Positano in Guildford

On a chilly November evening, we stubbled across a little red door, laughter and clinking of wine glasses could be heard inside. Curiosity got the better of us, and we had to poke our heads in to see for ourselves. Although incredibly busy and with no reservation, the front of house found a table available but only for an hour, this was a nice thing for Positano to do as it placed unnecessary pressure on themselves to have us. The staff were like performers moving through the cozy set up taking care of customers, they couldn't be more diligent and accommodating if they tried. The food was *chefs kiss* the Arancini starter puts the warmth back into your body and makes you feel like the world is a better place for it's existence. Although I am not Italian, if I was the chef special Gnocchi would taste exactly like Nonna used to make it when I was a child, it's that good. The food makes me wish I had been blessed with Italian parents. The restaurant, food, staff and atmosphere is amazing and for a spontaneous look through the door it couldn't have worked out better. Very much looking forward to going again, this time with a reservation so we can enjoy more of the menu.

Hidden in plain view, this Italian restaurant is usually full so booking is a must. Good food but quirky layout makes it great for friends but lacks intimacy.

I was going to say this place is a hidden gem but with nearly 2000 5 star reviews clearly it’s not that hidden! Booked a couple of hours before visiting. The restaurant was busy but the food came out quickly. Service was exceptional. Both waiters were friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. I had the Linguini Allo Scoglio and my friend had the Carbonara. We charged a pizza style garlic bread with Mozerella. Shame I didn’t take more pictures. The food was high quality and full of flavour. I wouldn’t hesitate at recommending you visit here and I’ll definitely be back when next in Guildford. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wonderful food and excellent service.

Dining at Positano in Guildford was an unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere from Cosimo and Simone that set the tone for the evening. The menu offers a delightful selection of traditional Italian dishes, and everything we ordered was exquisite. We started with the fritto misto and zuppa di cozze , which was bursting with fresh flavors. For the main course, I opted for the seafood pasta, and it was cooked to perfection—al dente pasta paired with a rich, flavorful sauce and generous portions of seafood. The service was impeccable; our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable, offering great recommendations without being intrusive. To top off the meal, we indulged in their homemade panna cotta dessert , which was the perfect sweet ending. Overall, Positano exceeded all expectations. Whether you're looking for a romantic dinner or a gathering with friends, this restaurant is a must-visit in Guildford. I can't wait to return and explore more of their delicious offerings!

While walking through Guilford, we took a lunch break at this wonderful restaurant. As an Italian I can say that this is the best Italian cuisine in the UK. Paolo was very kind and followed us throughout the lunch, overall all the staff are very friendly. The cuisine is truly authentic, we also ate the pizza which was also extraordinary. Absolutely worth trying

Brilliant and excellent food! So cozy and lovely place.

This trendy Italian restaurant impresses with its authentic flavors and vibrant atmosphere. From handcrafted pasta to rich sauces, each dish captures the essence of Italy. The ambiance is warm and modern, perfect for any occasion. Attentive staff and a thoughtful wine list enhance the experience. Highly recommended for Italian food lovers

Food and service was absolutely incredible! 1st time and we will definitely be going back. Elona was lovely, thank you for your service

very yummy very good i promise. Alina was a queen she was such a sweetie and gave us great service. will be back just u wait from the quad aka birthday girl caitlin, break glassing ebanie, ishmeet (give her a job) and charlotte

Always walk pst and think how much we’d love to go, so we did a last minute outing. Managed to get a late lunch table for 2 at 4pm. Absolutely lovely food. Service was excellent. Friendly, warm and inviting. Waiters and waitresses were incredibly tentative and engaging. The house wine is excellent. Very impressive, you don’t get many like this in this price range. Highly recommended and will Be going back again as soon as we can. Thank you!

We had a delicious meal, the food was incredible and our waitress Anna was really lovely and friendly. All the staff are great and food amazing!

Excellent restaurant in the center of Guilford. Very good Italian food.

Wonderful food, beautiful location, great staff and lunchtime menu is a steal

Lived up to my expectations. I had the genovese pasta and it was spot on. Great service reasonable prices. Recommend

Service was good but the seafood was clearly quickly defrosted and overcooked to the point it was really bad and pure slimy with no texture. For example the prawn had a weird coat and was pure mush inside. The sauce was gloopy, tasteless and not what you expect for a seafood linguine. It was unacceptable and should never have been allowed to leave the kitchen. Tbh I get better quality from an M&S ready meal. I don’t really understand why this happened as it’s a family Italian restaurant and those are supposed to be the best. Husbands seafood dish was pretty terrible too. What a shame, the reviews don’t align with my experience, maybe they just don’t do seafood well, even so I will not be back.

