Posillipo - Canterbury in Canterbury

Went last night and for a Sunday it was extremely busy. Been here before and the food is always great, outstandingly good last night. Proper Italian food at reasonable prices.

Go here for special occasions, perfect for families.

The food, drink, service, and setting were all fantastic! We love visiting Italy, so when we wanted to have an authentic dining experience, with a friendly, homely atmosphere, but with things done properly, based on reviews, we chose Posillipo! It didn’t disappoint! We really enjoyed ourselves, our food, and our company (staff included!), and came away feeling content and relaxed. Thank you for a lovely evening! We’ll be back next time we’re in Canterbury!

Definitely recommend the signature pasta dish (linguine posillipo)!

A wonderful evening - thank you Posillipo. Last night six of us dined at Posillipo and we all agreed it was an absolute delight from start to finish. The service was exceptional - the staff were attentive, knowledgeable and made us feel all so welcome. We all agreed the food was superb too. Whether you are a lover of classic Italian cuisine or looking for a great dining experience, Posillipo in Canterbury is a must-visit. We will be returning.

Amazing store. It is wonderful when you find such wonderful people

Really good food but Saturday night reservations are a pain

I was looking forward to try some Italian food but got quite disappointed by the food and also the service wasn’t great. I ordered linguine with prawns and The prawns were quite raw and had a bad smell.

I visited with my mum on a sunny Saturday evening. We didn't have a booking but they accommodated us with a table outside. Service from Nicolas was brilliant - such a warm personality and struck the balance of good service without being overbearing perfectly. We ordered the salmon with prawns, and the cod dish. Sides of sautéed potatoes and a courgette salad. All the food was delish and managed to squeeze in some Tiramisu for dessert. We live an hour and a half away from Canterbury and my mum said she'd come back just for this restaurant alone!

We had a lovely dinner, a mix of pasta, chicken and meat dishes, all excellent 😋, super service 😊

Nice spot of lunch, great location . Nice friendly staff

The food was full of flavour and you can tell it's made fresh, we had the pizza with Tiramisu for dessert. The staff were very welcoming and accommodating.

Really good authentic Italian food in a nice setting. Great range of vegetarian/vegan dishes too, which is not always a given at an Italian resaturant.

Incredible food, amazing taste and all aspects of the kitchen. Enjoyed every bit of the food. The only thing that was really spoiling the atmosphere was the staff. I read some of the reviews here and many customers refer to this guy as the owner and he was definitely the odd one out. Everything else except him was perfect. Many thanks to the staff who let us sit inside because it was a little bit chilly outside. There was no need to be so rude, pretty sure the owner needs some vacation because he is very tired of his job. Other than that, beautiful.

What can you say, well worth the 18 mins drive from Whitstable. Lovely meal. Great staff They all must be whacked by the end of their shift. Thank you for a great evening.

Update from my previous review (Google doesn’t allow edits to the original): After I left the restaurant, I realised I’d forgotten my bottle and returned to retrieve it. The owner insisted he didn’t have it. I said I wouldn’t leave until he returned it—which he eventually did, proving he’d had it all along. The lie wasn’t even convincing—just mildly embarrassing. During this, he mocked the way I speak, claiming I “don’t understand English”—rather rich coming from someone who speaks English with a strong Italian accent. That kind of projection says more about his own insecurity than anything else. He also asked me if I’d ever heard of karma, which was quite something, coming from an Italian Catholic man trying to lecture me on a religious concept rooted in Hinduism and Buddhism. A bit of spiritual tourism thrown in with the ego, it seems. To top it off, he made a comment suggesting that if he were me, he wouldn't be walking at this side of the street. I can’t say whether it was meant as a threat or just another display of bravado, but either way, it was inappropriate and unprofessional. It’s always interesting when someone believes that owning a restaurant—serving food most people can cook at home—somehow entitles them to treat others with disrespect. His behaviour didn’t surprise me; it simply confirmed the lack of integrity I had already experienced. At the end of the day, some people mistake rudeness for Italian charm—but trust me, there’s nothing charming about arrogance wrapped in bad manners.

