In this article, you’ll find our reviews of what we think are the best restaurants to eat at in Bastia.
The range of restaurants in the capital of northern Corsica is wide and varied. While Michelin-starred restaurants are to be found in the surrounding towns (Calvi, Lumio…), a number of Bastia’s bistronomic restaurants with their refined dishes are sure to please. You’ll discover generous Mediterranean cuisine, featuring Corsican products.
Culinary discovery is an integral part of the journey andexperience. And we’re convinced that eating well, even on vacation, is essential. So enjoy!
BEFORE OUR TIPS + PHOTOS
HERE ARE OUR FAVORITES IN Corsica
Our favorite car rental platform: DiscoverCars
Our guide to planning your road trip: eBook
Our must-do boat trip: Exploring the cliffs of Bonifacio
Our favorite towns to stay in:
- Bonifacio near the citadel – see the best rated accommodations
- Porto-Vecchio near the beaches – see top-rated accommodations
- L’Île-Rousse in Balagne – see the best-rated accommodations
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the area anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
Bistronomic restaurants in Bastia
1. Restaurant Nova
In the backstreets of the Old Port district, we came across this restaurant with its subdued atmosphere. In addition to a pleasant terrace, we discovered a sober interior, with noble materials (leather, wood…) enhanced by a few contemporary touches.
What’s on the menu? A wide choice of dishes, with hearty salads, a variety of pastas and risottos, as well as some meat and fish dishes. You’ll find Corsican specialties, such as a plate of Corsican cheeses and a chestnut fondant, while a Corsican cheese sauce can be chosen to season most of the meats on the menu.
Restaurant Nova also offers a wide range of creative cocktails, with or without alcohol. As far as the wines are concerned, it’s mainly Corsican wines that you’ll be able to taste, and we highly recommend them! For dessert, Nova features the ice creams of Sagone-based master craftsman Pierre Geronimi. A treat!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €30 and €60 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes (children’s menu)
- Reservations recommended by phone 04 95 47 25 22.
2. Restaurant Table de Mare & Gustu
Fish lovers? You’ve come to the right place. La Table de Mare & Gustu, located on the charming Place du Marché, features all kinds of fresh fish. Although the service could have been more dynamic, we enjoyed the Mediterranean cuisine, inspired by Italian and Corsican traditions.
Wishing to enjoy these specialties, we sampled a very good focaccia with Italian mortadella, followed by red mullet from Cap Corse, accompanied by a grenaille vinaigrette. To the left of the restaurant and its terrace is a boutique where you’ll find seafood products (line-caught tuna rillettes, candied octopus…) sublimated by Mare & Gustu’s chefs. Why not prolong the pleasure with a little culinary souvenir to pack in your suitcase?
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €40 and €80 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended here.
3. Hôtel de la Corniche restaurant
We’re a 20-minute drive from Bastia, but the hotel’s La Corniche restaurant is well worth it. Located in the village of San-Martino-di-Lota, high above the capital of Haute-Corse, “La Table de la Corniche” offers authentic Mediterranean cuisine. At the helm is young chef Quentin Sanchez, who offers traditional Corsican family recipes. These include ravioli with brocciu (a Corsican cheese), and Fiadone, a Corsican cake also made with brocciu and lemon. The menu changes every month, but you’re sure to enjoy local products (veal, charcuterie and Bastia fish).
The Hôtel de la Corniche restaurant offers a superb terrace with a breathtaking view over the bay of Bastia! You can also enjoy your meal in a comfortable indoor dining room.
Practical information:
- Area: 20min drive from Bastia, village of San-Martino-di-Lota.
- Restaurant type: gourmet.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €25 and €80 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended here.
Read more about it:
- read our full article on Hôtel de la Corniche.
WHERE TO STAY IN Bastia
To enjoy the charm of this colourful, vibrant city, it’s best to spend one or more nights here! Our suggestions:
Option 1: in the lower center
We recommend..:
- Hôtel des Gouverneurs, in the citadel – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Monsieur Miot and its beautiful decor – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2: up-center
We recommend..:
- Hotel Le Bastia and its magnificent views of the city and the sea – see prices, photos and availability
Option 3: in the surrounding area
We recommend..:
- Hotel Alivi, north, with beach access – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Pineto in the south, along the sandy beach – see prices, photos and availability
See our list of the 10 best hotels in Bastia, with our reviews
The best restaurants in Bastia’s Old Port
4. Restaurant Le Mademoiselle
We were seduced by this restaurant-bar-lounge in the heart of Bastia. We enter a small courtyard, away from the street, where we discover a terrace. Then we enter a chic, contemporary interior room, with a magnificent vaulted stone ceiling!
