established in 1958, few things at Lo Scoglio have changed, contributing to the rustic charm that makes this restaurant famous. The menu is peppered with familiar favourites such as vongole, fresh fish and caprese salad. hotelloscoglio.com
Da Adolfo
Positano
Sitting on the shingle of Laurito beach, encircled by huge craggy cliffs, the red-canopied restaurant Da Adolfo is accessible only by boat (yours or theirs). It’s a classic spot and a local favourite that dates to 1966, serving unfussy regional food and wines from Positano. Specialities include fresh grilled fish, zuppa di cozze (mussel soup) and fresh fruit pie. This is traditional Italian cooking, served on hand-painted plates. daadolfo.com
Lo Scoglio’s terrace grill
Lo Scoglio’s terrace grill
Since it was established in 1958, few things at Lo Scoglio have changed, contributing to the rustic charm that makes this restaurant famous. The menu is peppered with familiar favourites such as vongole, fresh fish and caprese salad. hotelloscoglio.com
Da Adolfo
Positano
Sitting on the shingle of Laurito beach, encircled by huge craggy cliffs, the red-canopied restaurant Da Adolfo is accessible only by boat (yours or theirs). It’s a classic spot and a local favourite that dates to 1966, serving unfussy regional food and wines from Positano. Specialities include fresh grilled fish, zuppa di cozze (mussel soup) and fresh fruit pie. This is traditional Italian cooking, served on hand- painted plates. daadolfo.com
La Fontelina
Capri
One of the few spots in Capri that is located at sea level, La Fontelina is an effortlessly chic waterside restaurant set beneath a rustic straw-roofed pergola. The menu is seafood-heavy and filled with Italian classics, fresh pasta and daily off-menu treats. Diners look out over a rocky beach, strewn with blue and white parasols, and a seascape studded with superyachts heading to this special corner of the island. fontelina-capri.com
Diners look out over a rocky beach, strewn with blue and white parasols
La Cantina
San Fruttuoso
Opened in 1976 by Manuel Oneto, a fisherman with a talent for cookery, La Cantina certainly has humble beginnings. But over the years it has earned a place in the hearts of locals with its classically prepared seafood and characterful waterfront setting (in a former olive oil store house) spilling out onto the beach, in a small cove on the Portofino cape. Favourites include fresh fish cooked to Oneto’s original recipes, including a signature spaghetti alla pescatora (seafood spaghetti) and fritto misto di paranza (fried local fish). lacantinasanfruttuoso.it
Chef's pick
Riccardo Canella, Oro at Hotel Cipriani, a Belmond Hotel, Venice
"My top pick in Venice is Vino Vero, a wine spot with good vibes and interesting people to chat with; Trattoria da Bepi Già 54 is amazing for traditional food such as moeche (Venetian crab) and raw cuttlefish with artichokes; and Giorgione da Masa is a Japanese spot with local ingredients and good wines."
COURTESY VINO VERO
COURTESY VINO VERO
COURTESY VINO VERO Chef Riccardo Canella, executive chef of Oro at Hotel Cipriani, recommends Vino Vero in Venice as a great wine spot
COURTESY VINO VERO Chef Riccardo Canella, executive chef of Oro at Hotel Cipriani, recommends Vino Vero in Venice as a great wine spot
Greece
Spilia
Mykonos
Set over the water in the cave of Agia Anna, next to Kalafatis beach, Spilia is a bit of a secret. Focused on a Mediterranean-Mykonian culinary experience, the restaurant serves seafood caught just a few metres away, as well as an assortment of shellfish that diners can select from a small natural sea pool. This is an all-day spot, but the most magical time to visit is in the evening, when the restaurant is lit by candles. spiliarestaurant.gr
Dish above, and image below: Anithos Restaurant at the Danai hotel embraces traditional fare amid an opulent ambiance
Anithos Restaurant
Halkidiki
With immaculate white terraces overlooking the Aegean, the Danai hotel isn’t exactly a rustic affair; in fact its rather opulent with white sofas and modern beaded chandeliers. But it is worth making a slight detour for those cruising in northern Greece – its Anithos Restaurant is the place to find refined yet traditional Greek fare. Set right on the beach, the restaurant offers barbecues on the sand and a notable wine selection. thedanai.com
Chef's pick
YIANNIS GAVALAS
YIANNIS GAVALAS
Costas Tsingas, Pere Ubu at Kalesma, Mykonos
"Araklia in Iraklia, a tiny Cycladic island between Naxos and Ios. The restaurant sits on a hill with incredible views across the sea towards the neighbouring islets."
