La Taverna Del Leone

Me and my family only went to the restaurant one of the nights we were staying in Positano, but I have to assume that the rooms are as incredible as our experience was. To start off, we got PICKED UP in a car at 7:30 and the driver arrived at 7:32 and apologized for being “late”. He was extremely friendly and warm. When we got to the actual restaurant, we were given lion stuffed animals as the menu, which my daughter enjoyed very much, and I thought was a very clever and cute touch, given the title of the restaurant in English is the lion’s tavern. Our initial server was very nice and gave us very good attention and seemed to be only focusing on us and making sure we were comfortable. He helped us with wine pairing for our tasting menu, and let my daughter make her own custom tasting menu, too! I thought this was a very flexible and welcoming action of him that made me enjoy the experience even more. The tasting menu was PHENOMENAL and so was my daughter’s penne pasta. We especially like the lobster ravioli and cheesecake for dessert. Just an overall wonderful and warm experience, and every bite of food was beyond words. Great job, staff!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A true gem near Positano! This restaurant was one of the highlights of our trip. Just a 5-minute drive from Positano, it’s a family-run place with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The food was incredibly fresh, full of flavor, and clearly made with love. Nothing fancy — just honest, delicious Italian cooking at very fair prices. We felt like we were eating at a local friend’s home. Service was kind and genuine. Highly recommend booking ahead, especially for dinner — it gets busy for good reason!

We first visited La Taverna Del Leone back in 2020 and were blown away by the food and warm hospitality. Five years later, we returned—and somehow, it was even better. The food is absolutely fantastic—every dish bursting with flavor, beautifully presented, and made with the freshest ingredients. It’s the kind of meal that stays with you long after you’ve left. On top of that, the prices are incredibly reasonable for the quality you get. What truly sets this place apart, though, is the service. The team strikes that perfect balance of being professional yet genuinely warm and welcoming. From the moment we walked in until the moment we left, we felt completely at home. La Taverna Del Leone has been our highlight of the trip so far. A true gem—don’t miss it if you’re in the area!

😊: Restaurant was extremely good! I understand they’ve been recognised by Michelin. Also the patio/balcony and view of the mountains was nice. It was well-cleaned with friendly staff.. 😢: Primarily the shower because of the poor water pressure. Lack of AC. The place was generally tired-looking and could need some love. It has really nice potential and I guess the price we paid reflects it not being the top place to stay. But definitely good enough if you’re not too picky..

The review is for the restaurant only. To be brutally honest, it was the least satisfying dining experience of our three-week journey through Italy this year — an unpleasant surprise given the glowing reviews and Michelin Guide mention. The food itself was well-executed and flavorful, the interior of the restaurant was pleasant, yet the service was deeply disappointing - puzzling dissonance with the elegant table setting and beautiful food presentation that suggest a certain level of refinement and attention to details. Everything took way too long, starting from the time to be acknowledged and get drinks. Nobody cared if our water or wine needed replenishment and getting another bottle of water required a long wait and repeated requests as we rarely saw our waiter. A simple takeaway order that we requested for a family member, sidelined by a leg injury and unable to join us — that order was forgotten twice and arrived incomplete. This lack of attention was hard to explain considering that many customer reviews praised impeccable service. The course pacing was another example: some people in our group were served their main course while the others reduced to spectators as their companions ate. Thank god they decided to eat and not to wait for others, because the wait was so long that the meals were consumed and then we all sat for another twenty minutes before the rest of us finally received their plates. The roles reversed and the first part of the group spent time watching. After finishing our entrees, we lingered another 30 minutes before our waiter came by and took our desserts order - without any interest in doing so, I have to say. The dining room was nearly empty by then—a clear sign the staff were not overburdened. The wait for the check stretched on even longer -- the staff were cleaning other tables, moving around, talking, but didn’t pay any attention to us. At some point we almost lost hope and started to joke that they were going to close the shop and go home with us sitting there. By the time we finally left, our initial cheer had long since evaporated. The evening, filled mostly with the wait, had stretched beyond 3.5 hours—a ridiculous duration for a standard meal, not some elaborate multi-course affair. We travel a lot and we know that occasional slip-ups happen, but the missteps repeated throughout the evening. Some of us even genuinely wondered if we erred in some way and the staff’s neglect was intentional — a thought no guest should ever have. Sadly, even though the food well executed, the level of service overshadowed the kitchen’s effort and left us with frustration and no desire to return. UPDATE: The owner responded asking for more details to prove that this review was not fake, and seemed to be upset by my using the word "systemic". We were a party of six, dined around 8pm on June 16, 2025, and our check was 338 euros. I hope this is detailed enough. As for the word "systemic", I believe I provided enough examples to show that the level of service in our case wasn't a one time slip-up. However, "systemic" was, perhaps, too strong, and I have removed it from that sentence.

