25/08/2025: Worth all the hype and a real highlight of our trip. I would recommend this to anyone.
Despite the fact that almost everyone in the restaurant was a tourist, it still felt like we had all stumbled upon a kind of secret adventure. No part of the experience felt slick or corporate or “touristy”. The staff are friendly and expressive, running up and down the stone steps in bare feet with plates groaning with beautiful food. The prices and specials are still scrawled on a chalk board. There are several cats roaming around who our waiter knew by name. There were as many Italian voices as there were international ones, and people were recognising each other and catching up.
Ride the cute boat, eat the delicious food, relax on the private beach, soak up the atmosphere. You won’t regret it!
Top tips: book online before you go, and bring a parasol for the beach if you’re sensitive to the sun. There’s no natural shade and it faces the south.
24/08/2025: We had a fabulous time at Da Adolfo!
All the negative reviews here are a disgrace and must come from people who haven’t done their research on the schedule of the boat, the prices for the beach, or how to book a table.
We booked our table 10 days before traveling to Positano with no issues at all. We requested a table for lunch, two sunchairs and a parasol for the day which were set up as we requested.
When we got to the beach, we went up to the bar and ordered some coffee. They’ve just opened up so we had to wait a couple of minutes for the machine to heat up, but were served excellent cappuccini!
Our lunch was superb! Excellent!
It literally made me shed a tear of joy.
We had Tuna Carpaccio, Parmigiana and Aglio e Olio. The pasta was al dente and had a really nice balance between the garlic, herbs and olive oil. The parmigiana was the best I’ve ever had in my entire life - I actually felt sad I didn’t get a portion for myself but had to munch up the leftovers of my girl.
When we asked for a dessert recommendation, they suggested we order the lemon tiramisu and boy o boy… The following account actually happened)…
After we finished the main course, the sun hid itself behind the clouds and some raindrops fell through the fabric above us. But when the waiter brought out the lemon tiramisu and the very first bite touched my gums, the sun came out again. It was the most delightful dessert we’ve had on our trip to Italy this year, and it felt like god himself was lighting up the sky from above and within. The flavors of this tiramisu captured to essence of Campania. Bite by bite we were lured more and more into la dolce vita and tipped our hat to the chef and his staff. WOW! What a food experience.
If you are going to Positano, book a table in advance. There is also a way of booking a table without calling… (research goes a long way 😉)
Don’t go to the pier and ask for a free ride as they won’t take you there without a reservation.
Also:
If you want to show some respect to the workers at the bar, learn the most basic words and phrases in Italian. This goes a very very long way and will make your overall experience so much more pleasurable. Don’t be a stereotypical American or German tourist by expecting them to speak your language. Even if they do… you’re a guest in their country and at their restaurant. Have some dignity, respect and you will be treated with such!
11/10 recommendation! Would and will come again.
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