Ravello sits 365 meters above the Amalfi Coast, high enough that most visitors never wander past the main piazza.
I found the restaurant by accident. I was trying to escape the crowd around Piazza del Duomo, where a wedding party had taken over every outdoor table. I turned down a narrow side street, then another, and another. Ten minutes later, I was standing in front of a small restaurant with handwritten menu boards and the smell of sage and butter drifting out the open door.
That restaurant turned out to serve the best ravioli I ate on the entire Amalfi Coast. And it wasn’t on any of the main squares.
Skip the piazza restaurants in Ravello. The real food — handmade pasta, family recipes, serious cooking — happens on the backstreets. You just have to know where to look.
Food-focused travelers
Solo diners
Couples seeking quiet meals
Why Ravello’s main piazza isn’t where you want to eat
Most visitors eat at the cafes on Piazza del Duomo and never think twice.
Piazza del Duomo is beautiful. The cathedral is 11th-century, the views stretch to the sea, and the whole square hums with energy. But the restaurants there serve a similar menu — the same fried seafood, the same lemon pasta, the same pre-made tiramisu you’d find in any tourist-friendly spot on the coast. They’re fine. They’re just not memorable.
Ravello’s best food comes from small, family-run places tucked into the residential streets. These aren’t hidden gems. They’re just not visible from the piazza. You need to walk past the cathedral, take a left at the tiny grocery store, and keep going until the crowds thin out.
Ravello is smaller than Positano or Amalfi town. The entire historic center takes about 15 minutes to walk across. That means the backstreets are never far from the main square — you just have to take the first turn that doesn’t look like a restaurant row.
Salvatore Ravello 1958 — the backstreet restaurant that won me over
One restaurant changed how I think about eating in Ravello.
Salvatore Ravello 1958 sits on Via della Repubblica, 2, a quiet street that runs parallel to the main shopping lane. It’s a 3-minute walk from the cathedral. The restaurant has a modern feel — white tablecloths, open kitchen, a terrace with filtered views of the valley. The menu takes classical dishes and gives them a contemporary spin.
I ordered the ravioli on a whim. The waiter brought out a plate of handmade pasta filled with ricotta and lemon zest, topped with brown butter and toasted almonds. The pasta was thin, delicate, and clearly made that morning. The lemon balanced the richness of the butter. It was the kind of dish that makes you stop talking and just eat.
Three more Ravello backstreet spots worth your time
Once you start walking away from the piazza, you find places that feel like they belong to the town, not the tourists.
Down the street from Salvatore, on Via Santissima Trinità, 13, you’ll find Babel Wine Bar Deli & Art. It’s a small space with ceramic art on the walls and a counter displaying prosciutto, mozzarella, and seasonal vegetables. The menu is simple — meatballs in red sauce, red quinoa salad, a rotating selection of pasta dishes. The atmosphere is relaxed. The wine list features mostly Campanian labels. It’s a good spot for a late-afternoon glass of wine and a plate of something that doesn’t require a full meal.
For a completely different experience, walk to Via della Marra, 7, where Palazzo della Marra operates out of a 13th-century building. This is a wine bar with small plates — meat and seafood starters, various pasta dishes. The portions are small, which is typical for Italian wine bars. It’s better for a light snack with a glass of wine than a full dinner. The building itself is worth seeing: vaulted stone ceilings, thick walls, a sense of history that you don’t get from the modern cafes on the piazza.
And if you’re traveling with kids, Mimì Pizzeria & Cucina is a reliable choice. It’s on a side street near the main square and serves authentic Italian pizza with light dough, fresh basil, and good-quality mozzarella. The outdoor seating area is covered and comfortable. It’s not fancy, but the pizza is excellent, and the staff is patient with children. Lily and Ethan both cleared their plates, which is always the sign of a successful meal in our family.
Visit Babel Wine Bar around 5:30 PM on a weekday. The afternoon crowd has left, and the evening crowd hasn’t arrived yet. You’ll have the place mostly to yourself, and the staff has time to talk through the wine list with you.