La Taverna de Leone in Positano is a true gem. From the moment we arrived, we were charmed by its intimate, detailed atmosphere that felt both cozy and elegant. The food was exceptional, with highlights including the lobster ravioli and an unforgettable cheesecake. The service was outstanding. Our server went above and beyond, even recommending that my stepdaughter have half-portions of dishes to create a custom tasting menu, which we hadn’t even asked for. This thoughtful gesture allowed her to enjoy the experience alongside the adults in a way we hadn’t expected, and it really made the meal special. The wine pairing was another highlight. Instead of removing some of the wines we had chosen, our server gave me half glasses of each, so I could still enjoy every wine without feeling rushed. It was a small touch that made the tasting menu feel even more personalized and enjoyable. We were also pleasantly surprised with a free ride from our hotel to the restaurant, saving us the trouble of booking an Uber. Watching the organized kitchen in action was a treat, and overall, it was a flawless experience. If we could, we’d go back every night. Highly recommended!

The food, service, and ambience are exceptional! The restaurant has a beautiful warm and classic interior design, and as you enter you are struck by the open kitchen with blue and white tiles. It is fun to watch the chefs as they prepare the food, and the pizzaiolo. Each course of food was delicious, including the pizza. The staff were attentive and polite.

😊: From the moment we stepped inside we were greeted by Guiseppio who was warm and welcoming. The room exceeded our expectations, we had a large balcony with beautiful table, chairs and sun loungers. We paid for dinner on the evening we arrived and it was the best meal we had while we stayed in Positano, very well deserved Michelin starred restaurant which was a pleasant surprise. 😢: No air con but we knew this before we stayed.

Loved this place! Several comments on the web recommended Taverna while staying in Positano and the best part is they have a car that can come pick you up. Giuseppe was super responsive, organized pick-up and drop-off for us and ended up being our server for the evening as well. The salad we had to start (with the avocados) was a very delicious start. We had a few pastas and a pizza all of which we enjoyed and the bottle of red recommended by Giuseppe was also another winner that I wish I could remember. If you find yourself planning an Amalfi trip, you should add Taverna Del Leone because you'll be very happy you did!

Above and beyond.... After driving in from Rome and then to Positano we finally found parking just outside what we thought was a neighborhood watering hole, but wow were we surprised. Even though they had closed for lunch 10 minutes earlier the owner found us a table and waited on us personally. We did have a limited menu, but were just so glad to get out of the car and eat. The interior was beautiful and even though they had a busy lunch everything was immaculate! The food was delicious and 3 star presentation. To be honest simply the best experience of our 2 week trip!

Best meal in Italy for us. Refined but traditional dishes. Service was phenomenal. Would come back here in a heartbeat. Definitely make a reservation here. The pasta dishes were a highlight as well as the nougat dessert I would not have normally ordered until suggested by the waiter.

We ate here on the first night of our honeymoon and we really lucked out dining at a gold mine restaurant! Months before, Giuseppe (son of the owner) was super responsive and helped us arrange a ride from our hotel to the restaurant. First impression is the grand open kitchen, which for food lovers, is naturally a dinner with a show. Service was attentive, friendly, and honest. Love it when a waiter tells us to stop ordering bc it's probably enough food haha. They were very accommodating to my milk allergy, that they meticulously made one side with cheese and the other without for my husband, a cheese lover. Our main favorite was the gran Crudo/raw fish platter. I don't think I've ever had such delicious raw/fresh fish like this outside of a Japanese omakase/sushi restaurant. The Langoustine was new to me, the red prawn was so sweet, and the honey dipping sauce was very innovative. We debated between Japan or Italy for our honeymoon and I am SO glad my husband persuaded me to do Italy haha bc La Taverna Del Leone set the bar super high. Everything pictured was absolutely delicious, the only one I forgot to document is their house made sorbetto. The persimmon flavor was amazing (and unique!) and the lemon is not for the faint of heart. Giuseppe drove us back and we truly enjoyed conversing with him, about his life, and his family. Just a wonderful restaurant run by good hearted people. We wish they were open for the next days of our honeymoon (but alas it's Xmas Eve/Xmas). Cannot wait to visit Positano again with my family another time to enjoy this place for multiple meals/days!