I had a very disappointing experience at Posillipo Canterbury and want to warn others. I asked to be seated at a shaded two-person table and was told by the owner that those tables were reserved for groups of four. I accepted that explanation—until two other guests arrived shortly after and were seated at the exact table I had been denied. When I politely asked for clarification, the owner became argumentative instead of acknowledging the inconsistency or offering an apology. He blamed me, and the situation escalated unnecessarily. At that point, despite my food having already arrived, I felt so uncomfortable and disrespected that I chose to leave without eating. Policies are one thing, but inconsistent treatment and aggressive behaviour from the owner is entirely another. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who values fair service and basic respect.

Really enjoyed the meal will definitely order again

The food was lovely 😍 bit pricey without any drinks, the bill still came to £130

The pizza there was very delicious, also the bread with oil and vinegar

Lovely lunch. Food good. Staff friendly. Conveniently situated for a day out in Canterbury.

My food was ruined, it was stone cold. Because the driver just spent nearly half an hour going round and round in circles. This is just not good enough. I payed over £30 for food that was ruined by an incompetent currier.

Amazing Italian with really homy mood and excellent service

Lovely staff and food was yummy

Went last night, 2 of us, 3 course meal, bottle of wine with service charge under £130. Great value, excellent service and the food was amazing. Good size portions and the quality was far superior to your chain Italian restaurants.

Found this beautiful little restaurant totally by accident. Great food and rustic atmosphere, and attentive service. Fully recommended. 5stars

Really delicious food. Definitely recommended.

The food ordered was from a limited edition menu. It was nice but I don't know if I'd come back again. Maybe just to try the pizza

Very nice Italian restaurant. Would definitely go back

Old style rustic Italian restaurant worth a visit

Where was the salmon? Was more like minced beef

The food here is great, however our experience of the service could be improved. Staff were friendly however, we had to ask for our sides more than twice and had finished our meals by the time they arrived. Would return and hope service is slightly better as meals were nice.

A 100% Italian restaurant, I must say that I liked the pasta more than what I have tried in other restaurants in Rome and the staff was super attentive and charming. I totally recommend it.

We ate here before going to the theatre on Sunday evening the food was excellent the service was very good and attentive we would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Went as a table of 6 with a child. Staff were incredibly welcoming and food was brilliant, reliable Italian. The wine was some of the best I’ve ever had and they had a large vegan menu which was incredibly accommodating. We did ask to order our food with our drinks but were asked to wait which is the only reason it has been marked down to 4 stars. Sometimes you’re on a time limit, especially with a three year old! Otherwise it was a perfect meal!

What a fantastic place! We will definitely be back.

What a thoroughly worthwhile experience. Attentive, friendly service, beautiful wine and utterly delicious food - and all superb value. We’re just visitors to Canterbury but were we residents, we’d be regulars. Excellent in every respect.

Enjoyed a lovely meal here. The pizzas and fresh pasta was delicious. Lovely atmosphere and excellent service. Excellent value for money. Would highly recommend

One of the tastiest pizzas I've had

I ate gnocchi. No starter, no pudding. #rawdogging.

Amazing dinner, atmosphere and food. Such great food. Can't wait to come back

Fantastic experience. Great food, atmosphere and staff. Cosy, bussling and everything else you would want from a family run Italian restaurant. We will be back!

Amazing restaurant, food and service was incredible. I have a gluten allergy and they were very accommodating. It was also my boyfriends birthday and they were very helpful in celebrating!

Great staff. So friendly and helpful. Lovely atmosphere.

Lovely service, friendly staff & very delicious food .we were visiting Canterbury and stopped for a meal.

Rather dissapointing dinner. Our meal came very late and others who ordered after recieved their food much quicker. I had their special Posilippo seafood pasta which was completely lacking in flavour. Our waitress was nice but that was the only saving grace to an otherwise bad dinner.

The food never disappoints you as long as you are not too fussy. Great atmosphere, polite staff, even when they are super busy like today. We had to wait +40 minutes for our order which I did expect. Better to book in advance as it's high season now. The stake was to rare (we asked for medium) and quite chewy. But tasted great. Always my favourite spot.

Food is delicious, staff are incredibly friendly and accommodating. Cannot recommend enough.

Amazing food, great wine and fantastic customer service as always.

Friendly staff, quick service and very good italian cuisine. The french waiter served us with a big smile. Pasta and pizza are excellent but the starters were a bit disappointing. The burrata was small and not well seasoned, I expected some bread to come with it.

Amazing. Busy evening, seated a one person table with no reservation. Service was excellent, attentive without being pushy. Everyone was genuinely friendly and seemed to enjoy working there. I sat opposite a couple who were clearly regulars and the chef came out to check in on them. Atmosphere was great. Food was truly incredible, the misto brace was a very generous portion of perfectly grilled seafood, for a very reasonable price. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Thankyou for a wonderful meal.

