Costa Smeralda is arguably Sardinia’s most beautiful stretch of coastline and has become popular with the jet-set and yacht crowds.
→ Read Next: The Ultimate Guide to Costa Smeralda
Among Costa Smeralda’s hot spots, La Scogliera is a restaurant that is known for its upscale lunch experience.
While planning a trip to Sardinia, I was recommended to get lunch at La Scogliera. After doing further research, I realized it had really mixed reviews; some people loved it and others thought it was overrated and overpriced. Ultimately, we decided to go and give it a try.
So, I’m sharing all about my experience at La Scogliera!
About La Scogliera
La Scogliera is located on La Maddalena island, off the coast of Sardinia, near Porto Massimo.
Its location is unique in that it’s perched on a beautiful rocky section of the coastline but with a private beach area as well. La Scogliera translates to “the cliff” which I think totally suites the location!
The view from the restaurant overlooks the bay with unbelievably turquoise water. All around, the setting is beautiful and incredibly idyllic.
The restaurant is quite sizable and has several different sections. There is the main dining room, several private dining rooms, a lounge bar, and a beach club area with day beds and loungers.
We had booked a lunch reservation in the main dining room and were very excited when they sat us at the table closest to the sea — such a beautiful view!
About the Menu
La Scogliera serves a mix of fresh seafood, sushi and Asian dishes, as well as Italian favorites.
For a lighter lunch, there are tuna, salmon and other tataki options. And for groups, there are a couple of different sushi boats with a mix of sashimi, rolls, nirigi, gunkan, and hot rolls.
If you’re craving Italian food, the menu features a variety of pastas, pizzas, and steak dishes.
Dining Experience at La Scogliera
Our meal started off with with a welcome drink that was a refreshing champagne cocktail mixed with limes and fresh mint. The presentation was fun — our server stacked the wine glasses on top of each other while pouring the champagne from up high!
Then, we were served an amuse bouche of salmon eggs served in a ceramic egg dish in an actual egg carton. It was such a creative (and delicious!) way to start the meal.
As a group, we decided to order a few different things to share. Starting off with the seafood platter, we were able to sample fresh sea urchin, oysters, tuna tartare, shrimp and razor clams.
After our starters, we ordered a Buffalo mozzarella pizza with shaved truffle, the grilled Wagyu tataki with black truffle and yuzu, and the lobster.
Everything was delicious — from the fresh mozzarella to the shaved truffles to the wagyu, the ingredients were certainly premium!
On top of our lovely meal, we enjoyed the service at the restaurant. Everyone we spoke with was friendly, helpful, and wanted to make sure we had the best experience possible.
As the afternoon progressed, the restaurant started to get more lively. There was a DJ playing upbeat music and, as groups finished their lunches, there was even dancing. Definitely a fun vibe!
Tips for Visiting La Scogliera
Before visiting La Scogliera, I read the reviews online and saw that many reviewers noted the high prices. Since this restaurant is an upscale European summer “hot spot,” we were expecting prices to match and took a look at the menu and pricing online before hand.
I felt many of the dishes were priced on par with other upscale seafront restaurants in Europe. Plus, with the premium ingredients used (I’m looking at you, truffles!), most of the prices did make sense.
That being said, there were a few items that took us a bit by surprise. And, if you’re planning a visit to La Scogliera, take note here.
Firstly, the welcome drinks were delicious and I loved the presentation. However, the drinks are not priced as cocktails (which are €25, by the way). The cocktails are made with champagne so you’ll be charged for the bottle(s) of champagne used to make the drinks for your group. So, make sure to select a champagne price range that you’re comfortable with or skip the welcome drinks!
Secondly, some of the seafood specials (like the catch of the day and the lobster) are charged per 100 grams. Since each fish or lobster is going to vary in size, the cost can be a little confusing and it can get pricey quickly. I’d say stick with the menu items if you want to stay within a certain budget. There are plenty of seafood options on the menu too if your set on fish, lobster, or other delicacies from the sea.
Final Thoughts on La Scogliera Sardinia
With the aforementioned notes, I think La Scogliera can be an amazing lunch experience. Similar to other trendy seafront destinations in Europe, you can expect premium ingredients (with a price tag to match) in an absolutely stunning setting with an international crowd.
All in all, it is a beautiful place for an upscale lunch with a fun, lively atmosphere!
Leave a Reply