Where to eat in Porto Ercole: a guide to the best restaurants

MG Uberti

Looking for the best restaurants in Porto Ercole? This is not just another list copied from the internet. This is my personal Porto Ercole food guide, based on over 30 years of first-hand experience.

I’m from Rome and, over the past three decades, I’ve visited Porto Ercole countless times. I know the village, the local people, and the places worth your time – tips you won’t find in generic travel articles.

Sadly, I’ve seen many “where to eat in Porto Ercole” pages list restaurants that have never even existed. This happens when content is generated blindly, without checking the facts. My recommendations are different: every place mentioned here is one I’ve actually visited and tested myself.

Of course, restaurant experiences can vary: one customer might get an expert waiter, another might be served by a temporary stand-in (and good staff is harder to find than ever). Personal taste also plays a big role – and sometimes luck.

But this guide is written by someone who has watched Porto Ercole’s restaurants and cafés evolve over the decades. Here you’ll find my trusted selection, grouped into clear categories so you can easily choose where to eat depending on your mood, budget, and the occasion:

Most of my recommendations are ideal for sunny summer days, or at least pleasant days in spring and autumn – the best moments to enjoy Porto Ercole’s charm.

 

my favourites

Since this is a very long article (which I still recommend you read to the end if you really want a complete and, above all, current overview of the dining scene in Porto Ercole), here’s a quick preview of my favourites—the places I consider the absolute best.
These are without a doubt my favourites for eating well in Porto Ercole:

  • the pizza al taglio from Grano
    One of the best slices of pizza I have ever eaten in Italy. Flavourful, incredibly soft dough, and most importantly, super digestible. High-quality ingredients and a fantastic overall taste! An absolute must-try. Paradoxically, the best gourmet experience in expensive and exclusive Porto Ercole is the cheapest food: a few euros for a slice of pizza.
  • the mixed fried fish from SABA Fish
    The best value for money for fish is the excellent takeaway mixed fry-up from SABA Fish, a frozen fish shop next to the church, which on weekends also offers a few takeaway fish dishes and this fantastic fried platter: light, tasty, and very digestible. A small tub will cost you around €7 (and it’s a very generous portion). I always get the fried calamari only, and I’m always thrilled with it.
  • the takeaway dishes from Cinzia
    The Sandwich Club at the start of the Viale Caravaggio ascent (a 2-minute walk from the main church) only displays sandwiches in its window (which are also excellent), but on the blackboard to the right, Cinzia handwrites the daily specials every morning: in summer, usually two first courses, two main courses, fruit, and dessert. What you find depends on luck, but on average, those dishes are excellent, and they are undoubtedly the best way to eat well without spending too much for anyone renting a flat, or at least a room with a table on the balcony where you can sit and eat.

As you can see, they are all simple and inexpensive places, but their value for money is unbeatable. Below you’ll find reviews of these places, and all the other top addresses for eating well in Porto Ercole:

 

the best with a sea view

If you’re on holiday in Porto Ercole, you’ll surely have a natural desire to dine at a good restaurant with a sea view in the evening: in such a beautiful place, it’s normal for any tourist to want that. However, before listing the recommended restaurants, it’s important to clarify that, due to the town’s layout, the most beautiful view isn’t the one looking directly at the sea (the harbour entrance towards Ansedonia), but the one that looks at the old town with its harbour and the sea, which is something unique: the view of the old historic village overlooked by the Spanish Fortress at sunset, gradually turning into the evening lights during your dinner, is a truly remarkable experience. Where else can you find a seaside town with four historic fortresses on the surrounding hills and a view like that? It’s worth splashing out and treating yourself to a good dinner with a view.
But if you want to eat well and also have a spectacular view, you have to make a choice: the best view is definitely of the old town and the Rocca Spagnola (Fort Filippo overlooking the colourful houses of the “La Flotta” condominium is also picturesque, but it’s a clear second), and the two restaurants rated by most visitors as the absolute best for food quality have “only” a “partial sea view” from tables overlooking the Lungomare Andrea Doria. And in my opinion, only one of these is really good, while the other is all for show (and has overly high bills). On the other hand, the restaurant with the best view and tables in a quieter corner (La Pinta) has, over time, given me the impression of declining in service quality and especially in food. So, excellent food with a splendid view from quiet tables is not possible. Considering this, I prefer a good table at a good restaurant with a partial view. Then, for the perfect view, I take a stroll along the promenade after dinner.