Couple. Midweek. October. Had a nice atmosphere, not loud, not quiet, just right. Food was good as was the wine. Staff attentive but not overbearing. All in all, a good experience.

Exceptionally good pizza. Nice to sit outside. Nice service.

Lovely atmosphere and good service. On our table we had a range of food, all nice.

Very happy with food & service. Hope to visit again

The food was amazing, the pizza dough is amazing and can taste the wood burn flavour, the pasta was cook to perfection and al-dente completed with a creamy sauce. The building it self and the atmosphere was brilliant with kind and helpful waitress.

Been twice, always a welcoming environment and kind staff. Food is incredible with a reasonable price too.

Great service, even better food, try the signature dish, plenty of seafood, plenty of flavour

I am Italian, I have lived in UK and in Canterbury 7 years now. This is the best Italian restaurant I have ever been in UK so far, the ingredients are fresh, the dishes delicious and, more importantly, they stick to original Italian recipes! My gf is always super happy when we go there. Just Top-Notch!

Posillipo in Canterbury is an exceptional Italian restaurant that delivers an authentic dining experience. We highly recommend making reservations, as it was completely packed on a Saturday night—mostly filled with what seemed to be locals, which is always a good sign. We didn’t have a reservation, but Mario, the manager, was incredibly accommodating. He assured us if we could wait just five minutes, he’d have a table ready for us for a 90-minute seating, which was beyond our expectations given how busy they were. Nicholas, our server, provided exceptional service—attentive, professional, and never seemed rushed, despite the bustling atmosphere. The entire staff displayed incredible teamwork, with Mario working alongside his servers, making sure everything ran smoothly. It was impressive to see a manager so engaged. The food was outstanding, truly reminiscent of the quality we’d expect to find in Italy. The pasta was cooked to perfection, with the Arrabbiata sauce delivering just the right amount of heat and depth of flavor. A must-try is the bruschetta—unbelievably delicious, with fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors that made it one of the best we’ve ever had. Posillipo is a gem that could easily rival many of the top restaurants in Italy. If we could give it 10 stars, we would! It’s the perfect spot for anyone looking to enjoy a truly memorable Italian meal in Canterbury. We highly recommend making a reservation to avoid missing out on this incredible experience.

1st time in Canterbury and popped in here for dinner. Well what a treat, service was impeccable and the food even better. Every. Dish was amazing as was the Expresso Martin & Grappa. Look forward to returning 😊

Amazing!! Service was incredible!! Spoke to the waitress, owner and chef. All lovely and very welcoming. Food was out of this world! Would 1000% go back. Resturant was authentic Italian!

Gorgeous location and authentic Italian food

One of the best Italian dining experiences we’ve had outside of Italy. Negroni and olives. Perfetto! Buffala Mozzarella with home made pesto, or bruschetta with roasted peppers with burrata and anchovies to start. Excellent linguine al mare or Pizza Romana. Finished with a light ricotta caramel cheesecake with peanut topping alongside frangelico. Service was fast, friendly and attentive but never intrusive. Lovely atmosphere with a proper Italian family dining feel. Would definitely recommend

Booked a table for lunch for today; our first experience of this eatery. 5* rating on all counts. Starters: Salmone E Gamberetti for my husband; Misto Contorni for me. Mains: Pappardell Al Vitello (husband); Risotto Alla Pescatora for me. Bear in mind my husband is a traditional Englishman of "meat and two veg" type of guy: WOW! He loved it - even had a try of my risotto and enjoyed that too. Would highly recommend. Thank you to all the staff and especially the Chef.

A very nice Italian chain restaurant. Food is delicious, service is great. I would recommend the pizza there.

Everything is freshly made and very tasty, my husband had spaghetti and I had a kind of ravioli with spinach, the bread you get (paid for) is delicious

Best Italian around, authentic and friendly staff.

Intimate Italian Dining We booked a table last minute after we called into another restaurant/pub which didnt serve food on a Monday night....this turned into the best outcome ever!! The food was amazing, the staff friendly and efficient and prices comparible to pub prices, but the quality of food far superior. Seating inside or outside are available in a quiet corner of the Kings mile. Might go again tomorrow 😋

Great service and amazing food! Real Italian cousins as an Italian customer!

