The Perfect First Night in Rome – A Trastevere Food Tour

Before kicking off our big Italian vacation in 2026 on the Amalfi Coast, we spent one day and evening in Rome. The sole item on our agenda was a food tour through one or Dan and my favorite neighborhoods in Rome, Trastevere (fun fact – also where we lived when we studied in Rome!). This was the third time we have taken this tour, and it was just as good as we remembered. This post details our food tour through Trastevere with Eating Europe!

Walking to the food tour. I love Rome so much – just casually passing ruins on our walk.

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Cantina di Vesuvio: A Fun Winery Lunch After Pompeii

On the heels of my post about the wonderful Le Vigne di Raito in Raito, Italy, this post details our experience at another winery we visited on our trip to the Amalfi Coast, Cantina del Vesuvio Winery!  We visited Cantina del Vesuvio after a full morning exploring Pompeii with a private guide and after hectic and crowded Pompeii, Cantina del Vesuvio was a welcome retreat away from the crowds, complete with delicious food and a decent amount of wine. I certainly recommend a visit after Pompeii.

Cantina del Vesuvio. I love these trees.

Cantina del Vesuvio Winery is literally located on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius (or Monte Vesuvio in Italian), hence the name. Given its location, the winery offers beautiful views, including of Sorrento and the Gulf of Naples and of Mount Vesuvius. We drove about 20 minutes from Pompeii to Cantina del Vesuvio, arriving slightly early for our pre-booked tasting and lunch (there is free parking on site!). And yes, a tour and lunch is the standard package. Its reasonably priced and easy to reserve online. And on that note, reservations are required, but I don’t think you need to make them too far in advance.

Cantina del Vesuvio.

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Le Vigne di Raito: A Special Wine Pairing Dinner Overlooking The Salerno Gulf

On our second evening in Raito, Italy (read about our whole experience here and here), we booked a very special dinner for our friend’s milestone birthday. While Raito is simply tiny without much to do aside from its sweeping views of the Salerno Gulf, Raito is home to one of only two wineries on the Amalfi Coast. And, one of them, Le Vigne di Raito, happens to be located only a five minute walk from our hotel, Hotel Raito!

Dan and I at Le Vigne di Raito.

Le Vigne di Raito is a boutique organic vineyard, founded by owner Patrizia Malanga in 2001. Specializing largely in red wines, Le Vigne di Raito priduces two flagship wines – the Ragis red and Vitamenia rose. Le Vigne di Raito also offers winery tours and tasting to the public, as well as specialty dining experiences, including that paired with lunch or dinner, a cooking or pizza making course, and picnics in the vineyard.

Le Vigne di Raito.

Grapes at Le Vigne di Raito.

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Hotel Raito – A Magical Amalfi Weekend Away From The Crowds!

If you read my latest post, you know that the first proper stop on our big Italian family vacation in 2025 was in Raito, Italy, which is located just above Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast. Very swoon. And, we stayed at the absolute loveliest hotel, Hotel Raito. This post describes our wonderful time at Hotel Raito and provides a detailed review of our stay!

View from Room 514 (Deluxe Sea View room).

The sunrise at Hotel Raito. I’m not a morning person, but this was worth waking up to see.

Pros of Hotel Raito: Absolutely amazing views, stunning pool, our balcony was gorgeous, did not feel insanely crowded, on site parking lot.

Cons of Hotel Raito: A bit pricey, not within walking distance to much, quiet at night, some parts are a bit dated.

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Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte – A Delicious Dinner on the Water in Ischia Porto

Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte is a long-standing restaurant in Ischia Porto’s Riva Destra, or the area to the right of Ischia Porto that is lined with waterside restaurants and bars.  Apparently the Riva Destra has been a popular evening hangout since the 1960as. Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte opened in 2015 when two locals reopened an older restaurant that had closed. Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte itself is easy enough to find, it’s located right in the line of restaurants on the Riva Destra.

Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte.

Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte offers both indoor, air-conditioned seating, as well as outdoor seating in the cutest teal chairs. The outdoor area offers port views, while the interior offers views of the wood-fired oven. The staff at Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte is incredibly friendly and welcoming to tourists.  Known for its fresh, local seafood, Ristorante L’Altra Mezzanotte also has a wood-fire oven for preparing pizzas and some other dishes.

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