Restaurant Tips

This is how you eat best in Sardinia — authentic, affordable, and unforgettable:

Agriturismo — The Secret

The Agriturismo is Sardinia's greatest culinary asset: farms that by law must produce at least 50% of their ingredients themselves and serve guests with multi-course menus from their own production. A typical Agriturismo dinner consists of Antipasti (ham, Pecorino, olives, Pane Carasau), Primo (Malloreddus or Culurgiones), Secondo (Porceddu or lamb), Contorni (vegetables from the garden), Dolce (Seadas — fried pastry shells with fresh cheese and honey) and Digestivo (Mirto or Limoncello). Price: 25–40€ per person including wine. You won't eat better anywhere in Sardinia.

Where to eat?

• Trattoria — Simple, local cuisine at fair prices. Particularly authentic in mountain villages. Daily menu (Menù del giorno) often 12–18€.
• Ristorante — More upscale, but rarely overpriced in Sardinia. Fish restaurants on the coast offer fresh catch of the day.
• Pizzeria — Sardinian pizzerias are excellent. Pizza and beer for 10–15€ — always a solid option.
• Bar — For espresso, Cornetto in the morning, and Aperitivo in the evening. The typical Sardinian breakfast costs 2.50–3.50€ at the counter.

Golden Rule: The further away from the coast and tourist centers, the better and cheaper you eat. An Agriturismo in the Barbagia beats any restaurant on the Costa Smeralda — both culinarily and price-wise. And if the host places a bottle of Mirto on the table after the meal and says "Offerto dalla casa" (on the house) — then you know: You've arrived.