Food is always amazing. Truffle pizza is yummy. Also the seafood pasta

Lovely little restaurant hidden in the side street of Guildford. The buildings history is awesome, it’s like stepping back in time as soon as you walk through the front door. You are made to feel welcome and important as soon as you arrive and there are plenty of staff to look after you so you never feel neglected. Food is excellent quality with very reasonable prices.. Deserts are a little pricey at over £8 each but again worth it if you decide to give them a go. Would highly recommend and will be going back in the near future.

Amazing Italian food and reasonably priced. Two sittings per evening does mean it feels a bit rushed

Amazing place. delicious food, gorgeous atmosphere and really great service. Alina was lovely and brought us a really cute tirimasu for our anniversary would recommend to anyone !

Positano is mine and my partner's favourite place to go for a nice meal out that doesn't break the bank! The food is delicious every single time we go, and we always order something different as there is such a perfect variety of options. The last two visits we had Varia as our waitress who is amazing at what she does - attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Can't wait to go back!

A fabulous traditional Italian restaurant in the heart of Guildford with delicious food and a friendly welcoming atmosphere. A family favourite 🤩

Love the service,I love the taste on the chicken,i ordered pasta once only,it was called”Pesto Pasta”I loved the mix of flavours inside,it was Great!

Everything was great!! Cannot think of a minus point honestly!!! Service was great Food was amazing Very beautiful place Reasonable prices! They have heaters so you can sit outside but no smoking! Make sure you make a booking before going

My Partner and I visited Positanos of Guildford on October 29th for a birthday celebration and had an absolutely wonderful experience. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm hospitality and made to feel very welcome. Our server, Paolo, was exceptional. He was attentive, accommodating, and ensured we had everything we needed throughout the evening. His friendly and professional demeanor truly enhanced our dining experience. The food was simply perfect. Every dish we ordered was delicious and cooked to perfection. The flavors were exquisite, and the presentation was beautiful. We especially enjoyed the Fritto Misto platter, which was a highlight of the meal. The combination of crispy calamari, red mullet, tiger prawns, and zucchine fritte was perfect. The ambiance of the restaurant was also lovely, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. It was the perfect setting for a special occasion. Overall, we had a fantastic time at Positanos of Guildford. The combination of excellent service, delicious food, and a pleasant atmosphere made it a truly memorable birthday celebration. We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an authentic Italian dining experience. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Paolo and the entire team at Positanos for making our evening so special. We will definitely be returning soon!

Fantastic food very popular, people queueing even with a reservation great service and very knowledgeable staff

The Best Italian restaurant in Guildford. Professional service, great cosy ambience and indeed excellent Italian food. A good place to dine in for a special night out.

Lovely attentive sevice. The place gives a small family business wibe - love that. Genuine care. Back-draw they do not accept AMEX but well worth that extra hassle.

Fantastic meal at Positano last night. Superb attentive service whilst not being intrusive. Not been here for several years, as previous experience was not what we expected. However so glad we tried them again and it won’t be the last time. Garlic bread was delicious - so good we forgot to take a photo. I had the risotto and can easily say it was the best I have tasted. My husband had the fish special was equally delicious. The suggested wine pairing was perfect. The puddings rounded off a great night. So give Positano a try and we’ll probably see you there as we are definitely coming back.

Perfect setting very inviting ,small but well set out friendly family to welcome you in .. also tables outside of preferred very reasonable in price , we had the lunch time set menu good choices and well presented always a favourite place to eat 😘

Me and my partner dined here tonight for her birthday and our experience was fantastic! Perfect atmosphere and delicious Italian food which was amazing value for money. The staff were wonderful; friendly and accommodating. I will be recommending to my friends and family.

Despite living in Guildford for years and hearing only good things I’d never been here. Can’t believe it took me so long - the place is great! The food is delicious, the service friendly and attentive and the restaurant is in a beautiful old building. Given the venue and food quality I was expecting steep prices but they’re actually great value (most mains were about £15-20). I recommend the seafood linguine (though it could do with fewer mussels and more shrimp) but all the dishes we had were well received. Because the building is old and small a lot of the seating is outside in a heated marquee. This was fine for us but if you want the full experience book a little in advance to secure a spot inside. Will 100% be back, and probably soon!

