Ischia Travel Guide: Things to Do, Restaurants & Insider Tips
People frequently ask me where they should eat, drink, swim and explore when visiting Ischia. After returning to the island many times, I have developed a long list of favorite places and experiences.
Rather than continuing to send individual recommendations, I decided to collect them here. These are the Ischia restaurants, beach clubs, wine bars, thermal parks and special experiences that we genuinely enjoy and regularly recommend to friends.
Where to Stay in Ischia Porto
Aragona Palace Hotel & Spa
For location, Aragona Palace Hotel & Spa is one of the best places to stay in Ischia Porto.
The hotel sits almost perfectly between Riva Destra and Via Roma, placing you just steps from the harbor restaurants, wine bars, shops, and evening activity. It is easy to enjoy a long dinner, stop for drinks afterward, and walk back to the hotel without needing a taxi.
The location feels central without being disruptive. You are close to the action, but far enough away that the surrounding noise should not interfere with your stay.
Aragona Palace is also less than a 10-minute walk from Spiaggia San Pietro, making it easy to combine a beach day with everything Ischia Porto offers in the evening.
The indoor pool is a great place to relax and includes a small Turkish bath. The real standout, however, is the rooftop outdoor pool overlooking the harbor. The views make it one of the hotel’s best features and an ideal place to unwind above the activity of the port.
The hotel also has a full-service spa offering massages and a variety of other treatments. It is a welcome addition after a long travel day, a boat excursion, or several hours spent exploring the island.
The restaurant is a convenient option, although I have not personally eaten a full meal there. I have enjoyed drinks at the recently remodeled bar, which is a comfortable place to start the evening or have a final drink before heading upstairs.
For travelers who value walkability, spa amenities, harbor views, and immediate access to both the waterfront and Ischia Porto’s main shopping street, Aragona Palace is an excellent home base.
My Two Favorite Places in Ischia Porto
Aenaria Beach
Aenaria Beach is our favorite place to spend the day in Ischia Porto. It is less than a 10-minute walk from Via Roma and is ideal for several relaxing hours by the sea.
You can rent a sunbed and umbrella, swim, walk along the beach, people-watch and enjoy excellent food and drinks without leaving the property. We usually arrive around 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. and stay until 3:00 or 4:00 p.m.
The owners, Carmine and Leslie, are wonderful people, and the food has always been consistently excellent. It has become one of those places where we immediately feel at home.
L’Altra Mezzanotte
L’Altra Mezzanotte is our favorite dinner restaurant along Riva Destra, the restaurant-lined waterfront beside the harbor.
As you walk along Riva Destra, restaurant hosts will enthusiastically invite you to review their menus and join them for dinner. A friendly but confident “No, grazie” will become very useful. Keep walking until you reach L’Altra Mezzanotte. It is worth the extra few minutes.
The outdoor tables sit directly on the cobblestone waterfront, making this a wonderful place to watch boats, harbor activity and people passing by.
The menu includes pizzas, pastas, seafood, fresh fish prepared tableside and meat dishes. The food is outstanding, but the personality of the restaurant is equally memorable.
The manager, Pietro, is a true showman. He brings energy and humor to the evening and makes dinner feel like a complete experience, from the welcome prosecco through the final course.
When visiting Aenaria Beach or L’Altra Mezzanotte, tell them:
“Dennis from New York said hello and asked you to take good care of me.”
We visit both places almost every day when we are in Ischia, and the people there have become like extended family.
Where to Go for Drinks in Ischia Porto
Enoteca Mimí
Enoteca Mimí is our favorite wine bar in Ischia Porto. It is a small, charming spot located just a few doors from the beginning of Via Roma.
The wine selection is excellent, and the staff is knowledgeable, friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is relaxed and generally avoids the large crowds found at some of the busier harbor bars.
They also offer small tapas and cheese plates. We sometimes order the cheese simply because it pairs so well with the wine.
For a quiet glass of wine before or after dinner, this is usually our first choice.