Hidden gem in Positano. From the moment we walked in we knew we had made the right choice. It was actually recommended by our concierge, Martina. The food was presented like a 5 star restaurant and the quality and flavors matched these stars. The tuna and local white fish tartare were like butter and not overly seasoned. We had the lamb and the pasta, which were both delicate and rich in layers of hidden flavors. We will definitely visit again on our next trip to Positano.

Great restaurant Very friendly and attentive staff. The chef took the extra effort to perfectly cook gluten free pasta dish. It was one of the best she has had in Italy! Definitely one of the best places in Positano.

Our favorite restaurant in Positano! All the food was so fresh and delicious, and for being a Michelin starred place we were shocked at how reasonably priced it was. We enjoyed it so much, we decided to cancel one of our other reservations for later in our trip so we could go again! The first time we went, we got the octopus and squash blossom appetizers, a meat-based pasta and a white pizza to share, and the tiramisu and cheesecake for dessert. We're big eaters and were originally thinking we might each want our own pasta, but the servings were generous so we were very glad we shared one! Honestly everything we had was to die for. My husband was especially dreaming of the squash blossom appetizers and tiramisu aftewards. The second time we got the squash blossom appetizers, a seafood pasta (which was good, but not as good as the one we had the first time), a red pizza, and a steak. The staff is so nice and welcoming. They let us take our time and have a small break between our main meal and dessert, which we really appreciated. In general, it felt very homey and family-run, which was again a surprise considering it has a Michelin star. Can't wait to return when we go back to Positano!

Truly one of the best meals of my life. I will never forget it!! Everything was perfectly flavored, coursed and paired.

We ran into some friends while in Positano and they recommended this place. I was able to call and get dinner reservations and they texted me a pick up point as this restaurant is a bit of a distance from the main area. We started off this dinner really nice! Ordered the food including appetizers and everything was delish!! But the service at that point just stopped - our server said he would be back to take order for dessert and it took him a good 20 minutes to come back. The restaurant wasn't very crowded and we were left with our waters waiting for him or someone else to help us order drinks or dessert. I had to flag him down to get his attention. Very disappointing after the delicious food we had. Hopefully this was a one off because clearly they have good reviews.

We were wandering around and ran into this place on the way to Positano. Didn't have internet to look up the place. Anyways, there are a couple of elderly women in the kitchen and they are very kind and made eye contact even though they didn't speak English. We were the only family dining and there were bunch of hotel staff walking around including the owners but made no eye contact or care to smile or acknowledge us. Didn't feel welcome. The food: I cannot comment on the taste because I am not used to the Italian food like the way they served but the cheesecake was out of the world. Open kitchen is fantastic. I would have given a 4 star had the other staff around us made eye contact/smiled/said hi. I got street food in Pompeii in a place called Pollesteria, the food and service there was much better. Later on i realized that this place has Michelins star and that just shows that Michelins star is not credible. I give three stars for the elderly ladies in the kitchen and for the cheesecake. They also charged 3 Euro for 2 year old which no other place did in Italy. Otherwise poor value for money. Also for all other reviews that tells good things about uncooked fish, you don't need a good cook to serve uncooked stuff you just need a good sourcing person. If you are a tourist that wants to have a good experience and willing to pay for it then don't go here just go to any other restaurant on Italy streets you will be happy.

We were staying next door at the Il San Pietro. No one mentioned this sleeper. We found it via Yelp. 26 reviews and all five stars. Others are spot on. We had the 5 course tasting menu. Every course was top notch. My favorite meal in Italy all week - and the bar is high. Staff was friendly and attentive, food fantastic. Only thing you don't get is a view - so what! Atmosphere is nice.

We had dinner here while visiting Positano, and whole dinner was good I wouldn't say it's worth of a Michelin star. Food was yummy, but as I said nothing out of this world like we are used to when visiting a Michelin restaurant.

Seriously good food at this local Positano restaurant. The amuse bouchée was a small rice ball and one of the best I have ever tasted. The carpaccio was excellent. The pasta and the frito misto were really good as well. The food, service and wine list were all stellar. It is clearly a local favorite and now one of my favorites.

Delicious! Nice place, the best meats! and desserts . Hostess was nice, the pic us from our villa and dropped back!

