Travel editor Georgia Boscawen rounds up the best restaurants to visit by boat this Med season, from Michelin-starred greats to rustic beach brasseries.
Glicine in Amalfi, Italy
As well as feasting their eyes on Amalfi’s glorious cliffs, diners at Glicine can enjoy seasonal produce that captures the flavours of the region. The restaurant gained a Michelin star for its delicious, colourful dishes – such as truffle risotto carnaroli with lightly smoked sour butter, and roasted and lightly smoked lobster with lemon leaves. It also has a wine list with some of the finest bottles in Italy and a collection from the rest of the world.
OKU, Ibiza
Fresh from an extensive refurb, the bohemian OKU hotel is located a few moments from the rocky shallows of Cala Gració bay. In line with the hotel’s relaxed yet refined theme, the restaurant is focused on pan-Asian cuisine showcasing local produce and freshly caught fish. The menu is peppered with sharing plates as well as expertly presented sushi and fish cooked over hot charcoal on the Robata grill.
Ca’s Patró March, Mallorca
Perched on the rocky waterside of Cala Deià on Mallorca’s north-west coast, Ca's Patró March is famous for its fresh seafood and picturesque setting. Often visited by in-the-know A-listers, it’s one of the island’s best-kept secrets and is also accessible by boat. This is not haute cuisine: expect the catch of the day, served with a squeeze of lemon and a million-dollar view.
Disfrutar in Barcelona, Spain
Disfrutar, which translates as “enjoy”, is a wildly creative two-Michelin-starred restaurant serving innovative dishes that play with texture, appearance and flavour. Chefs Eduard Xatruch, Oriol Castro and Mateu Casañas have produced two tasting menus (Classic and Festival), both of which deliver a mind-boggling celebration of flavour. Expect dishes such as crispy
egg yolk with mushroom gelatin, chocolate peppers with oil and salt and their famous “olives”, which pop in the mouth to release a flood of umami.
El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain
Located in north-eastern Catalonia, the city of Girona is a food lover’s haven. Of particular note is the three-Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca, one of the world’s finest restaurants. Owned by the three Roca brothers, it has two tasting menus that continuously change to accommodate seasonality and creative flair, but one thing is certain – you are guaranteed precision and dishes that are bursting with flavour in a feast for all the senses. Expect dishes such as celeriac and pear served with smoked celeriac purée, caramelized cream and roasted celeriac broth. Booking in advance is essential and be sure to allow time to explore the restaurant’s mesmerising wine cellar, which is brimming with some of the world’s finest bottles.
Porta di Basso in Gargano, Italy
With its dense population of sensational restaurants, this picturesque part of south-eastern Italy won’t leave gastronomes disappointed. If you find yourself cruising these parts, be sure to pay a visit to Porta di Basso, a restaurant famed for its colourful and elegant dishes, each of which is bursting with flavour. Designed to showcase the very best local produce, the “blind menu” changes daily to reflect seasonality and use each ingredient at its peak. With a few tables positioned on the restaurant’s beautiful terrace, Porta di Basso is a truly special spot overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
ConFusion in Porto Cervo, Sardinia
Set on Marina di Porto Cervo, ConFusion is exquisitely designed with gold accents, natural textures and an open kitchen. With chef Italo Bassi at the helm, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star for its creative and technically astute dishes, praised for their balance and elegance. Highlights from the menu include Italian caviar, local rocket lobster and tuna served with duck foie gras, bread cream and slices of white truffle.
Giagoni In Piazza in San Pantaleo, Sardinia
Discreetly tucked away in a typical Gallurese stone house in San Pantaleo’s Piazza della Chiesa, Giagoni opens with its convivial atmosphere for lunch and dinner in the summer season. The menu changes daily but includes freshly made pasta, fish-based antipasti and fish caught that day and prepared using traditional methods.
Le César, Plage Keller in Cap d'Antibes, France
At this family-owned waterside spot in Cap d’Antibes, round tables are placed on the immaculate beach by the restaurant’s jetty, which is lined with sunloungers and additional tables. Offering lunch and dinner, the menu features caviar, Keller’s octopus salad, fresh squid and line-caught wild sea bass – the restaurant’s speciality. Plage Keller also has a shuttle boat service to collect guests directly from their yacht.
Cantinetta Antinori, Monaco
Focusing on the finest Tuscan cuisine, Cantinetta Antinori is one of Monaco’s gems. Its superb wine selection and elegant decor make it a must-visit in the principality, and there’s even a truffle menu on offer. The classic menu is replete with Tuscan dishes, including beef carpaccio and Florentine T-bone steak, with indulgent desserts such as the pistachio tiramisu. In the heart of the principality, it’s a top spot for days (and nights) in Monaco.
L’Ecrin Plage in Cannes, France
On its own private beach, strewn with blue sunloungers and parasols, L'Ecrin is one of Cannes’ most exclusive waterside destinations. The lunch and dinner menu ranges from French to Thai food and sushi – the common denominator being fresh fish. For a light lunch on a lounger, grab a crab roll with yuzu and avocado cream, or slip on a kaftan and stroll to the teak-decked restaurant proper for ravioli with prawns and lime, sage sauce and gourmet crumble.
360 in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Hidden behind a secret door in Dubrovnik’s ancient town walls, the Michelin-starred 360 is set on a terrace that stretches along the Fortress of St John. The food here is precise and highly innovative in presentation and flavour combinations – try the beef with ponzu gel, pearl onion cream, celery and lardo. The restaurant also boasts one of the country’s finest wine selections with more than 450 labels and a team that will happily guide you towards the best pairing.