RAIMOND KLAVINS ON UNSPLASH
RAIMOND KLAVINS ON UNSPLASH
Spain
El Refectorium
Málaga
It’s been more than 50 years since it opened, but El Refectorium is still considered a reference point for traditional Spanish cuisine. The restaurant is on a mission to offer “sensible food” based on the best seasonal and locally sourced products. Diners here can gobble up salty anchovies with toast, baby red mullet from Málaga Bay and grilled octopus, tapas style. And with terracotta tiles, a wooden bar and a higgledy-piggledy table arrangement, the sense of tradition is palpable. elrefectorium.es
El Refectorium Malagueta, a fish restaurant in Málaga next to the Plaza de Toros, is considered one of the best in the city
SARA RAMOS Sensible food based on local seasonal ingredients is what El Refectorium in Málaga is all about
SARA RAMOS Sensible food based on local seasonal ingredients is what El Refectorium in Málaga is all about
El Xampanyet
Barcelona
Set along one of Barcelona’s narrow cobbled streets, the best way to find El Xampanyet is to follow the sound of enthusiastic Catalan voices – this place is no secret among locals. Revellers cram into the restaurant mainly for its own brand of sparkling white wine, but it is also a vibrant spot for small plates at lunch. Stand at the bar and pick from the ever-changing tapas, but you’re strongly advised to try the anchovies for which the restaurant is famed. elxampanyet.es
Tapas at El Xampanyet, a local favourite in Barcelona
Chef's picks
Marc Fosh of Marc Fosh Restaurant, Mallorca
“Sa Roqueta, a simple Spanish restaurant tucked away on a quiet street next to Portixol harbour. It’s famous for rice, fresh fish, lobster and prawns, all of which are caught locally and simply grilled. I also love a restaurant called Daica in Llubi where Chef Cati Pieres is cooking up a storm.”
“Sa Roqueta is famous for rice, fresh fish, lobster and prawns, all of which are caught locally and simply grilled”
RESTAURANTE SA ROQUETA
RESTAURANTE SA ROQUETA
Sa Roqueta is famous for locally-caught rice, fresh fish, lobster and prawns
Joan Roca, El Celler de Can Roca, Girona
“Can Roca, my parents’ restaurant, and where the entire team of El Celler de Can Roca eats every day. My mother is the cook, and she has always made popular, honest cuisine rooted in tradition. My favourite day is Thursday, because my mother cooks a splendid Arròs a la cassola.”
COURTESY CAN ROCA
COURTESY CAN ROCA
COURTESY OF SCALES Black cod at Scales
COURTESY OF SCALES Black cod at Scales
Maine
Scales
Portland
A core component of a small but popular family of eateries, Scales Restaurant is a must-try for seafood lovers in this New England town. Set in an industrial warehouse in the Old Port neighborhood, the restaurant is famed for its fresh fish, trendy setting and top-notch cocktails. The menu is graced with local classics including steamed Maine lobster and littleneck clams served in an unfussy way. scalesrestaurant.com
AMY HO PHOTOGRAPHY Chef J-C Poirier brings Quebec to the other side of Canada at St Lawrence
AMY HO PHOTOGRAPHY Chef J-C Poirier brings Quebec to the other side of Canada at St Lawrence
British Columbia
St Lawrence
Vancouver
With a cool downtown Parisian aesthetic and food to match, St Lawrence will transport you to France via Quebec, from where chef patron Jean-Christophe (J-C) Poirier hails. Using classic French techniques blended with the identity of les Québécois, St Lawrence is awash with plates of escargots, beef tartare and tarte Tatin. stlawrencerestaurant.com
Right: Chef J-C Poirier brings Quebec to the other side of Canada at St Lawrence. Left: his Oreilles de Crisse
COURTESY OF ST LAWRENCE
COURTESY OF ST LAWRENCE
Ask for Luigi brings a true taste of Italy to British Columbia. All dishes are served in the middle of the table for sharing
Ask for Luigi
Vancouver
If you’re going to an Italian restaurant in Vancouver, it needs to be a good one. Thankfully, with its checkerboard tiles and sensational food, Ask for Luigi makes the grade. Specializing in intimate gatherings of up to six, it serves simple comfort food that will have you thinking you’re in Italy. The restaurant is famed for its fresh homemade pasta with family-style dishes made for sharing. askforluigi.com
ASK FOR LUIGI
ASK FOR LUIGI
The Bahamas
Fish Fry at Arawak Cay
Nassau
At the mouth of Nassau Harbour, Arawak Cay is lined with classic Bahamian seafood joints where you can enjoy the freshest fare right out of the shell. Locals and tourists alike flock to this fish fry for conch salad and fried catch of the day while soaking up the laid-back atmosphere. For authentic Bahamian delights, this is the spot, and you may also be in for a spot of live music and dancing while devouring stuffed snapper. bahamas.com
First published in the July 2024 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.