The menu is quite small, but very high quality, with daily suggestions for all types of dish (pasta, meat and fish). We opted for a suggestion of the day, accompanied by a starter of fresh cheese fritters from Niolu, a province in central Corsica. The wine list is well-stocked, especially with Corsican appellations, although there are only 4 wines by the glass. We recommend this restaurant for a peaceful, gourmet break in the capital of northern Corsica!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €20 and €60 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended by phone 06 27 33 34 43.
5. Restaurant A Scaletta
Let’s continue our gourmet escapade in the Old Port district. While admiring the impressive Church of St. John, you’ll come across a small restaurant popular with Bastians: Restaurant A Scaletta. The menu features beef, wolf, daily specials and the traditional Corsican burger found in most Bastia restaurants. For starters, there are Italian influences with burratas and focaccia. A prime address for a breathtaking view of the port!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €20 and €70 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes (children’s menu).
- Reservations recommended by phone 04 95 31 63 74.
6. Restaurant Col Tempo
Restaurant Col Tempo is located just below Restaurant A Scaletta. It has a small terrace, sheltered from the sun by blackout curtains. Inside, you’ll enjoy contemporary decor in an intimate setting. Restaurant Col Tempo offers market cuisine in the noblest sense of the word. The menu changes every month, guaranteeing fresh, local, seasonal produce!
On the menu, Mediterranean cuisine revisited in a refined, contemporary way. One example is the excellent half-cooked bonito with ponzu sauce, sesame seeds and coriander. In addition to fish, meat is given pride of place with beef-based dishes, while starters feature Italian influences. The desserts are varied, bold and original, so don’t hesitate to walk through the door at Col Tempo!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €15 and €60 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended by phone 04 95 58 14 22.
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The best restaurants in the Bastia Citadel
7. Restaurant Le Petit Vincent
We continue our culinary tour of Bastia in the Citadelle district. You’ll find some very good addresses, with sea-view terraces. Such is the case with Restaurant Le Petit Vincent. We fell in love with its panoramic view of the port and Bastia’s hills.
Le Petit Vincent offers modern, healthy cuisine for starters (veggie bowls, Thai salad, salmon ceviche…). It’s ideal if you’re still hungry and want to enjoy a butcher’s cut as a main course, subtly highlighted (heart of leg of lamb in a hazelnut and rosemary crust…). Add to that desserts that will delight chocolate and fruit lovers alike, and you’ve got an excellent Bastide address!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Citadelle.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €25 and €60 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended by phone 04 20 00 14 67.
8. Restaurant Les Affranchis
Restaurant Les Affranchis offers the same type of cuisine as Petit Vincent (healthy, varied starters, butcher’s cuts…). However, if you like seafood dishes and kebabs, we recommend Les Affranchis. While the menu changes regularly, there’s always something on the menu. Another difference is that the desserts are more classic, with Corsican specialties such as Fiadone or chestnut fondant.
The restaurant has a quiet terrace in the alleyway, but also a terrace on the edge of the citadel, where you can enjoy a sublime view of the port. The restaurant’s interior decoration, with barrels as tables, is well worth the detour!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Citadelle.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €25 and €60 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended by phone 04 95 32 02 32.
9. Chez Vincent Restaurant
This restaurant, not to be confused with Le Petit Vincent, charmed us with its beautifully decorated façade and terrace. Its menu offers a wide variety of dishes, with a menu of burgers, ceviche and pizzas. Tatakis, tartars and healthy starters complete this broad culinary spectrum.
If you like cocktails, this is the restaurant for you. On the other hand, the wine and dessert menu is less extensive.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Citadelle.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €15 and €50 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes (children’s pizzas).
- Reservations recommended by phone 04 95 31 62 50.
10. Hôtel des Gouverneurs Restaurant
This restaurant, which we tried out during our overnight stay at the Hôtel des Gouverneurs, is well worth a visit for its splendid view over Bastia’s Old Port. The menu is well-balanced, with local and seasonal produce, but quite limited. This restaurant serves classic Mediterranean cuisine (focaccia appetizers, beef dishes, octopus and swordfish). The choice is limited for vegetarians, with only a vegetarian risotto.
We did, however, enjoy our meal. We chose the suggestion of the moment. As far as desserts are concerned, they are not very varied, but we were delighted to find many quite original coffee-based proposals. On the wine front, there’s plenty to enjoy, with a rich menu featuring numerous Corsican appellations.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Citadelle.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €25 and €80 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended by phone 04 95 47 10 10.
Read more about it:
- read our full article on the Hôtel des Gouverneurs.
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Corsica
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Typical Corsican restaurants in Bastia
11. Restaurant Merenda Ghjulia
You’ll find some Corsican specialities in all the restaurants we’ve listed in this article. However, the Merenda Ghjulia offers a whole Corsican menu. The menu at this Old Port restaurant includes Corsican veal sauté, Corsican pita and Corsican cheese fritters. For more variety, there’s also a menu of Greek dishes.