 

the best for quality and view

With the important premise above about what the best view is and how it combines with the best quality food, these are my recommendations for what I consider to be the absolute best restaurants:

 

il Gambero Rosso

Many others and I have always considered it the “reliably good” restaurant in Porto Ercole, meaning not just good food but also, and especially, a certain standard: a beautiful covered terrace with a view, to which some tables on the street were added a few years ago (the tables on the veranda are definitely much better, especially those in the front row by the sea—ask for those when you book), excellent service, elaborate dishes, good quality, and prices to match. The dishes always have an eye for presentation, as you’d expect in restaurants like this:

Seafood crudo at Gambero Rosso in Porto Ercole
Practical information:

In short: definitely recommended.

 

other notable views

In my opinion, Il Gambero Rosso is the best for food and view combined, but there are several other good places with remarkable views. Let’s start with the one that offers a splendid view at the best value for money:

 

El Pirata

A trattoria-pizzeria that in summer offers a lovely covered terrace with a splendid view over Porto Ercole: the cover photo was taken from this very terrace. If you want a sit-down meal without spending too much, this is, in my opinion, the best place in Porto Ercole, especially for pizzas. When I come here, I always get the pizza, and I really like it: it’s not Neapolitan-style, nor is it thin like Roman-style pizza; it’s a unique in-between. The menu also includes seafood and meat dishes (see menu), but I recommend it for the pizza: considering the view and the cost of the alternatives, this place is unbeatable in my opinion, which is why I almost always go here.

where to eat in Porto Ercole

However, if you look at the reviews on Tripadvisor (link below), they are on average terrible: I think it’s because there are certainly better alternatives for fish (but I’ll say it again, I recommend this place for the pizza and the view), or perhaps they just have different tastes to me. It’s up to you who to believe.

In short: if you like pizza, I think this is the best for a dinner with a view without breaking the bank.

 

bar Antico Borgo

This bar is very interesting because it has a lovely terrace covered by large umbrellas with a view of the harbour:

bar Antico Borgo Porto Ercole

It offers sandwiches, tramezzini, salads, and some simple dishes at prices that are quite reasonable considering the view: here’s the price menu from one of the last times I was there. Many reviews complain about the prices, but you just need to read the menu and choose accordingly. It’s very popular for an evening aperitif, but I usually go there for lunch sometimes and always find it quiet. As a further improvement before summer 2025, they have refurbished the paving and flowerbeds in the square, making the setting even more pleasant.
reviews: Tripadvisor , Google Maps
address: piazza Ricasoli 8 (map)

In short: the bar with the best view of Porto Ercole (if you don’t count the very expensive bar at the nearby Hotel La Roqqa).

 

La Pinta

On beautiful summer evenings and pleasant mid-season nights (when it’s not too cold), this is a restaurant that successfully combines a beautiful view with a decent culinary experience. As I mentioned earlier, I think the dining experience is better elsewhere, but the tables at La Pinta are in a quiet corner with a full view of the old town (at least those in the front row facing the port; I don’t think the ones at the back of the gazebo have it). The tables are all outside, and recently they were finally protected by a stable, fixed structure: until not long ago, they were outdoors under large umbrellas. The photo on Google Streetview is still the old one with just the umbrellas. Even before that, there was a wooden structure that was removed years ago due to some unclear issue involving complaints with neighbours.

If they can get back to the good standard they had a few years ago, they could once again be recommended as one of the best.

