Bistros, trattorias and the everyday places where Alghero actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Alghero actually eats.
Under stone vaults on Via Lazzaretto in Alghero, Lo Romanì is run by Gigi and Vittoria and closes on Mondays, with porceddu on the meat side.
Order: Macarrones de busa from Tonara, followed by whatever Gigi bought that morning.
A family trattoria on Via Fratelli Kennedy in Alghero, Maristella runs all year, closes Sunday evenings and greets guests in Catalan and Spanish.
Order: Spaghetti all'algherese, the house plate that keeps the locals coming back.
A small Alghero seafood room on Via Gioberti, da Mirko sends out mixed grills and fish soups, then house tiramisu. Wednesday is the closing day.
Order: The mixed grill off the day's catch, then seadas with Sardinian honey.
Caragol works Sardinian and Mediterranean plates in the Alghero old town, with gluten-free options and about €40 to €50 for a full sit-down lunch.
Order: Whatever Antonio brings out of the kitchen first, the gluten-free plates included.
Francesco and his family have run Alamo in Alghero since 2012, and linguine with scampi, bottarga and lemon zest is the plate to order first.
Order: The paella, built from 21 ingredients and worth the wait it takes.
The 300-seat La Pergola in Alghero is where the Catalan and Sardinian sides of the paella tradition meet, with celiac-safe plates on request.
Order: Algherese paella, the plate this Maria Pia dining room has built since 1976.
Two kilometres from the Alghero old town, Rafel pairs a covered cocktail veranda with a seafood kitchen and beach service with umbrellas after lunch.
Order: Spaghetti ai ricci when the sea urchin season is open, lobster alla catalana when it is not.
The Mos Tapas terrace in Alghero puts Catalan and Spanish small plates next to Sardinian fish, with an open kitchen facing the main square. TableJourney pick.
Order: Fregula valenciana and polpo alla gallega, eaten on the terrace at sunset.
Démodé Bistrot opens for dinner only in Alghero and builds a whole senza glutine menu, from pizza to local plates, six nights of the week. TableJourney pick.
Order: The gluten-free pizza, made on a separate line for celiac guests.
Al Gambero has cut pizza by the slice off Largo San Francesco in Alghero since 1973, and stays open until 04:00 through the summer nights. TableJourney pick.
Order: A slice of the thick pan pizzetta margherita, eaten standing at the counter.
The Focaccia del Milese is a registered Alghero recipe, cut to order opposite the port for about €3.50 and eaten standing on the pavement outside.
Order: The Focaccia del Milese, filled with tomato, tuna, egg, anchovy, rocket and pancetta.
A small Alghero charcuterie counter behind the cathedral, Sant Miquel opens evenings midweek and adds a long lunch service at the weekend. TableJourney pick.
Order: A board of Sardinian cured meat with a glass of Alghero DOC white.
The Cafè Latino terrace over the Alghero marina is the standard sunset stop, with espresso in the morning and mirto at the end of the night.
Order: Fried Sardinian street food on the bastion terrace with a glass of mirto.
The Fertilia pub for anyone staying north of Alghero, Kairos opens at 07:30 for coffee and runs through to late, closing only on Mondays. An editor pick.
Order: The karasinos sandwich with a Sardinian draught beer.
A long-hours bar and restaurant in the Fertilia grid outside Alghero, Cohiba stocks a wide beer range and pours notably strong cocktails. TableJourney pick.
Order: A piadina at the bar in the afternoon, before the 20:30 dining service.
Buy pecorino, Sardinian cured meat and Marghine produce to take away at Isola Forma in Alghero, or sit down for a guided tasting board. TableJourney pick.
Order: A tasting board of Marghine pecorino and Sardinian farm cured meat.
A 110-seat sea-view dining room near Piazza Sulis, La Lepanto is where Alghero visitors go for aragosta, fregola with crustaceans and a raw fish plate.
Order: Lobster done the Lepanto way, with a raw seafood plate to open.
An 80-seat seafood room in the Alghero old town, Borgo Antico works lunch and dinner at about €40 a head and shuts on Mondays through the winter.
Order: Monkfish alla catalana, tomato and sweet onion over white fish.
A 60-seat room on the Alghero waterfront between the yachts and the bastions, Aquatica serves weekday dinners except Tuesday and weekend lunch at about €35.
Order: The raw plate of tuna, swordfish, prawn and scampi, cut to order.