We were won over by its attractive facade and pleasant, efficient service. In our opinion, the Merenda Ghjulia is an address to remember for your stay in Bastia!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €20 and €40 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Bookings can be made by telephone on 06 78 14 17 41.
12. Restaurant L’Épica
On the Old Port, look up to spot Restaurant l’Épica. The view of the port and citadel in the background from the small terrace perched among Bastia’s apartment blocks is splendid! The rather small (but quality) menu at Restaurant l’Épica caught our eye. Most of the dishes served here are fish, but most of them are typically Corsican: sardines à la bastiaise, octopus salad, ravioli à la brousse, and for meat, grilled veal chop with rosemary.
Inside, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. With the knick-knacks and black-and-white photos on the wall, it’s like being at home! In our opinion, Epica offers excellent value for money, so don’t hesitate any longer!
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €15 and €50 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended by phone 04 95 35 86 05.
13. U Paisanu
Épicerie U Paisanu is tucked away in a small alleyway in the Old Port. On the first floor, the store sells Corsican products, including excellent charcuterie (coppa, lonzu, panzetta…). You can enjoy it, especially in the evening, in the restaurant upstairs. We think U Paisanu is an ideal address if you’re looking for a simple, authentic restaurant. The menu is small, but you’ll find Corsican dishes that are rare in other restaurants. These include anchovies à la bastiaise, figatelli (a Corsican sausage) and pastizzu (a Bastia flan with semolina, caramel and lemon).
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: delicatessen.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €20 and €35 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- No reservation necessary.
THINGS TO DO AROUND Bastia
Discover all our articles on the region:
- What to do in Bastia
- Where to sleep in Bastia
- Luxury hotels in Bastia
- Best restaurants in Bastia
- Visit the Palais des Gouverneurs (coming soon)
- Visit the Bastia Citadel (coming soon)
- Rent a car at Bastia airport
- Ajaccio or Bastia: where to go?
Vegetarian and healthy restaurants in Bastia
14. Restaurant Le Café des Gourmets
We really enjoyed our gourmet break at the Café des Gourmets. While it doesn’t specialize in vegetarian and vegan cuisine, it does offer light, healthy brunch fare. The menu features vegan dishes as well as bowls and sandwiches.
We enjoyed a smoked salmon tartine with lemon avocado cream. This allowed us to indulge in dessert with a delicious vanilla, chocolate, peanut, caramel and fleur de sel cookie! The restaurant is very pleasant, with its warm decor and glass roof that lets you enjoy the sunshine even indoors!
Practical information:
- District: Place Saint-Nicolas.
- Restaurant type: bistro.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €10 and €30 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: yes.
- Reservations recommended on 04 95 48 51 92.
15. VG Restaurant
If you’re vegan, this is the place for you. Most of our dishes are gluten-free and lactose-free. On the menu: healthy, organic and seasonal cuisine. Salads, toast and all sorts of “homemade” drinks (detox juices, etc.) await you! This restaurant is small, but has a lot of charm with its stone arches.
Practical information:
- District: Place Saint-Nicolas.
- Restaurant type: bistro.
- Capacity: less than 25 covers.
- Terrace: no.
- Price range: between €15 and €30 per person.
- Corsican specialties: no.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended on 04 95 55 11 14.
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The best restaurants open on Sundays
16. Restaurant Sampiero
This restaurant in the Citadelle district is open for lunch and dinner every Sunday. You’ll find a varied menu of salads, pizzas, meats and burgers. There are also several types of brocciu pasta for fans of this Corsican cheese. However, we wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to fish and dessert lovers, who will find little choice at Sampiero.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Citadelle.
- Restaurant type: bistro.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €15 and €30 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended on 04 95 55 11 14.
17. Restaurant Corto
Looking for an all-day Sunday restaurant in the Old Port? See you at Corto. This seafood restaurant boasts a pleasant veranda overlooking the harbor. In the decor and tableware, touches of blue extend the marine atmosphere found on the plates. The atmosphere is friendly, and you can even share all kinds of dishes (squid, octopus, anchovies…).
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €20 and €60 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Reservations recommended on 04 95 48 52 87.
18. Babbu Caffé Restaurant
Are you a brunch lover? You can visit Babbu Caffé, which organizes them every Sunday from 10am to 4pm, with live entertainment. We love the warm, friendly atmosphere of this restaurant, with its pleasant terrace. Inside, you’ll find a cocktail bar, the main room and a cosy lounge. The menu offers a wide range of salads, served generously, as well as traditional Mediterranean meat and fish dishes.
Practical information:
- Neighborhood: Vieux-Port.
- Restaurant type: bistronomic.
- Capacity: more than 25 place settings.
- Terrace: yes.
- Price range: between €20 and €40 per person.
- Corsican specialities: yes.
- Particularly suitable for children: no.
- Bookings can be made on 04 95 36 79 77.
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