Sitting pretty on the west coast of the mountainous Mediterranean island of Corsica, Ajaccio is a delight for food lovers. Although Corsica is a French island, these shores have been wrestled back and forth between France and Genoa (in modern day northern Italy) plenty of times, and there’s a clear Italian influence in Corsican cuisine. You don’t need to look far to taste those rustic flavours in Ajaccio. Maybe you’re after traditional Corsican cooking, or perhaps you’re just wondering where to get a great coffee or ice cream while you wander the city. Either way, pals: here are my personal favourite Ajaccio restaurants, for you to try.
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My complete guide to Ajaccio, Corsica
Rosette et Charlot
Rosette et Charlotte is, hands down, my favourite of all the Ajaccio restaurants. Eating dinner at one of the beautiful little tables on the street, is always a wonderfully relaxed affair, although it’s worth noting that they do have indoor seating as well. Rosette et Charlot has the atmosphere of a Corsican family kitchen, and the menu changes regularly- reflecting the seasonal, local produce that the chef uses. In fact, the weekly menu change is partly what enticed us to keep coming back.
To be frank: I dream about returning to this restaurant.
Exquisite home-cooked dishes, tables decorated with pretty tablecloths, dried flowers and mismatched crockery, and a 10/10 wine list with a friendly owner to boot. It all combines to make the perfect Ajaccio experience.
Rosette et Charlot, 86 rue du Cardinal Fesch. (Closed on Sundays)
Mile End Cafe
The best spot for breakfast or brunch in Ajaccio, Mile End Cafe is a lovely little find just a block away from the sea. With a distinctly French atmosphere- think wicker chairs and a delightful striped awning overhead- the menu is filled with absolute treats. Of course you can order all of your classic brunch options- there is no shortage of avocado here- but I’m telling you now, do not skip the pistachio brioche. It’s blooming fantastic. (And I really do mean blooming, as almost every dish features a healthy scattering of edible flowers.)
From 12-2.30pm the restaurant serves lunch, and there are some delicious and hearty salads on the menu as well as delectable grilled cheese sandwiches oozing with fillings.
Mile End Cafe, 14 Cours Grandval (Closed Mondays and Saturdays)
Chez Josephine
The green exterior of Chez Josephine, and its terrace overflowing with flowers bursting from their pots, couldn’t be more inviting- and this is a wonderful restaurant for lunch in Ajaccio. On the menu, we’re talking hearty salads, charcuterie and sumptuous bagels stuffed with fresh local flavours.
Don’t even get me started on the pastries and puddings: they’re almost too good to be true.
Chez Josephine, 4 rue Bonaparte (Closed on Mondays)
ALGNORY
This Italian restaurant in the heart of the city specialises in homemade pasta and risotto dishes, and it does not disappoint. There’s nothing quite like freshly-made pasta, and combined with the incredible sauces on offer, you can’t go wrong. (I also whole-heartedly recommend the burrata starter: I’ve never quite tasted anything like it.)
And if you enjoy the pasta, you can even buy some to take home with you. There’s no souvenir quite like being able to relive the memory of delicious meals, surely.
ALGNORY, 2 Avenue du Premier Consul (Closed on Sundays)
Gourmandises Impériales
Hear me out on this one, pals. Gourmandises Impériales may not technically be one of Ajaccio’s restaurants, but a good ice creamery is just as important in my opinion. This ice cream parlour is pretty as a picture- surrounded by garlands of pink flowers on the corner of a little lane. There are a seemingly infinite number of artisan ice cream flavours to sample, and you can also order crêpes, macarons and all kinds of gateaux.
Gourmandises Impériales, 1 Rue Zevaco Maire
Ajaccio restaurants are great, but don’t forget that you’re in France
A final note on eating and drinking in Ajaccio. The produce on offer here is absolutely wonderful, from the juicy lamb and hardy herbs, to fruit and vegetables bursting with freshness, loaves of warm bread, earthy cheeses made with sheep or goat milk and crisp fruity wines. Check out as many of Ajaccio’s restaurants as you possibly can, but don’t overlook the local markets or bakeries. (Even if you head to Spar, you’ll pick up some 10/10 pieces of food.)
Fill a bag, hit the road, or head to the beach, and enjoy a picnic a la Corse. You truly can’t go wrong here.
More from the Mediterranean:
A Guide to Eating and Drinking in Barcelona
My Favourite Marseille Restaurants
From Bordeaux to Saint Emilion
Hiking in Corsica: Pointe de la Parata