Bar Epomeo
Bar Epomeo sits at the prominent corner where Riva Destra meets Via Roma.
It is larger and livelier than Enoteca Mimí, with a popular crowd, happy-hour specials and one of the best corners in Porto for sitting outside and watching the evening activity around the harbor.
They are also bringing a more elevated cocktail experience to Ischia Porto, making it a good choice when you want more energy than a traditional wine bar.
Bar Cappuccino
Bar Cappuccino is another small, newer spot just beyond Enoteca Mimí.
Like so many places in Ischia, the owners are exceptionally friendly. We sat outside, had a wonderful time and were repeatedly surprised with complimentary bites. The evening eventually ended with a free shot.
It is casual, warm and welcoming. Stop for an espresso or cappuccino during the day, or settle in for a drink during the evening.
More Ischia Porto Restaurants and Nightlife
Da Umberto
Da Umberto is one of our favorite places for pizza in Ischia Porto.
L’Altra Mezzanotte also makes excellent pizza, so choosing between the two can be difficult. Da Umberto earns extra points for its location on an angled corner of Via Roma that is perfect for evening people-watching.
It is more affordable than many nearby restaurants, the food is very good, and the location makes it a consistently reliable choice for a casual dinner.
Il Giardino degli Aranci
Il Giardino degli Aranci was a completely unexpected discovery.
We originally entered while looking for shelter from the rain and found ourselves inside a garden-style courtyard with a live band, a lively crowd and a fantastic atmosphere. We ended up staying much longer than planned.
During better weather, the music and activity move into the courtyard. The crowd includes plenty of local residents, which adds to the authentic, energetic feeling.
We did not eat extensively during our visit, but it is an excellent destination for drinks, live music and a fun night out in Ischia Porto.
Negombo or Poseidon: Which Ischia Thermal Park Is Better?
In my opinion, Negombo is the better choice.
Poseidon is larger and more spread out, but I did not find it more attractive or enjoyable. The property requires more walking and feels less intimate, with a sprawling resort-style layout. When I visited, Poseidon also required guests to wear swim caps. Check the current policy before your visit.
Negombo feels more relaxed, compact and visually interesting.
One of my favorite areas is the café positioned higher on the hillside. It almost feels like a treehouse surrounded by greenery. The food was surprisingly good and reasonably priced, especially for a thermal park where your dining choices are naturally limited.
Negombo also has a hammam, or Turkish bath, which becomes extremely warm. A separate spa offers additional treatments and services.
The thermal pools vary in temperature and mineral content. Many feel more like hot tubs than rustic natural springs, but moving between the different pools is still an enjoyable and unusual experience.
I think Negombo is worth experiencing at least once, particularly for anyone who has never visited an Ischia thermal park. I enjoyed the day, although it is not necessarily something I would repeat during every trip.
Negombo is outside the most convenient parts of Ischia Porto. Plan on using the bus or paying for a relatively expensive taxi.
Take a Private Boat Charter Around Ischia
For a truly special Ischia experience, book a private boat charter around the island.
We used Ischia Charter Boat. It is expensive, but it remains one of the most memorable experiences we have had in Ischia.
Their distinctive NINJA boats are easy to recognize in the harbor. From the moment we boarded, the experience made us feel like rockstars.
The charter took us around the entire island, with stops at secluded swimming areas, views of Castello Aragonese from the water and a trip inside one of Ischia’s coastal caves.
The crew was flexible about stopping wherever we wanted. They even helped me find locations where I could safely fly my drone. We relaxed with champagne while seeing Ischia from an entirely different perspective.
Looking back at the island from the sea is spectacular.
The company is operated by a father-and-son team, Antonio, who also goes by Tony, and his son Roberto. They treated us exceptionally well, and we have now booked the experience more than once.
A private charter can feel expensive when the cost is divided between only two people. We enjoyed it so much that we would still consider booking it again as a couple.
Lunch at Ristorante La Pace
During our first charter, the crew took us to Ristorante La Pace, a secluded restaurant that is accessible only by boat.