While walking round Guildford on a Monday lunch time decided to pop in for lunch for four people….It’s old school English Italian cooking smart polite staff, linen napkins and I loved it for that….Good home cooking hot and delicious. A couple of us had the set menu which was an absolute bargain priced at £13.95 for two course’s and another had a goats cheese salad which looked great from the main menu….Have a look online at their website is easy to navigate….The decor and ambiance is wood panel and cosy….We had not booked and were told if we sat at the high street side it might be noisy as there was renovation work happening next door…there was but it didn’t bother our group of four…..by the time we left the whole place was very busy so get there early or book. All of the staff were extremely helpful, smart and polite…The pizzas and pasta dishes that went past our table all looked delicious. If you are in Guildford and want a simple great place to eat it is well worth a visit.

Really amazing meal and phenomenal service! Will be coming back!

Our go to restaurant for the past 10 years and their high standards have never dropped. The best in town by a mile. Traditional Italian and the staff are excellent.

Been many times and the service is excellent and the food is great for the price, easy to recommend to others. Heated area outside and lovely inside.

Brilliant service...fantastic food...just like revisiting Italy...quirky building adds to charm...good value for money

Great atmosphere and the staff were very attentive...food was fantastic and good value and huge range...quirky setting...thank you

Very good reputation for food quality but they want to cram in as many people as possible for maximum revenue. A party of 14 crammed into the gazebo area and we couldn’t get seated without moving chairs along the entire length of allocated table ( and disturbing smaller parties). It was impossible to get out without going out of the gap in the corner and also pretty chilly. The booking was based on 2 tables to ensure sufficient space ( and made several weeks in advance outside of peak time). Service was very good and everyone got what they ordered ( large group surcharge applied to the total bill ) but they still chased for payment of a couple of couple of kids ice creams that didn’t get added to the bill). Food was mostly average and focus on getting the maximum ££££ rather than making us feel inclined to return. Olivo … we will come back to you..

Been to Positano a few times now and always blown away. The food and service are always exceptional, truly a small slice of Italy in the heart of Guildford! The Paccheri alla Genovese would be my recommendation for meat lovers, the slow cooked beef and onion sauce was just so rich and delicious, and the portions are very generous! Already looking forward to returning😊

A fantastic evening here with friends! Beautiful food and service

lovely experience, cosy atmosphere and yummy authentic Italian dishes. they brought out my dessert with a candle on for my birthday too🎂🤍🍝

We didn’t book ahead so got seated in the outdoor area but it is well sheltered and has good heating so wasn’t an issue. Reception and service was fine. Weren’t able to / didn’t want to / do a half and half pizza for sharing. The pizzas, and especially the garlic cheese bread, came out with a charred base which was unfortunate and made parts inedible but was otherwise good. Salad portion was very good. Wasn’t bad but doesn’t quite live up to the Guildford hype that led us to try it.

When we have guests, we always go here. So far, everyone loves it. The food is perfect, and the service is epic. I have no complaints at all. Highly recommended.

Everything was amazing as usual.

Three of us walked in on a Friday evening and they tried so hard to get us a table. We ultimately reserved a table for a few days later and Franco the owner remembered us and was so excited we came back. He spent a lot of time helping us with our wine choice. All of our servers were amazing and made fantastic recommendations. I had the Lasagna, which may sound dull to some, but my taste buds loved it. Rich and creamy. I highly recommend eating here. The food and the people are amazing!

Excellent restaurant. Food was yummy.

We often have Italian and this was the most amazing antipasto and beef Ragu have ever had. And the pizza dough was sublime - so light and crunchy. Outstanding service rounded out a wonderful evening!

Amazing restaurant. The food is delicious and the service was faultless, I will definitely be going back.

Brilliant, visited Guildford for the day, went to this Italian restaurant. Excellent service, most enjoyable banter with the staff.

Excellent food and even better service provided by Joseph our server for the evening. He took extreme care of us and ensured we had a wonderful evening.

Restaurant food is unique and very tasty. Also the lunch prices are very reasonable. Friendly service. Really very good.

Wonderful experience, really lovely food one of the best Italian meals for a long while, what a great team and wonderful dishes !

We had an excellent lunch here today and it was a really great experience for the whole family. Food is so delicious, and authentic Staff is really friendly Prices are reasonable Had an amazing service today ❤️ Definitely will go again!

Wow wow wow! I can’t believe I’ve never been to this restaurant before. But I can say for certain I will definitely come again. The food is so yummy and authentic and the vibes are immaculate. Cannot recommend enough. Edit: As you can see from the many photos, I have been back on a fair few occasions, and every time it is truly wonderful. The staff and servers are so warm and welcoming, the food is exquisite and the drinks divine. Positano has really mastered making simple ingredients sing on the plate. Yum

Amazing place, lovely food! Highly recommended!