 

the best for quality and gourmet

Il Gambero Rosso is the best for quality and view in the town of Porto Ercole, but nearby, the absolute best is the restaurant of the luxury hotel Il Pellicano:

 

the restaurant at Il Pellicano

Actually, this restaurant is NOT in Porto Ercole, in the sense that it’s not inside the town: it’s the restaurant of the luxury hotel Il Pellicano, in the Sbarcatello – Carrubo area, 5 km from the town centre (map), in a secluded position on the rocky coast of Argentario. It is a refined and elegant restaurant, awarded 1 Michelin star for years. This is the indoor dining room:

the elegant indoor dining room of the restaurant at Hotel Il Pellicano in Porto Ercole

The panoramic terrace is also very beautiful (photo). Chef Michelino Gioia offers refined cuisine that aims to enhance a few ingredients of excellent quality, often supplied directly by local fishermen, with dishes that combine Italian tradition with more international techniques. Obviously, such an experience comes at a price, and a high one at that: a dinner costs on average from €200-300 per person and up, depending on what you order and especially the wine pairings. It must also be said, however, that although the service is almost always described as professional, some online reviews complain of inconsistent experiences, with service sometimes being inattentive when the place is very busy. But I don’t think there are any restaurants without negative reviews.

Booking is obviously recommended: by phone at +39 0564 858275 or by email at restaurant@pellicanohotel.com

 

Osteria dei Nobili Santi – closed

Unfortunately, the absolute best restaurant in Porto Ercole actually closed years ago: l’Osteria dei Nobili Santi, hidden away on Via dell’Ospizio, was in my opinion the best restaurant ever in Porto Ercole. It served excellent fish, had a lovely interior, great service, and great value for money. It’s a shame it was tucked away in that little alley with no view. But it’s been closed for many years now. I’d say there are no others at that level now, and il Gambero Rosso remains the best.

 

best value for money

The best value-for-money restaurant for a sit-down dinner on the seafront with a view of the old town is, in my opinion, El Pirata, mentioned and reviewed earlier. I’ll remind you that I recommend it mainly for its round pizzas: for fish dishes, you might prefer other places on this list. After that, all the other recommended restaurants are all relatively expensive. The alternatives with the best value for money are the pizzerias listed below, and the two best takeaways in town: SABA Fish and the Sandwich Club (both reviewed in the following paragraphs).

 

pizzerias

The best options for eating in Porto Ercole without breaking the bank are the pizzerias. And the first one on the list is truly excellent: it’s not a fall-back option to save money, it’s a recommended spot to try for a taste of great pizza.

 

pizzeria Grano

I am a pizza lover, and the pizza al taglio from Pizzeria Grano on the Porto Ercole seafront is truly excellent, one of the absolute best I have ever eaten: tasty, with a perfect dough so light it doesn’t sit heavy on your stomach, it’s still good even when reheated the next day, and above all, a wide choice of toppings, some of which are quite inventive. There are other pizzerias in town where you can grab a slice for a few euros, but the pizza here is on another level, almost a gourmet experience, still for just a few euros.

pizza slice from pizzeria Grano in Porto Ercole

It only has three small tables with a few chairs outside, and there are very few places to sit nearby: around the corner there are two benches always occupied by the town’s elderly, and I don’t like sitting on the pier or the kerb with my feet dangling over the beach, so I never do it; therefore, it should be considered as a takeaway. It’s perfect if you’ve rented a flat (the best solution for a holiday in Porto Ercole). In this case, the Tripadvisor and Google reviews agree with me: everyone is enthusiastic.
address: Lungomare Andrea Doria 3 (map)

 

pizzeria Squalo Charlie

Another pizzeria where I often go with satisfaction: it’s right next to Pizzeria Grano mentioned above and Forno del Porto presented just below. It’s interesting that the pizza is completely different (in type, dough, and taste) from the two alternatives just a step to the right and left. I really like the filled pizza and the plain white one, but of course, it’s a matter of taste: there are many varieties to try. A positive note: reasonable prices that haven’t increased like everything else in Italy. The pizzaiolo and his wife are always very kind and friendly. An excellent place to recommend.

 

il Forno del Porto

This is the town’s bakery, which in addition to bread also offers “bakery-style” pizza slices and various sweets. The pizza is unusual but I like it: it’s interesting that it’s very different from the other two pizzerias next to it. The sweets aren’t bad either, at least some of them (it’s also a matter of taste), but over the years the price of these little treats has increased too much: it’s fine that we’re in Porto Ercole, but this is still a bakery. The ladies who serve at the counter are always very kind and professional. Definitely recommended for the pizza.