Superb authentic food and decent service put Posillipo towards the top of Canterbury's Italian eateries.

A piece of Italy in Canterbury. Very kind staff who immediately started speaking in Italian. He found us a seat even though we hadn't booked. Pizza that has nothing to envy of the Italian one at prices appropriate to the area.

Very friendly staff, we were welcomed by the manager who spoke in Italian and was very kind. The pizzas are cooked in a wood oven, the fish is excellent and the drinks (beer, wine) are imported from Italy.

Very good Italian food! We had salmon with scampi, all great!

We just came in for a basic pizza, and it was hands down the best pizza I’ve ever had. We had olives and bread to start, also delicious. Every time a meal was carried past I wanted it! Great Italian beer and cider too. Not especially quick on food, but service was brilliant, and it was absolutely worth the wait.

Arrived mid afternoon as a party of 7 and we asked to change our booked table from inside to outside, as the weather was so fabulous. They accommodated us straight away, rearranging outside to suit our party. The quality of service, food and wine was outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble and the waiting staff were very friendly and attentive. Had such a great afternoon this is now my favourite place to eat. Well done Posillipo for a great afternoon of al-fresco Italian awesomeness!! Big fat 5 stars!!!

Lovely authentic Italian food. Highly recommended. Definitely worth the visit.

The food was fresh, the portion sizes were small. For example, the garlic bread was the size of a side plate, whilst the rocket and tomato salad had two plum small tomatoes cut in half. My salmon was about 7 cm sat on a bed of green beans. The two prawns were succulent and large. My wife's pasta was fresh but needed more body and herbs. The location was historic, the atmosphere was nice, the service was great, but I wouldn't go here if you are a hungry tourist. Great for winning and dinning someone on a diet, for example a first date, but not a family.

Fantastic Italian meal - the best outside Posillipo??

I was curious to see how that pizza would taste with a wood fired pizza oven. Outstanding, amazing taste, and flavours if you are after great pizza, then this is your spot.

An excellent fish-based first course. Tasty

Good food and seems to be a popular spot in Canterbury. I had a table for 1 outside and Everything was going well until my table was cleared and offered to someone else. I came back a mere 2 mins later to no table and no drinks. I have to say this was rectified promptly and the waitress was very apologetic. Overall a really good experience with nice food, wine and service!

We had a fantastic meal. Excellent service.

Tucked away in a quiet part of Canterbury, this Italian restaurant is an absolute gem. The serene atmosphere is matched by stunning surroundings, setting the perfect stage for an unforgettable meal. The food is simply outstanding, with authentic flavours that truly impress. The sharing platter we had as a starter was to die for - each bite was a delight. I visited with my Italian boyfriend, and he was over the moon with the food. Honestly, I can’t think of a restaurant that compares. Apologies for the lack of photos; the food was too good to wait!

Food is perfect 🥰. 👏👏👏 Well worth the price. Steak cooked to perfection 👌 Thank you for the sauce 😋.

Great seafood specials and gavi de gavi wine to compliment the food.

Great food, service at perhaps not the best and easiest location to get to. But once you're there, nothing to complaint about.

Recently had a meal here and it was very nice. The service and staff were all great too.

Very good Italian food. We went there for my graduation lunch. Good service. Although the restaurant was full, the staff were very nice and accommodated us.

Excellent choice of pizza from authentic wood-fired oven. I had the San Martino with a bottle (or two) of Italian craft beer. Service for our party of 10 during a busy lunchtime was fast and friendly. Excellent, Will be back soon!

Nice food, but like everything in the UK now, too expensive. Shame. It's a nice restaurant

Foods tasted absolutely delicious. My new favourite Italian restaurant.

Excellent Italian restaurant in the charming town, excellent cuisine! Given the place is quite small and always super crowded, I recommend making a reservation

I had a lovely lunch here. Excellent food and service. Will be going back

Amazing food, service and environment. Definitely worth a visit!

Food was so so good. Driver was excellent. 10 + on both.

Nice tasty Italian food. Good service, fair price. No parking. Not far from Canterbury city centre.

Great food but a terrible date. I can't pin the latter on them.

Delicious food, probably the best Italian food in Canterbury 😊 really good pizzas. Only thing to improve would be the tiramisu

The best Italian restaurant in Canterbury. I’m a loyal customer for over 5 years and can’t get enough of their pizzas!