Three of us went to celebrate 2 birthdays and the staff were extremely welcoming. The food was amazing and the staff brought out dessert for our birthday which was very nice of them! Would recommend to anyone in Guildford!

Positano Restaurant is a must-visit for anyone seeking authentic Italian cuisine. I highly recommend bruschetta and Fritto misto plater.

"Babe, babe," my ol' Dutch said to me as we tucked into our garlic infused bread, "d'you know why this place is called 'Positano', babe?" "No, my little dough-ball," I said. "Pray, do tell." "It's coz Positano is a nanogram of 'soot pain', babe." "An anagram of 'soot pain'? What might be the meaning of soot pain?" "It's what chimbley sweeps used to get when they were sweeping aat a chimbley an' a bit a soot got in their eye." "I see... And what might that have to do with this Italian restaurant, my little Dick Van Dyke?" The dear old thing thought for a moment. "Why must you ruin every piggin' meal?!" she said.

Great value! Food is delicious, and great service!

The food was fabulous. Kids Bolognese was very generous, my 7 year old says she nearly went pop! Pizzas are lovely, really good ingredients. Very friendly staff.

What an absolutely fantastic restaurant. We’ve been here several times and each time they never fail to impress. The food is always fresh. Service is always top notch. Although I didn’t get a picture of it the Tiramisu is a must! 10/10.

Extremely tasty food with good service to match.

The only reason I'm giving the place 4☆ is, unfortunately, the bathroom and no baby changing table available. That needs improving. The food and service were great, so I would still return.

Great place food lovely. I'm not fan off the house wine.

The service was so good, the portions were just right and the flavours were all there

Lovely lunch today for our wedding anniversary. Setting, service and atmosphere can't be faulted (as usual). The lunch set menu is extremely good value too. My only, slight negative point is the Negroni cocktail was made with Martini Vermouth. Sorry, that is pretty poor vermouth. Picky I know, but when a restaurant is consistently this good, you have to point out the small things. We will absolutely be going back.

Wonderful anniversary dinner here, food so fresh and flavoursome from the very start - the tomatoes in the bruschetta sing with flavour. Food delicious and portions generous and all staff lovely, especially our waitress who was helpful and pleasant throughout.

Great place, great food, and not as expensive as people think.

I'm always a bit skeptical of Italian restaurants abroad... well Positano is Italian in name and in fact... true Italian cuisine where yesterday for lunch we enjoyed linguine with seafood, lamb accompanied with a crazy sauce, wonderful fried calamari and everything and more....Thank you

Returning to this amazing restaurant once more for lunch,today 31st August,always a pleasure to anticipate as the standard never wavers from 5 star.We were warmly welcomed and we requested to sit outside under the awning.The staff here go beyond to make you feel welcome and valued.The menu is very varied and the food is always excellent.The wine list is imaginative too.The restaurant soon filled up both outside and inside.Several times we were asked if everything was ok during our different courses.All the staff are amazing but Alfredo shines just that bit brighter.We are already looking forward to another visit…Thankyou Stuart…

my favourite restaurant so far! went there for birthday dinner with my friends and it was the best decision ever! the food is delicious,atmosphere is cozy,staff is perfectly polite and friendly. our waitress was really helpful and gave us great service. will come back again and again

I couldn't praise enough the Positano team! The food was delicious, everyone was so polite and friendly. The atmosphere is beautiful. I have been at Positano quite a few times now, I'm always looking forward to come back.

Great food, very knowledgeable staff. Resturant can be a bit cosy, but that all adds to the social Italian feel of the place. Update... Just had another meal to celebrate our anniversary. Simply stunning, food was out of this world 👌

Girls night out with friends, amazing food and the service exceptional

We have visited this place several times and it has been great and staff have been attentive but this latest visit was the complete opposite. We were a large group, food was very mixed, one dish looked dreadful and was not eaten at all. We were all packed in, one waiter just kept stretching over me to pass things down with his elbow in my face. Their white shirts were dirty, they all kept handling dogs who were there with other customers then serving tables… At no point were we asked if all our food was ok. We had to stop one to order more drinks. One meal was much later than the rest so of course we waited but then other meals were going cold. Very disappointing experience this time.

Positano is a regular spot for us and each time it is amazing, no matter what we order it is always delicious and the service amazing. Last night we were celebrating our anniversary & our waitress brought out my tiramasu with a candle and happy anniversary message & said very kind words. We were really touched as she went above and beyond & it is very in keeping with how they always are in Positano's. We will be back again soon no doubt!