 

cheap eats

I’m sorry, but there are no cheap trattorias in Porto Ercole. I can’t say for sure if there ever were any, because Porto Ercole has always been an expensive destination, but there certainly aren’t any now. The only budget-friendly options are the pizzerias mentioned earlier, or the takeaways in the following paragraph:

 

sandwiches and takeaway (including gourmet)

In Porto Ercole, if you’ve rented a house or a flat, the best options for eating well without breaking the bank, and without having to cook every time, are these two:

 

Sandwich Club (da Cinzia)

At first glance, it seems they only have tramezzini, focaccias, and filled sandwiches, but if you look closely at the menu displayed outside, you’ll see they also have various mixed salads. The sandwiches and tramezzini are all very good, tasty, well-filled, and above all, you can tell the ingredients are of good quality. But the real reason I’m highlighting this place is for the daily specials written on the small blackboard to the right of the counter: they change every day, are always excellent, the portions are generous, and they’re also cheap. Exceptional value for money. Although there are 4-5 stools to eat at a counter fixed to the wall, I recommend this place as takeaway only, so only for those with a flat. The only problem is that there’s always a substantial queue (a sign that everyone appreciates it), which can get very long in the height of summer and on weekends.

 

SABA Fish

It opened recently but has quickly become one of my favourites: it’s a shop that mainly sells frozen fish and ready-made frozen fish dishes, but in the evening and especially at weekends, it also offers excellent fried fish and some fish salads or first courses to take away. The fried calamari and prawns are excellent, and at a great price too: in my opinion, it’s the best fish with the best value for money in Porto Ercole and the surrounding area. A tub for €7-8 is a generous portion:

SABA Fish

SABA Fish is located next to the church in the centre of the town.

Definitely recommended.

 

bars, ice cream parlours and aperitifs

A beautiful little town like Porto Ercole should boast several good ice cream parlours… and yet, among the various ones available, there isn’t one that truly inspires me: not that they’re bad, but they’re not particularly good either. But maybe you’ll like them. And if you fancy an ice cream, you’ll make do anyway.
These are the only two ice cream parlours left in Porto Ercole:

 

Creola

Good ice cream, in fact, there’s always a queue. See location and reviews on Google Maps.

 

Botania Waterfront

This one also has excellent reviews. I’ve tried it: okay, it’s good, but it doesn’t fully excite me. Anyway, it’s always very busy here in the summer too. See location and reviews on Google Maps.

 

As for pastry shops, unfortunately, there are none in Porto Ercole. If you want some sweets in town, the only option is il Forno del Porto.

 

Below are the bars in Porto Ercole:

 

Sottovento

A bar in the centre of the promenade, always very busy for aperitifs. Recently renovated: the new place is very nice, I really like the aesthetics, but I’m less keen on the value for money. I must also say that recently I’ve had the impression of a decline in both service and value for money, an impression confirmed by Tripadvisor reviews. I’ve never tried it for an aperitif.

 

Baretto Le Viste

I really like this one for its splendid view of the Isolotto and the open sea, but it’s not in the town: you have to walk all the way up the hill as if you were going to the Rocca Spagnola. It also offers some dishes, but I’ve never tried the food; I’ve only ever gone for a simple aperitif or an ice cream, and to relax while looking at the view:

Baretto Le Viste

Worth the walk. Be careful, as many people confuse it with the bar at Riva del Marchese, and even some articles with tips on where to eat in Porto Ercole written by people who have never been there place this bar in the town: see map.

 

Bar Centrale

In the centre of the main road into town, opposite the bus stop, always open (6:30 AM – midnight). You’ll find everything you’d expect to find in a central bar in an Italian town.

 

Bar Sport

I sometimes go there to get croissants for breakfast. A local bar without any particular faults, but also without any particular praise.

 

other options

Of course, there are several other restaurants in Porto Ercole, which can be considered if the others are all full (in August and on summer weekends all the best places are always booked up), as they are not bad and still represent decent alternatives:

 

il Ristorantino

I have never eaten there because, although it looks like a nice place and has all positive reviews, with those prices I’d rather go and eat on the harbour with a sea view: this one is next to the church. But I repeat: the reviews from those who have been are generally very good, so maybe it’s worth a try.

