Being very popular with tourists, especially those visiting Sardinia for the first time, it is quite common to find tourist menus in many restaurants in Alghero. For this reason, during our short stay, we always asked the locals for advice.
In this short guide, I recommend five restaurants where to eat in Alghero in the city center, so that they are easy to reach and that serve excellent local cuisine at affordable prices.
Unfortunately, our Alghero trip lasted only a few days, so we only managed to try three of them. However, I feel obliged to add the other two because they were highly recommended by the people of Alghero and by those who have tried them.
All the places we recommend have high chairs for children, so if you are traveling with your family, they are perfect.
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Hungry yet? Here are five restaurants in Alghero where you can’t go wrong!
Trattoria Caragol
Caragol was not on our list so it was a very pleasant discovery. We ate here on our last night and had a great time. The owners were very kind and friendly, the waiter played with our son every time he passed by entertaining him all night.
At Caragol we ordered an appetizer of breaded fish in agliata, a typical tomato sauce from Alghero that is very rich in garlic. For the first courses, I ordered tagliolini with diced swordfish, the same for my son but with malloreddus (Sardinian gnocchi), while my husband ordered maccarones de busa, which is fresh short pasta with clams, cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley.
The fresh pasta is made on-site and products such as sausages, meat and cheeses, are from the family business. The menu also features several fish options and to prepare the dishes, they use what the sea offers that day.
Although it is right in the Alghero historic center, traditional Sardinian dishes can be enjoyed in a quiet and secluded atmosphere surrounded by rough sandstone décor and soft lighting.
- Where: Via Majorca 69.
Trattoria Lo Romanì
Trattoria Lo Romanì is a top choice if you are wondering where to eat in Alghero’s historic center. This too was a last-minute discovery as it was Sunday and when we called to book Al Tuguri (see below), they told us it was closed on Sundays. This was also a restaurant recommended to us by locals living and working in the area.
A sophisticated but also easy-going environment, a helpful and kind service. Although the name suggests a simple trattoria eatery, we had the impression of being in a higher-end restaurant.
We had a first course, some delicious ravioli with prawns and bottarga, a second course, a slice of grilled tuna served with caramelized red onions and rocket pesto, a side dish of fresh salad and for dessert, the tumbarelle (small ravioli) with ricotta and citrus fruits.
Here too, everything was available for the child, both the high chair and a light dish off the menu. Since it was the last lunch after a couple of days of exploring the city and the area, in addition to it being very hot, the child was starting to get nervous, so here we had to hurry a bit. Lo Romanì is definitely one of the restaurants in Alghero where we will gladly return to try other dishes from their mainly fish-based menu.
- Where: Via Lazzaretto 9.
Nautilus Ristorante
Nautilus was the first restaurant we tried in Alghero as soon as we arrived because, in addition to being excellent, it is also right on the port, and we had booked the boat to Neptune’s Grottoes for 1:45 pm. The location was not only convenient, but from our table on the terrace we could see the dock from where the boats to the caves leave: it would have been difficult to get any better.
As soon as we arrived, the waiters welcomed us and let us choose where to sit. We went upstairs and our table, although inside, was near the open window. It felt as if we were outside but without the wind. The vista spoke for itself, a beautiful view of the port and the bastions of Alghero.
We were quite in a hurry so we ordered a first course each, pennette on a tomato sauce for our child, and a side dish.
I ordered tagliolini with squid ink, mussels and cherry tomatoes on a cream of zucchini and mint, and my husband had culurgiones (typical Ogliastra ravioli filled with potatoes, cheese and mint) on a tomato sauce, sautéed vegetables and burrata. The dishes were excellent, but the portions were kind of small.
We couldn’t order anything else because our boat was getting close, otherwise we probably would have tried at least a second course or a dessert. Yet, this is a top choice if you are looking for where to eat in Alghero near the port.
- Where: Forte della Maddalenetta 4.
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Mabrouk
Unfortunately, we were unable to go to Mabrouk. It was on our list but it’s only open for dinner, and after spending a whole day wandering around the city and its surroundings, my one-year-old son was starting to get tired and nervous so we headed to our hotel.
In addition to having read excellent reviews, Mabrouk was also recommended to us by two local artisans, so next time in Alghero, a dinner here will definitely be a must. Located a stone’s throw from the cathedral, Mabrouk offers a fixed menu of five appetizers, three first courses, three second courses, dessert and drinks included for a price ranging from €40 to €55.
A restaurant that only serves fish (their motto is “only fish, only fresh, only in the evening”), at Mabrouk the dishes change every day depending on the catch of the day which includes the best the market has to offer and what the family boat catches. Regardless of the day, they assured us that at Mabrouk you can never go wrong.
- Where: Via Santa Barbara 4.
Al Tuguri
Al Tuguri is a historic restaurant in Alghero founded in 1973 and located in the central Via Majorca. The sandstone interior opens with a small living room and to reach the restaurant you have to go upstairs. Seats are very limited (24), so booking is necessary, especially in high season.
The raw materials used for the excellent dishes are strictly local and very fresh. At Al Tuguri you can order three fixed menus, one seafood (€50), one meat (€50) and one vegetarian (€45), all with the format of 5 appetizers, 1 first course and 1 second course, dessert included.
The dishes change with the season, so it is always best to consult the website before booking, even if you will always find the menu of the day hanging at the entrance. The recipes brought to the table are a celebration of flavors and aromas, with original and bold combinations that aim to give a unique sensory experience.
Al Tuguri is open from Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. It is closed on Sundays, so if you are planning a weekend in Alghero, make sure you book for Saturday a couple of days in advance.
- Where: Via Majorca 113.
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