Amici Portstewart

Authentic Italian cooking, warm hospitality and Atlantic views on the Portstewart coast.

Set right on the water’s edge beside the Old Course in Portstewart, Amici Ristorante brings the easy, sociable spirit of Italian dining to one of Northern Ireland’s most scenic coastal towns. The restaurant’s outlook across the North Coast is a major part of the experience, but Amici has built its reputation just as much on generous food, relaxed service and an atmosphere that feels equally suited to a family lunch, a date night or a special occasion.

The kitchen takes its inspiration from classic Italian cooking while making strong use of quality local North Coast ingredients. The menu is broad and approachable, with antipasti, sharing boards, fresh pasta dishes, seafood, steaks, burgers, chicken and a full range of authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas. Meat, fish and poultry are cooked over charcoal to give them a subtle smoky character, while the pizzas are made from dough kneaded by hand and cooked at around 800°F in a stone, wood-burning oven.

Amici takes its pizza seriously. Its Neapolitan-style pizzas follow the traditional standards associated with Naples, using highly refined Italian type 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella di bufala before being cooked rapidly at very high heat. The result is the soft, blistered crust and simple, flavour-led style that defines a proper Neapolitan pizza.

The wider menu makes Amici more than a pizza restaurant. Diners can choose from dishes such as burrata with prosciutto di Parma, arancini, seafood sharing boards, grilled meats, roast fish, fresh pasta and Italian-inspired desserts. There is also a dedicated children’s menu, a gluten-free menu and a weekday lunch selection, making the restaurant particularly flexible for families and mixed groups.

Drinks are an important part of the experience too. The bar serves Italian and international wines, cocktails, spirits and draught and bottled beers, giving Amici the feel of a lively coastal restaurant rather than somewhere designed only around the food. During the warmer months, the seasonal Terrazza adds outdoor dining from Friday to Sunday, weather permitting.

Booking is available online, with the diary opening four weeks in advance. For larger parties of more than six, guests are asked to contact the restaurant directly. Amici also offers online ordering and takeaway, and gift cards can be purchased in the restaurant or ordered by telephone for posting.

The setting is one of Amici’s strongest assets. Portstewart is one of the highlights of the Causeway Coast, and the restaurant sits beside the Old Course with views towards the Atlantic coastline. That makes it an easy recommendation for visitors exploring Portstewart, Portrush, the Causeway Coast and the wider North Coast, as well as a long-established favourite for local diners.

Why W.ie chose Amici Portstewart: W.ie looks for businesses that combine quality with a genuine sense of place, and Amici does that especially well. It brings authentic Italian food and warm, informal hospitality together with a spectacular North Coast setting, creating an experience that works for locals, families, couples and visitors alike. The handmade pizzas, locally influenced menu, lively atmosphere and views over the Portstewart coastline make Amici much more than simply another Italian restaurant — it is the kind of memorable independent business people should know about when exploring Northern Ireland.