Ristorante Karalis
About This Spot
Stepping into Ristorante Karalis feels like entering a quiet corner of the Mediterranean where time slows just enough to let the sea breeze settle in your bones. Nestled on a gentle side street in Santa Margherita Ligure, this intimate spot blends the refined rhythms of a seaside town with the warmth of a family gathering. The pace here is unhurried, where attentive staff quietly guide you through a menu that reflects the catch of the day and the traditions of Sardinia, inviting you to savor each bite and moment.
The atmosphere carries a subtle elegance, with a touch of rustic charm reminiscent of coastal Italian homes—think fresh wood, soft lighting, and tables that feel made for lingering conversations rather than rushed meals. It’s a place where locals and visitors alike seem to find a shared sense of belonging, eased by the friendly welcome of the owner and team. Pet companions are welcomed, adding to the feeling of an extended table rather than a formal restaurant.
The culinary journey here is delicate and thoughtful, drawing from the bounty of the Gulf with a Sardinian twist that surprises without overwhelming. Imagine evenings spent discovering fresh seafood prepared with subtle herbs, handmade pastas that carry stories in their folds, and sauces that whisper of sun-ripened tomatoes and olives from nearby groves. Meals are paired thoughtfully, enhancing but never stealing the spotlight from the natural flavors.
For those looking for deeper connection, the cooking classes offer a rare invitation to roll up your sleeves alongside the chefs, learning family recipes and savoring the reward of creating something vibrant and authentic. It’s a quiet celebration of heritage — where food becomes memory, and hospitality feels genuinely heartfelt.
Whether settling in for a relaxed dinner after a day exploring or marking a special moment with loved ones through their attentive wedding services, Ristorante Karalis feels like a discovery discovered long ago by those lucky enough to call this stretch of Ligurian coast home.
What’s Available Here
-
Outdoor seating - Delivery
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Spirits
- Wine
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Bar on site
- Gender-neutral toilets
- Toilet
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
- Casual
- Cosy
- Quiet
- Trendy
- Family friendly
- Groups
- Tourists
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Reservations required
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
- Cheques
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Location & Hours
| Monday | 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM | |
| Tuesday | 12:30 PM - 02:30 PM | |
| Wednesday | 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM | |
| Thursday | 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM | |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM | |
| Saturday | 12:30 PM - 02:30 PM , 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM | |
| Sunday | 12:30 PM - 02:30 PM , 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM |
Guest Reviews
Share Your Experience
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Steve 11 Jan 2026
Found this place online and given the good reviews decided to make the trek there (was raining heavily). Was not disappointed. Waiter was very knowledgeable and patient, spoke to us in french first (not sure why given our oriental features :D) but ended up with english just fine. Suggested a great wine to pair with the food we ordered and was never over or under attentive.
Theresa Wheatley 08 Jan 2026
These guys treated us like family!! We were lucky enough to share a cooking experience with Federico and Valerio. The meal we made was fresh pasta, the best pesto I ever tasted, fish ravioli, campidanese, tiramisu, and they were sweet enough to add on strawberry Prosecco tiramisu because I’m not a coffee drinker. After learning how to cook these wonderful recipes, (Federico even shared some family secrets on how to make the dish even richer with me) we all sat down and shared the meal together. Valerio opened many bottles of lovely wines. It was wonderful getting to know each of them and learning about the region from which they came from, Sardinia.They truly made our time in Santa Margarita Ligure a memorable one something our family will treasure for a lifetime! The food was so delicious, we had to go back our last night and have dinner there. We sat outside and met their wonderful staff who took care of us. All of our dishes from start to finish were delicious! So grateful Federico, Valerio and Ristorante Karalis was apart of our family’s trip of a lifetimeThe Wheatley Family
deschnoll 08 Jan 2026
Owner greeted us at the front door, seated, and served. Excellent food, seafood with Sardinian influences. Everything was delicious! Lots of locals and regulars seated around us, always a good sign. Highly recommend.
T H 25 Dec 2025
Wonderful dinner. Plenty of fresh, delicious seafood and Sardinian inspired dishes. The chef and the staff were quick to advise on the menu and wine - we followed their lead and everything was perfect! It's a little removed from the main center but definitely worth the brief detour.
Alex Haas 02 Dec 2025
Came here for dinner during our stay in this lovely town. Made a reservation the day before. Surely a good thing to do, since the place was fully booked on that weekend. Staff/owner are all very friendly and very helpful. Besides the items on the menu there are some daily specials. The setting is very nice, very classy. A nice place to dine. Our Bulldog was welcome here as well. Ordered a plate of Crudo di Mare (raw seafood) and octopus stew for starters. Both very nice items. Fresh seafood and the octopus cooked perfectly. For mains we went for the Rosa Di Mare - a nice pasta dish, filled with nice fish. And a plate of seafood pasta, which we ordered off the menu, but the chef was so friendly to prepare it for us. Everything really nicely prepared with fresh ingredients. And the Rosa di Mare is also a feast for your eyes. Very nicely presented. With that we had a nice bottle of Pigato, a delicious local white wine. Didn't have room for dessert. But had to glasses of Japanese Whisky for "dessert". Nice, smooth, flowery. All in all a very good and and a very good meal. Prices are fair as well. Surely a place to come back to next time in town. Edit - Revisited after a year: After having a wonderful dinner last year we came back this spring. And this time we came for dinner twice. And it's still as great as the first time! Federico made us feel very welcome and at home right away. Even remembered us from last year. A really wonderful host. We made reservations a few weeks before, because the place can be booked pretty quick. And you don't want to miss out on the excellent food here. We had once the Fritto Misto and the Veal Carpaccio for starters. Next time again the Carpaccio and also the fried ravioli. All excellent dishes. Fritto Misto has real quality fish and seafood. Fresh, hot and crispy. Fantastic. And the Carpaccio was the best carpaccio I've ever had. Smooth and tender. And topped with truffle/pecorino foam. What a great combination! For mains we had once the Fritto Misto and also the Pasta with Bottarga. The other time the Pasta with Lobster and the Fregola Sarda. Pasta in this restaurant is always cooked to perfection. A fantastic cook. Really knows what he's doing. Bottarga (fish roe/eggs) is a wonderful item, if you've never had it: try it! I personally love it. Lobster was cooked perfectly, fresh and tender. The Fregola is a specialty from Sardinia, a real nice twist with the freshest of seafood. Another dish surely you should try. Both time we've had the Laura Aschero Rossese. A light red wine from Liguria, went well with both pasta and seafood. Excellent. They also got a nice selection of Whisky here. From different countries. We chose that as a dessert, since there was no more room for food. Great stuff! We really had some great dinners here. A nice, cosy restaurant. And our Bulldog was always welcome as well. We will definitely be back next spring!
Karen O'Connor 19 Nov 2025
Everything and everyone were fabulous.. extremely welcoming and friendly and food was delicious! sea bass and Sardinian cheeses pastry a stand out!
Irmak Emekdas 26 Oct 2025
Everything we ate were delicious and fresh. The raw seafood platter, fish, fried squids, oysters, lemon sorbet (must have!) and the wine. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I strongly recommend you to book ahead!
Bill 29 Sep 2025
We are in Italy for vacation and my beautiful wife found this restaurant only 3 minutes away. Frederico provided the absolutely best recommendations for a fabulous dinner! (Another patron came over to photograph our sea bass presentation!) The wine was as good as the view of my wife. 15 Stars!