Amazing family owned business can't say enough about this Place. Great family owned business authentic Italian food but also very up with the times best food Ive had in Italy.

Best Italian food. Fantastic taste, wonderful service, excellent staff, fun ambience. Would eat there every day if I could. What a wonderful restaurant!!!

The rumors are true; food is so much better in Italy! Positano is absolutely amazing. It's one downfall is the ability to get around. Luckily the resort I was staying at had a shuttle service for this restaurant. Everything we had was outstanding. We actually dined here twice over our stay. I do not think I will ever have scallops that will be better than the ones from here. Everything is fresh, the staff is friendly and warm, I can't say enough about it all. In addition to the scallops, the grilled octopus served over a bed of blue potato purée was the tenderest octopus I've ever eaten. I had my share of octopus while staying in Italy and this was the best of the best. All the pastas are fresh. We were treated to complimentary pickings each time we had dinner. Dessert was also wonderful. Honestly it's some of the best food I've ever eaten. I do not think you will be disappointed. Amazing all around. Mangia mangia! If you are staying in Positano, this should be a place you visit. It's tucked away along the Amalfi drive. There isn't much of a view compared to other restaurants in the area, but keep the views because the food tops it all.

They say "no view"... but outside of the restaraunt is a spectacular view of the mountainside. The service was incredible the entire night, they really take care of you here and make sure you enjoy everything you order. Started off the night with a very large pour of wine, most other restaurants gave a very small pour.. this place was very generous. Next came the margarita pizza to start... divine. The pizza sauce was so flavorful and the pizza was so light. The chef sent out a dish from the kitchen after that was very good. Next we ordered the mixed salad with avocado and I am so impressed. I ordered the whole wheat pasta with seafood and my husband ordered the mezzi pasta with fish. Everything was delightful. The dining experience was the best we have had. You get to watch the chefs prepare your meal.

Fabulous welcome, very personal. Music and ambiance was great for a relaxing enjoyable experience. Food was even better! Try the cannolis for an exquisite finish!

Service was great. The food was also great. Loved the place, specially the fish and the ravioli.

If in the area...imo the best restaurant wo the normal seaside views. The food makes up for the lack of scenic landscape. Worth stepping away from tourist center and dining at this establishment.

This restaurant is down the street from on of the most expensive hotels in Positano/laurito. Do not mis it! Although tucked in what seems like the middle of no where on the Positano map, you would be mistaken to not make the journey. The prices are reasonable and the food is awesome!!!! We had the grilled Octopus as an appraiser. Wow was it amazing... I never thought I would try... much less like it but it was amazing and the potatoes the come with it mmmmmmmmmm. We also had the tortolini with blue lobster and the laggassta with eggplant. They were great I wanted more and more of them. Plus if you have. Had a squash blossom yet now is the time! They are amazing!!!!!!!

My mom and I spent 2 days in cooking school with Filomena and Fortunata, the proprietors of Taverna de Leone, and had a great time!! We started with a chef's tasting menu, then had 2 lunches there, so we tried most of their menu options. This is a family establishment that has been around since the 1960s. They deliver and their restaurant is lovely, although you'll need a driver from Positano. It's a very welcoming atmosphere, comfortable and fine at the same time. The food is delicious! The chefs work hard to deliver only the freshest, organic, authentic cuisine from the region. They have their produce and fish delivered daily and the menu changes baed on the selection. The ravioli is like a cloud of cheesiness, the sauces so fresh you feel like your Nonna made them, and the desserts are delightful. If you are looking for authentic regional cuisine in a fine dinning family environment, or a nice cooking school for your vacation, I highly recommend this place!

This place is AMAZING! Whatever you do, do not pass this up if you're anywhere in Positano, Amalfi, Salerno - worth the drive. Best bolognese anywhere. Our waiter was extremely knowledge about wine selections and made fantastic recommendations to compliment our meals. Desserts were divine. Limoncello then perfect end to a perfect meal. Service absolutely impeccable! Wish i could give more than 5 stars!

Simply one of the best restaurants we've ever been to, yes ... it was that good. You can tell its family run and Giuseppe and his family and crew made our night special. Casual enough to relax, but the food a nice mix of traditional yet with a modern twist. Every single part of the meal was outstanding ... thanks so much, you made the last night of our trip to Positano the best!! MOLTO BENE TUTTO BENE! aka YUM, and thank you!