Piazza dining vs. backstreet dining — what you actually get
The difference isn’t just about food quality. It’s about the whole experience.
| What matters | Piazza del Duomo | Backstreet restaurants |
|---|---|---|
| Noise level | High — wedding parties, tour groups, constant foot traffic | Low — mostly locals and a few in-the-know travelers |
| Menu originality | Standard tourist fare — fried seafood, lemon pasta, pre-made desserts | Daily-changing menus based on what’s fresh at the market |
| Pasta made in-house | Rare | Common — many restaurants make pasta daily |
| Price for a full meal | €40–€60 per person | €30–€50 per person |
| Service pace | Rushed — tables need to turn over | Relaxed — you’re encouraged to linger |
Some backstreet restaurants don’t take reservations, especially the smaller wine bars. If you have your heart set on a specific spot, call ahead or arrive right when they open. Salvatore Ravello 1958 takes reservations, which I recommend making at least a day in advance during peak season.
- Walk at least 3 minutes away from Piazza del Duomo before choosing a restaurant.
- Ask your waiter what pasta was made in-house that day — that’s almost always the best thing on the menu.
- Backstreet dining costs less and takes longer. That’s a feature, not a bug.
Before you go to Ravello
What’s the best time of day to eat in the backstreets?
Lunch is ideal if you want a quiet meal. Most backstreet restaurants open around 12:30 PM and the crowd arrives after 1:30 PM. Show up at 12:45 PM and you’ll have the place to yourself.
Dinner starts late in Ravello — 7:30 PM is the earliest, and most locals eat at 8:30 PM or later. If you have young kids, aim for the early slot.
Are the backstreet restaurants family-friendly?
Yes, with some caveats. Places like Mimì Pizzeria are great for kids. Fine-dining spots like Salvatore Ravello 1958 are also welcoming but expect children to sit at the table for the full meal. There isn’t a separate kids’ menu at most of these restaurants. Ethan managed fine with a half-portion of pasta, and Lily tried the lemon ravioli and loved it.
Is Ravello overrated or worth the hype?
Ravello is genuinely beautiful, but it has an overtourism problem in July and August. The main piazza can feel cramped and commercial during peak hours. The backstreets offer a real escape. If you visit in June or September, you get the best of both worlds — good weather, fewer crowds, and a more relaxed atmosphere.
How much time should I spend in Ravello?
One full day is enough to see the main sights — Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone, the cathedral — and eat one great meal in the backstreets. If you want to do a cooking class or hike the Path of the Gods, plan for two nights.
What’s the biggest mistake tourists make with food in Ravello?
Eating at the first restaurant they see on the piazza. It’s convenient, but the food is average and the prices are inflated. Walk three minutes in any direction and you’ll find better food, better service, and a more authentic atmosphere.
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I brought a compact camera drone on this trip to capture Ravello’s terraced hillsides from above. The DJI Mini 4K weighs under 249 grams, so no registration was needed, and the 4K camera with a 3-axis gimbal made it easy to shoot stable video of the coastline. The 31-minute flight time was enough to get aerial shots of the backstreets and the valley below. It’s a solid choice for anyone who wants travel footage without the hassle of a larger drone.
Why Ravello’s backstreets changed how I think about coastal food
I used to assume that the best restaurants in a tourist town were the ones with the best views. Ravello taught me otherwise. The view from the piazza is spectacular, but the food two streets over is better. That’s not a coincidence. The restaurants that rely on repeat customers — locals, returning travelers, word of mouth — have to cook well every single night. The restaurants on the piazza can coast on location. I know which kind I’d rather support.
For more on navigating the Amalfi Coast without falling into tourist traps, read this guide to the cliffside villages — it covers which towns deserve your time and which ones you can skip.
Sources and further reading
The Glam & Glitter. “The Best Restaurants on the Amalfi Coast.” June 2026. 🔗
Mimì Pizzeria & Cucina. Official Website. 🔗
Baffone Gelateria Artigianale. Instagram. 🔗
Related reading on Emily in Italy
Driving the Amalfi Coast: scenic routes and practical tips — Everything you need to know about navigating the coastal roads, including parking in Ravello.
Skip Positano’s crowds and swim at Fornillo before sunrise — A strategy for enjoying the coast without the crowds, applicable to Ravello too.
Italy’s quiet seasons: when to visit for the best experience — Timing your trip to avoid the worst of the overtourism on the Amalfi Coast.
Kitchenette cooking for a 3-week Europe tour — Packing and meal planning tips for family travel, including how to handle picky eaters in Italy.