The area is full of wonderful restaurants – here are some that we believe deserve special attention.
Calabrian cuisine is all about excellent freshly caught fish, seafood, vegetables with the famous sweet red onion Cipolla grown in the Tropea region, as well as outstanding pasta, pizza, meats, and regional cured meats. Lovers of good food will find every flavor here!
One of the must-tries is the region’s most famous specialty, the spicy ’Nduja di Spilinga – a fiery local sausage with a very soft, creamy texture. It’s used as a pizza topping, spread on ciabatta or bruschetta, or as a pasta sauce. It is most often paired with the local specialty pasta, Fileja.
What gives Calabrian cuisine its kick is mainly the red peperoncino, which Italians here add to almost everything: pasta, pizza, cured meats, spreads, sauces, and even jams. The cuisine is also rich in juicy tomatoes, eggplants, olives, as well as oranges, bananas, melons, and prickly pears – a true abundance of flavors!
We especially recommend trying the specialties at these selected restaurants:
- Ristorante Da Mercurio – definitely one of the best restaurants near the villa (about 2 km away) on the way to the beach in Coccorino. Fresh fish, seafood, delicious pasta, and pizza!
- Ristorante Peppino Il Pescatore – a bit farther away (8 km), but still close (right next to the nearest sandy beach). One of the best fish and seafood restaurants in the area!
- Il Brigante – mountain cuisine with a focus on meat. Excellent Bistecca Fiorentina served on a hot stone, plus local specialties like pasta with ’Nduja, as well as pizza. A great change of pace from the commonly available Mediterranean cuisine (8 km).
- Il Ducale – another mountain-style restaurant, focusing on meat (local ’Nduja specialty), pasta, and pizza. Also a refreshing alternative to the typical Mediterranean dishes (8 km).
- Taverna Baffone in Tropea – one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in Tropea, perfect for a dinner in town.