Superb! Amberjack and pasta with truffles were delicious. Nice wine selection. Professional services. All around wonderful dinner experience:)

Delicious food and surprisingly affordable. They also sent a courtesy shuttle to pick us up and drop us off. You should probably make a reservation in advance as they get busy! I ordered the lobster tortellini which was light and fluffy. Our friends ordered lamb and sea bass and all have high remarks. We ordered a diavola pizza as a starter, and it was a great idea!! The desserts were super tasty, especially the almond nougat, canellonis, and tiramisu!! The only complaint we had was slow service, so don't be afraid to call the waiter over if you need anything.

First night in Positano and we were too exhausted to venture into town. Our villa hostess recommended La Taverna del Leone - and they deliver! We didn't have a menu to order from when we called, but they told us to order anything we wanted and they'd make it. Amazing. The arrabbiata sauce with sausage was outstanding. Surprisingly, the seafood dishes tasted a little off - the shrimp were teeny rock shrimp and a weird consistency, and the other seafood was lacking any flavor. (Perhaps it was all frozen instead of fresh? No one got sick, so yay for that.) They also got one of the orders wrong, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to our massacring of the Italian language. With tip, we paid €15 per person. Their delivery service alone was worth it.

Best place I've been to in Positano and one of my favorites in Italy. All of the food was outstanding, reasonably priced, and the staff is very friendly. It's a short 5 minute walk from the Il San Pietro Hotel - it's a must try for anyone staying at the hotel - and worth the drive for anyone visiting the Positano area. If you don't see anything on the menu that piques your interest, just ask and they'll cook something up special for you!

A few of the dishes were "finished" since it was the last night they were open at the end of the xmas season. But they made do, subbing mullet for lobster in the tortellini. Lightly seared amberjack with escarole and a bean cream was terrific. Creative, fresh, local. And you can watch the head chefs (mom and daughter?) and their crew work their magic. They had few tourists the last couple of nights but on this evening, it was humming with locals for both pizza take away and sit-down. They will pick you up in Positano.

Best meal of our trip. The pizza is one of the best, if not the best, I've had. The service is fantastic. The setting is charming. It's not touristy despite the presence of some tourists. Truly a gem!

Best restaurant in Positano. Food delicious, service supererb ! Highest recommendation !

My boyfriend and I visited this restaurant on our first night in Positano. We had an incredible experience! The staff was so welcoming and friendly and even picked us up from where we were staying. The restaurant is just outside of Positano, a five minute taxi away and well worth it. The ambiance is very charming and I don't think the photos do it justice. There's a beautiful open kitchen where you can watch the chef's cook while you wait for your food and they have a great wine list as well. We both had incredible meals, I had Sea Bass which I highly recommend and my boyfriend had a delicious seafood pasta which he said was his favorite meal in all of Italy.

I can't speak highly enough of Giuseppe and the team at La Taverna del Leone. We were on holiday for my father's birthday with six of us and this was a highlight of our stay. Giuseppe, the son of the owner, was so accommodating in planning our dinner and the dinner itself exceeded all expectations. The quality of the food and the service would have cost double in the states. All staff was incredibly friendly and professional and the food was delectable. We had octopus and zucchini blossoms for appetizers and mostly seafood entrees, all of which were spectacular. Thank you La Taverna del Leone for a night we will never forgot! This restaurant is a must if you stay in the area!

This restaurant was highly recommended. The atmosphere is lovely and the open kitchen is always a good sign. Service was okay. They seemed to forget about us as it was a bit busy and we had to try and get someone's attention to get a cup of coffee long after we were finished with dinner. As for the Entree's they were good but portions are a bit small. The pizzas looked amazing but we had already ordered our food otherwise we might have ordered one. The servers were lovely and they spoke English and Italian. Overall a good experience. I would recommend going, try the pizza :)

Amazing place, great, relaxing, beautiful atmosphere. Was recommended by our hotel and we loved it. The food is home made and incredible. The pizza and pasta was delicious, best we had at the coast. We ordered a veggie pizza well done and I requested a fettuccini Bologna since it was not on the menu and mama gladly made it for me. Delicious. Wish we knew about this place sooner, we would have gone for seconds, probably thirds too!

I went there to eat with my kids several times , great pizza and great antipasti , so delicious ..I come back at leat once per month , grazie to the owner Fortunata ..

Great place. The best value and food In positano. The staff was superb and the food delicioso.

Spent a wonderful morning learning about the local specialties and then enjoyed delicious gnocchi, ravioli and eggplant. Beautiful decor, wonderful family run restaurant.