 

la Sirena

Another good, well-known, and appreciated restaurant (if I remember correctly, it even boasts a photo of Vladimir Putin who stopped there to eat years ago). Very good, prices similar to La Pinta, some tempting dishes. Seemingly all good. BUT after having been there many times, I haven’t been back in a long while: the last time I went for dinner, I threw up all night, and I hadn’t even had anything raw or suspicious. I also don’t like the fact that right after the pandemic they expanded too much, taking up a large space on the other side of the road.

 

Alicina sul Porto

I tried their cooking many years ago when they were Hostaria Alicina and were still in that location at the beginning of Via Italia: some dishes were interesting, others really not (I vaguely remember absurd offerings like a fish pasta with cheese on top, maybe spaghetti with mussels and pecorino, but I wouldn’t swear to it). But that restaurant no longer exists.
The new and completely different one has moved to the harbour and is now certainly a much more ambitious establishment, at least in its prices. I haven’t tried it and I don’t intend to: it doesn’t appeal to me. But I must say it’s always full in the summer.

 

l’Isola Felice

The idea of putting a “steakhouse” (i.e., a place where you eat meat) in a seaside town where you only find fish seems sound in theory, because you’re offering a different alternative, but in the end, I’ve never been: the prices have always seemed too high for the portions I’ve seen many times on the tables while strolling along the promenade in the evening, and so when I’m in the mood for meat, I usually go inland (there are many better alternatives in Capalbio). If, however, you want to eat meat right in Porto Ercole, this is the only restaurant with a view that also offers substantial meat dishes.

 

La grotta del pescatore

The last time I ate there must have been 25 years ago, so I can’t give advice on what the food is like today. But I can say why I haven’t been back recently: my memories from back then were already unenthusiastic, the current reviews don’t seem exciting, in the summer all the outdoor tables are on the alley leading to Piazza Indipendenza (there’s apparently a veranda with a view, but I imagine it’s not air-conditioned or even ventilated if they always put the tables on the street without a sea view in summer), and above all, the price difference with my favourite places has never tempted me to return to this restaurant. They haven’t even bothered to publish a website or even an official Facebook page to present their restaurant and, most importantly, to post their menu with updated prices online.

In conclusion: the only thing that comes to mind is that you might consider it if you find yourself having to eat in Porto Ercole on a rainy day, and only if you can get a table in the covered veranda by the windows with a sea view. Otherwise, go to the indoor rooms of the recommended restaurants mentioned earlier.

 

Porto Sushi

I really can’t comment on this one because I don’t like sushi. Besides, it should be seen mainly as a takeaway: it only has two or three small tables on the street outside (see street view). And anyway, if I were a tourist visiting Argentario, I’d prefer to eat a good plate of fried fish, or well-cooked fresh fish, or pizza, or something else, but not sushi. But maybe you’re a sushi lover, so I’m pointing it out: perhaps you’ll like it and it will become your favourite spot in Porto Ercole.

 

Red Star wine/pub/caffè

You can’t even tell what it is from the name. I seem to remember it used to be called something else. Anyway, it has never appealed to me and I’ve never gone in, although I must say I do see people sitting at the outside tables every now and then. Unfortunate location at the far end of the promenade.

 

NOT recommended

Let’s finish with the places I feel I really have to NOT recommend, for various reasons:

 

la Parannanza

Actually, the staff have always been very kind, so I almost feel bad giving a negative review, but every time I’ve stopped by there was hardly anything available (to take away) and on the few occasions I did get something, I was never happy. As for the possibility of eating there (they also have a few tables), I’d advise against it: for almost the same price, you can eat much better at the recommended restaurants, and here you’re also on the dreary main road into town, whereas in other restaurants you at least get a view.

 

la Lampara

Considered by many to be the best pizzeria in Porto Ercole (and I can confirm their Neapolitan pizza is good), it also offers many fish dishes. However, it earns a special “to be avoided” mention for the rudeness and arrogance of the staff and especially the owner: they have been truly rude to me too many times. Not once, but several times. I have the very unpleasant feeling that it’s one of those places where they greet friends and important people with a smile (it’s always crowded, anyway), but not others. Furthermore, when you walk past in the afternoon while they’re setting up for the evening, you can hear music blasting from the premises, another sign of disrespect for others.

