Housed in the cellars of an old monastery in the heart of Sorrento, Il Buco has long been one of the town’s leading restaurants thanks to its gourmet dining and homely ambience. In this brightly coloured setting with exposed tufa stone and elegant decorative details, owner-chef Peppe Aversa (an inspiration for so many of his colleagues) creates simple, unfussy cuisine with a blend of traditional and modern influences. Tasting menus are offered alongside an à la carte featuring fish, seafood and locally sourced meat, all of which are skilfully and simply prepared to preserve the ingredients’ authentic flavours. The restaurant has added a new dining room with a more contemporary feel, where an open-view wine cellar (with more than 1 000 labels and a good selection of wines by the glass) takes pride of place.