02 September 2008
Looking for a place to relax while sipping a cocktail facing the Big Blue? Want to treat your taste buds to some of the best French and Corsican cuisine? Porto Vecchio welcomes thousands of new and regular visitors every year, all fascinated by the Island of Beauty.
Eating in the town centre:
"Le Troubadour", 13 rue du General Leclerc, is the best place to go in town for wine amateurs. The restaurant's open-plan wine cellar holds wines from all around the world.
The restaurant is open all-year long and there is a private parking for clients. Menus average €29.
"Sous la Tonelle", rue Abbatucci, is a traditional Corsican cuisine heaven with menus at €25. In July and August the restaurant is only open in the evenings.
"Stella Marina", 1 rue Pasteur, serves both pizzas and Corsican dishes for around €20 per person. The place is only open from April to September.
Seaside restaurants:
"U Corsu" is located on the commercial port. Views from the restaurant spread across the gulf of Porto Vecchio, the harbour, the citadel and the surrounding mountains.
Menus are at €28 and include a selection of typically Mediterranean dishes of fish and grilled meat. The restaurant is closed outside of the high season from the end of December to the end of March.
"L'Antigu" is located in the very heart of the citadel (51 rue Borgu) and offers some of the best views across the gulf from its open-air terrace. The restaurant is open all year-round and menus are at €22 in the evenings.
"Le Bistrot" is located on Quai Pascal Paoli and is open all year-round except in February. This is the place to go for some excellent fish dishes. Count €45 per person for a la carte orders.
In the vicinity of Porto Vecchio:
"Le Refuge" restaurant is situated just outside of Porto Vecchio, near the village called l'Ospedale on the D368, in the locality of Cartalavonu.
Corsican specialities and folk dancing and singing twice a week is on the menu. The place is open from March to November and the average price per person is €22.
Visitors looking for a real treat should head for the "Santa Maria" gastronomic restaurant in Santa Giulia marina, just south of Porto Vecchio on the N198.
The restaurant's gastro menu is at €36 at lunch time and at €56 for dinner. The place also has gorgeous views over Santa Giulia Bay and has a swimming pool and beach access.
The restaurant is only open during the high season from April to mid-November.
Restaurants outside of Porto Vecchio:
Visitors to Corsica planning a visit to the archaeological sites of the Alta Rocca region should aim for a lunch break at the restaurant "L'Oree du Site" near the ruins of Araghju, located around 15 minutes away from Porto Vecchio.
The place offers snacks and restaurant meals all day, including Corsican dishes such as sciaccia, suckling-pig, veal with olives, fiadonu and chestnut flan.
It is best to time a visit for Saturday evenings when the restaurant holds its weekly folk dancing and singing nights.
Menus average the €9 and the restaurant is open from April to mid-October only.
Driving into central Corsica is an unforgettable experience and holidaymakers staying in Porto Vecchio should head for the town of Zonza in the Alta Rocca to admire Bavella's needles and its cragged landscape from the Auberge du Sanglier's terrace.
The restaurant is a 45-minute drive away and menus include diverse local Corsican specialities for around €22 per person. The place is closed from January to mid-March.