 

the best nearby (and on the beach)

There are several interesting restaurants scattered between Argentario and Orbetello, but I’ll mention just one here:

 

Braccio (Feniglia beach)

This is the restaurant of one of the beach clubs at the entrance to Feniglia beach on the side near Porto Ercole (so just after Poggio Pertuso), and in my opinion, it is excellent: I’ve been going there for years with great satisfaction. A signature dish to definitely try: spaghetti allo scoglio. But all the other seafood dishes are always good too. It’s worth asking about the daily specials: when I rarely find them, I treat myself to the tagliolini with lobster.

Braccio restaurant Feniglia

A beach restaurant that is definitely recommended. Obviously, in high season (all of August and weekends in good weather) it’s chaotic because it’s a very well-known and popular place. I always go during the week for lunch. The adjoining beach club is also excellent, in my opinion the best on Feniglia beach.

Booking is essential: tel. 0564 834210 (website)

I will soon publish an article on the best places to eat well in the area around Porto Ercole.

 

closed and non-existent

Let’s close the review with places that were famous in the past but have now closed, and especially with a series of non-existent places:

 

non-existent restaurants

Incredible but true, some bloggers have cheerfully published posts recommending restaurants that don’t exist (meaning they have never existed, not even in the past), the result of hallucinations by Artificial Intelligences used by bloggers who have never actually been there. For example, I discovered this page tuscanyreview.co.uk/porto-ercole.html (saved for posterity on this web.archive.org page) which recommends two real restaurants, which I also recommended earlier, and three completely invented restaurants, which I have underlined in red in the screenshot:

non-existent restaurants in Porto Ercole

The restaurants Da Vittorio, Aurora, and Da Remo DO NOT EXIST and have never existed in Porto Ercole. The prime locations, the terraces, the Florentine steaks… all made up. Or rather: all the result of hallucinations by Artificial Intelligences that more and more blogs rely on to publish travel guides in bulk, flooding the web with wrong information, which is then picked up by other Artificial Intelligences and cited as sources. It’s really happening. And in the future, it will be an increasingly difficult problem to contain and control: meaning it will be increasingly difficult for travellers to know if what they read online is true or not. As long as it’s just a non-existent restaurant, it’s no big deal, but when it comes to more important information, perhaps promises or illusions upon which you build your desire for a trip, the problem becomes serious.

This is why I always stress on every page that my advice here is based on direct and real personal experience on the ground, over more than 30 years of visiting Porto Ercole.

 

The following, however, are restaurants that existed in the past but are now closed:

 

Bar del Porto – closed

The fact that Bar del Porto has closed and wasn’t immediately taken over by another manager is a clear sign of the serious economic crisis that Italy has fallen into for years, a crisis from which not even Porto Ercole is immune. Renovated just a few years ago, it was, in my opinion, the most beautiful and elegant bar in Porto Ercole, especially its interiors (photo). In addition to breakfasts and aperitifs, they also served several dishes: all very good, but quite expensive (though in my opinion, in line with such a beautiful place in Porto Ercole). The service was attentive and professional. It’s a real shame it has closed. I hope it reopens soon under new management.

 

Le Plaisir Du Vin – closed

On the other hand, I’m not surprised or sorry that Le Plaisir Du Vin has also closed: a place that was, in my opinion, too pretentious, with prices that were too high and little substance. Then, after they planted the children’s funfair rides next to it in the summer, it lost all its remaining “I wish I were Champagne even though I’m not” charm. The fact that it closed confirms that other visitors to Porto Ercole weren’t convinced either, just as I wasn’t.

 

 

I believe this page is useful for those who don’t know the place well yet: if you go to the Porto Ercole page on Tripadvisor, you’ll mainly find restaurants that are NOT in Porto Ercole but in Porto Santo Stefano and Orbetello, which, although close, are completely different towns; and various pages you find in Google search results provide at least misleading information, as they place establishments that are quite far away in the town or label places that cost €35/person as cheap (which in reality cost even more). Not to mention the non-existent restaurants, the result of AI hallucinations mentioned earlier.

 

 

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I also refer you to my guide to discovering Porto Ercole:

Porto Ercole guide