The restaurant sits directly on the rocks and feels wonderfully isolated from the rest of the island. The food was good, although prices were on the higher side.
Lunch at Gardenia Mare
On our most recent charter, we stopped for lunch at Gardenia Mare.
It has the atmosphere of an upscale beach club, with loungers available in a separate area. A small boat collected us from the charter and brought us directly to the restaurant’s dock.
The restaurant sits above the water and offers spectacular views of the sea.
We thought the food was better than at La Pace, although it was also slightly more expensive. Gardenia Mare appears to be accessible from land as well, making it possible to visit without booking a private charter.
Visit Sant’Angelo
Sant’Angelo is a beautiful village and an excellent place to spend part of an afternoon.
It has the picturesque atmosphere many travelers imagine when planning an Italian island vacation. Expect small shops, waterfront views, pedestrian lanes, plenty of walking and a slower, more relaxed pace.
I personally prefer staying in Ischia Porto because it provides easier access to a larger selection of restaurants, bars and transportation. Sant’Angelo is less convenient as a base for exploring the entire island. Getting around typically involves buses, scooters or taxis.
That is entirely a matter of travel style. Travelers seeking a quiet and secluded atmosphere may feel differently.
We had a very good and reasonably priced meal at Da Pasquale. It was casual rather than formal, but the food was solid and enjoyable.
I have also heard excellent things about Taverna Pietro Paolo detto Stalino.
Sant’Angelo is absolutely worth visiting, particularly as part of a boat trip or while exploring the southern side of Ischia.
Tour and Taste Wine at Casa D’Ambra
Casa D’Ambra is a vineyard near Forio and a great option for anyone seeking an experience beyond beaches and waterfront towns.
The roughly three-hour tour and tasting includes good wine, a generous charcuterie board and beautiful views from the property.
I highly recommend it for wine lovers or anyone looking to spend part of the day somewhere quieter and more rural.
Discover a Cave Winery Near Ischia Porto
Near Ischia Porto, there is a small cave winery where the owner, Marco, offers intimate tours and tastings.
The caves were once used to store food before refrigeration and are built directly into the hillside near the port. This is more of a historic cantina experience than a conventional vineyard tour.
The age of the caves, the unusual setting and Marco’s personality make the experience incredibly memorable.
It feels personal, authentic and completely different from visiting a commercial winery.
Have a Romantic Dinner at Auras
Auras in Ischia Ponte is a lovely choice for a romantic dinner with beautiful views of the sea.
The food has always been consistently good, but the setting and atmosphere are what make the restaurant particularly special.
It can become lively and family-oriented when crowded, so the mood will depend on the evening. At the right time, it is one of the most scenic dinner settings in the area.
Find La Vigna di Alberto
La Vigna di Alberto is one of the most unusual and memorable restaurants in Ischia.
It is hidden in the mountains, extremely difficult to find and marked by little or no obvious signage. A reservation will usually need to be arranged by your hotel or someone with local connections.
Bring cash and organize transportation in advance.
The restaurant is rustic, informal and full of character. You select from a small menu and choose red or white wine, which arrives in a carafe.
Then the food begins.
Course after course of simple, delicious dishes arrives at the table, often including items you did not realize were part of the meal. The prices are remarkably reasonable for the amount of food and the overall experience.
Depending on the evening, a guitarist or accordion player may move between the tables and serenade the guests.
La Vigna di Alberto takes more effort to organize than an ordinary restaurant reservation. That effort is completely worthwhile. It remains one of the most distinctive, off-the-beaten-path experiences we have found anywhere on the island.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Ischia
Ischia rewards travelers who move beyond the most obvious tourist stops.
Spend time along the harbor. Relax at a local beach club. Try a thermal park. Visit a vineyard. Take a boat around the island. Most importantly, leave room in your itinerary for the unexpected places and people you discover along the way.
These recommendations are based on the places we return to, the people we have come to know and the experiences we continue talking about after each trip.
That personal connection is one of the main reasons we keep returning to Ischia.
