Positano is a stunning coastal town on the Amalfi Coast, known for its picturesque scenery, colorful buildings, and romantic atmosphere. However, it is also known for being one of the most expensive destinations in Europe, especially when it comes to dining out. If you are traveling on a budget, you might think that you have to miss out on the delicious cuisine that Positano has to offer. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of options for cheap eats in Positano that will satisfy your taste buds and your wallet.
In this article, we will share with you some of the best budget-friendly restaurants in Positano, where you can enjoy authentic Italian food, fresh seafood, and local specialties without breaking the bank. You will find out all the pros and cons of these eateries as well as some other useful details. Here are all the budget-friendly eating options in Positano:
(This article contains 5 cheap places to eat in Positano, which are best in our subjective opinion. The order of these places is not related to the quality they offer. Every place has its pros and cons, so choose the one based on your personal preferences.)
Latteria
Latteria is a small wine & cheese shop in Positano, which was founded by a local family in 1955 as a dairy. Over the years, it has become a popular place for locals and tourists who come to buy or taste fresh and quality products, such as cheese, yogurt, milk, eggs, and fruits. Even though Latteria is actually a shop, there is also a simple but varied menu, which includes sandwiches, salads, pizza, soups, and some simple meat and pasta dishes.
It looks like a local supermarket from the outside, but go inside all the way to the end, and you will find a counter with all the available food. All the food is freshly made with organic and locally sourced ingredients and served on white plastic plates. This place is very affordable, considering the quality and the quantity of the food, so you can get a satisfying meal for less than 10 euros per person.
However, Latteria is not only a place to eat but also a place to learn. You can book a cooking class with Chef Serafina, who will teach you how to make traditional Italian dishes for 35 euros per person, which includes the ingredients, the recipes, the apron, and the meal.
| Pros | Cons |
| Big fresh sandwiches | Limited seating space |
| Takeaway option | Food served in plastic plates |
| Great location | Long waiting time during peak hours |
| Good range of food | Prepared foods sell out quickly |
| Homemade and authentic | |
| Fresh and flavorful fruit |
Da Ferdinando
Da Ferdinando is a bar and restaurant located on Fornillo beach. It offers a variety of dishes, such as salads, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, and pizza. The prices are reasonable for Positano but still a bit higher compared to the rest of Italy, ranging from 9 to 45 euros per person. You can check the whole menu here. The best part about this place is that you can enjoy your meal while sitting on the terrace, overlooking the blue water and the colorful boats without paying a fortune.
You can also rent a sunbed and an umbrella for 15 euros and spend the day relaxing on the beach. Da Ferdinando became famous on social media for its pizza, which is shaped like a heart and has a variety of toppings. It costs around 10 euros and is big enough to share with your loved one. There are also a bunch of delicious cocktails with prices starting from 9 euros.
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent location | Hectic during the summer months |
| Beautiful view from the terrace | Slow staff |
| Great variety of food | Some food is overpriced |
| Quieter than other beach bars in Positano | |
| Breakfast options | |
| Takeaway options |
Delicatessen
Delicatessen is a gourmet food shop located on Via dei Mulini, a short walk from the main beach, the Marina Grande. It is another great place for a quick snack or an authentic meal for those who don’t want to spend a lot on food. The shop offers everything from fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, cheese, and ham to eggs, bread, wine, and even goods like Gatorade and sweet treats. There is also a small kitchen where they prepare fresh and tasty dishes, such as pasta, salads, sandwiches, simple meat dishes, and desserts. You can buy them to take away or to eat on the spot.
The prices are excellent for Positano, considering the quality and the quantity of the food. You can get a satisfying meal for less than 10 euros per person. Most people come here for their excellent and huge sandwiches with the yummiest bread. Just like in Latteria, you can also book a cooking class at Delicatessen with Chef Margarita. It will be an authentic, intimate, and personalized experience, and you will even be able to customize the menu to your dietary needs.
| Pros | Cons |
| Nice view from the terrace | Limited seating space |
| Huge sandwiches | Most of the items don’t have visible prices |
| Takeaway options | Very slow and chaotic service |
| Breakfast options | |
| Authentic products |
Collina Bakery
Collina Bakery is a local bakery located on the main commercial street of Positano, which is ideal for a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It was founded in 2014 by Francesca and Luigi, who wanted to keep the bar alive after it was run by their father for 30 years. The bakery offers delicious pizza slices, various sandwiches, gluten-free croissants filled with Nutella, and other pastries. They even have dairy-free milk options for the best cappuccino in town.
If you want to try something authentic, order granita, delizia al limone, and sfogliatelle, which are some of the well-known local specialties. Also, we advise trying lemon sorbet. They take these local lemons and take out everything inside them. Then they freeze them in a freezer and put sorbet inside. Prices are okayish for Positano and still pretty cheaper than those in restaurants. Keep in mind that this is an extremely busy place, so you will have to wait a bit to be served.
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent coffee | Limited seating space |
| Huge variety of products | Busy and noisy place |
| Open all day even in off-season | Very slow service |
| Takeaway options | |
| Local specialties | |
| Great gelato |
Bar Internazionale
The last cheap eats in Positano on our list is Bar Internazionale. It is a well-stocked cafe and bar located on Via Guglielmo Marconi. This is a place where mostly the locals go, so if you are tired of the crowds and high prices of Positano, make your way here. Even though you will have to do a deceptive hike from the beach, it is well worth the chance to see a local late-night hang out with a bar in the back.
Bar Internazionale serves coffee, beers, wine, and other alcoholic drinks and has a great selection of sandwiches, pastries, and cakes. For those seeking something authentic, there is limoncello, a lemon-flavored liqueur that is made from the lemons that grow in the area. If you are a sports fan, come here to watch football games with locals.
| Pros | Cons |
| Cheaper than other bars | Next to a major highway |
| Great selection of drinks | Limited selection of food |
| Local culture experience | Away from the main tourist area |
| Excellent view of the whole Positano | A bit messy |
| Sport nights |
How to find cheap eats in Positano?
Finding cheap eats in Positano can be a challenge, but it is definitely not impossible. First of all, you should always avoid the main tourist areas. The restaurants along the main beach, the Marina Grande, and the center of the town are usually the most expensive and crowded ones. They cater to tourists who are willing to pay a premium for the convenience and the view. So, if you want to find cheaper and more authentic places, you need to venture away from these areas and explore the hidden gems that are tucked away in the narrow streets of the town.
If you really want to eat in a restaurant, look for trattorias, pizzerias, and paninotecas. These are the types of eateries that usually have better prices in Positano than classic restaurants. Trattorias are family-run restaurants that serve traditional Italian dishes, pizzerias are the places to go for a slice of pizza, which is usually thin and crispy in Positano, and paninotecas are sandwich shops.
Furthermore, one of the best ways to find cheap eats in Positano is to follow the locals and eat what they eat. For example, you can start your day with a cappuccino and a cornetto (a croissant-like pastry) at a local bar, which will cost you around 2 euros. For lunch, you can have a panino (a sandwich) or a pizza al taglio (a pizza by the slice) at a bakery or a takeaway shop, which will cost you around 3 to 5 euros. For dinner, you can have a pasta dish or a seafood dish at a trattoria, which will cost you around 10 to 15 euros.
Check out more articles about Positano:
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- Best 3 star hotels in Positano
- Cheap Airbnb in Positano
- Best Pizza in Positano
- Positano: Charming town on Amalfi Coast
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- What to buy in Positano Italy?
- How to get to Positano?
- What is the closest airport to Positano Italy?
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