One of the few establishments that existed here before Luigi Vietti created the town of Porto Rotondo in the 1960s, this charming portside bar is family run and the staff treats everyone like a regular. Come for a delicious breakfast, a simple fresh lunch, a gelato (the house specialty) or an evening aperitif.

This fun and fashionable people-watching spot is perfect for an aperitif or a postprandial cocktail. Make sure to get a table on the terrace with its superb views of the Porto Cervo marina.

According to Forbes, Flavio Briatore, the owner of this club and the unofficial playboy king of the Costa Smeralda scene, is “only” a millionaire, but that doesn’t stop him from playing the billionaire. His 25,000-square-foot discotheque (and restaurant) is the height of the Porto Cervo scene, attracting people like Italy’s former president Silvio Berlusconi, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal as well as models and twenty-something leggy Russians.

An enchanting little wine bar tucked inside an old stone building on San Pantaleo’s small church square, it’s a great place to spend a few hours sampling the island’s top bottles.

Set in a former home that has been fashioned with a mix of antiques and decorative touches from around the world (like Moroccan chandeliers), this elegant restaurant serves classic Italian fare with lots of seasonal changes in the menu. This is one of Sardinia’s most popular restaurants, so reserve during high season. Locals consider it one of the island’s best places for an authentic local meal.

Anyone tired of glitz and bling will welcome I Frati Rossi (which translates to “the red friars”), located on a hillside close to Porto Cervo but feeling world’s away. The views from the veranda are wonderful as is the local cuisine designed to keep things simple and traditional. Laurel Barrack, owner and managing partner of Costa Smeralda Hotels, considers it one of her favorite local spots.

One of the most renowned seafood restaurants on the Costa Smeralda, Il Pescatore is also the coast’s sole restaurant where diners can sit on a waterfront terrace. It’s a great spot to sample the region’s ultra-fresh seafood. Laurel Barrack, owner and managing partner of Costa Smeralda Hotels, considers it one of the island’s two best fish restaurants.

You need a boat to access the nice restaurant of La Casitta hotel, located on Santa Maria island (part of La Maddalena archipelago). It’s a fabulous spot for lunch. Diners sit on a terrace overlooking the water in the distance, and many of the dishes feature vegetables grown in the property’s gardens. Ask your concierge to make arrangements for this truly local hot spot.

The only decision you’ll have to make at this agriturismo restaurant on private farmland with a romantic garden is whether you prefer sparkling or still and which bottle of wine you’d like to order. The $41 prix-fixe menu includes simple but delicious regional dishes made from ingredients grown or raised on the property.

Indagare's preferred yacht-charter company will take you to La Maddalena, a group of islands that stretch north from Porto Cervo toward the Strait of Bonifacio. For lunch, drop anchor at the Michelin-starred La Gritta, which is situated on Porto Faro and accessible only by boat (ask to be seated on the terrace). Try the ravioli Sardi or one of La Gritta’s veal creations. Contact Indagare's Bookings Team to arrange.

Surrounded by crystal-clear waters and dramatic rock formations, La Scogliera is a striking beachside spot with views of Isola Caprera in the distance. Its appeal, however, is not just about its secluded location—the seafood is also excellent. Accessible only by boat, the restaurant makes for a fabulous meal ashore for travelers renting a charter in the area. The menu of contemporary Mediterranean dishes includes fresh fish and shellfish as well as homemade bread and pasta; don’t miss the classic spaghetti alle vongole. If you’ve stopped by during daylight, be sure to soak up the sun on the pink-sand beach club after lunch.

When my husband and I came across this restaurant, just outside Porto Rotondo, we immediately knew we had discovered a jewel. Lu Stazzu (“the house of a farmer”) has just the right combination of rusticity and sophistication. Guests sit beneath a pergola on a granite terrace overlooking the Mediterranean and enjoy delicious fresh food, an upscale version of traditional Sardinian fare. We didn’t even look at a menu (we trusted our friendly server), and feasted on an assortment of tasty appetizers, pasta, and the house specialty: roasted suckling pig.

This beach club is considered one of the island’s uncontested hot spots. Due to its location on a rocky enclave right by the water, Phi is a good place for sunset cocktails before you head back to Porto Cervo (about a 20-minue drive) for dinner.

Only a short drive from Porto Cervo, this large pizza restaurant serves seafood and delicious brick oven pizza. No wonder it is a family favorite.

This buzzy pizzeria serves excellent pies with fresh ingredients, as well as seafood and pasta in the simple, airy dining room or on the alfresco terrace. The crowd is a mix of visitors and locals who adore the family-run favorite.

Those looking for a more typical dining experience should head to this recommended restaurant in town. It was lovely Italian fare with good wine and excellent people-watching. We arrived without a reservation and the owner offered free drinks while we waited, which was really nice.

The casual but chic, and highly popular, trattoria in Porto Rotondo serves up seafood, pastas and pizzas. The crowd is a mix of casually dressed teens and fashionable regulars, mostly Sardinians.

The massive limestone island with 1,500 foot cliffs across the strait from Costa Smeralda has a long sandy beach at one end with a charming summer restaurant. It’s a fun stop for lunch and a swim.