Delicious food & wine. Exceptional ambience with table lighting and music. Super attentive and fast friendly service. One to come back to for sure.

The kids have been here before and told us how good it was and when our youngest smashed his GCSEs, we decided to take them all out for a celebratory dinner. We had a mix of things from the A la cart and the specials and everything was brilliant, including the service. Would highly recommend.

Authentic Italian restaurant with a friendly staff. My wife and I sat in the alfresco and had Napolitan ragu tagliatelle, Salmon, focaccia bread and meatballs with tomato sauce. Everything was good and reminded me of how my grandma used to cook some of those dishes. I liked the selection of desserts, they are all hand made and taste like home.

A true taste of Italy in Guildford. Positano is a gem! * The authentic Italian food is outstanding. * The wine selection is amazing, and the staff are incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. * It's definitely a top contender for the best restaurant in Guildford!

Without a doubt the best Italian restaurant we have tried in this country. It is a family run place where all the staff are friendly including the lovely owner who takes time to chat with everyone. Food is great. Everyone in our family loves this place.

We love, love, love coming here! The food is delicious, and the service is impeccable. My fiance and I come here every year on our anniversary as it's the first restaurant we went out for dinner at! They always ask if we are celebrating something, and we say yes, our anniversary, so they write a "congratulations" on our dessert and make it look all pretty 😍 The food here is great. The fried zucchini are crunchy, not oily; the pizzas are doughy and taste amazing, the salads use juicy tomatoes, are fresh and crisp, and yummy dressing. Plus, there's a great selection of wine! It's a little pricey but the food is so good that it kind of makes up for it! The service is impeccable also, everyone is so friendly and polite, they take your coat and hang it up, all of them say hello and goodbye, and they're always attentive without hovering. We love it here! It's so cosy and romantic! Great food, great wine, great vibes!

We went on a busy sunny weekend, but the staff were very quick, attentive, and friendly. Their 2 course set menu is brilliant value for money, and the beef ragu was absolutely delicious, possibly one of the best I have had. The style/age of the building makes it not wheelchair accessible, but there is seating outside.

Nice Italian restaurant in the centre of Guildford, but pushed us off our table after two hours as another party were waiting. What we had to eat was lovely, but not offered desert or even a coffee. Left us with a sour taste in the mouth and a bill for £300+ for 6 people.

Been here twice in the last month and it was excellent 👌. The first time I booked and took a friend from out of town and thought I might be taking a risk but boy!it was a risk worth taking. Food, service and atmosphere was top notch 👌 fyi you will need to book as they are this good 👍 try the signature pizza 🍕 yummy!

Wow, wow and wow! Incredible food at the highest level, matched by great service equals a stunning experience. This matched our last visit nearly a year ago (we are not local). What a place.

Seafood pasta and risotto are both good. I slightly prefer the risotto as exceptionally al dente (and also it’s in other people’s plate :3) The sauce is very delicious and keeps me wanting to scoop up all the noodles (and rice). The garlic bread tastes a little burnt, probably the garlic was not moist/oiled enough, but the dough is springy and lovely. Hope it’s healthier. The pizza on the table next to us looks good too. The grilled pepper side is also quite unique with olives and tasty. Friendly service. I regret declining pepper as it turns out they have a gigantic pepper mill. Very dramatic. Nice vine at the street corner leading into a quieter lane. Glad we tried our luck and walked in on a Friday evening. Would be happy to come back if I ever visit Guildford again and maybe after trying other places.

Had lovely lunch sitting outside. The food was delicious and the service was amazing. Highly recommend a visit

Decent food and good service in an old house converted restaurant. I felt comfortable there.

I recently ate at Positano, and it was amazing! The service was super friendly and attentive. The food melted in my mouth, and the portions were just right. The wine was great, too. I'm usually very picky with food, but Positano really impressed me. The only thing that I would improve a littly bit is the lava cake. Overall, Positano is fantastic, and I’ll definitely be back. Highly recommend!!

Perfetto!! Super staff, gorgeous food and great value! What more can you ask for?

Never been here before but will definitely be back. Came out for lunch and the service was so lovely, food was delicious and the restaurant is a quaint 16th century building with a beautiful atmosphere. Really recommend if you want something relaxed and yummy 😋

What can I say? No one does it better than Positano. They are simply the best in the game when it comes to quality Italian food. I very much enjoyed a meal with members of my band after a rehearsal nearby in Woking. Staff at Positano are very friendly and accommodating, and the service is super fast, too. We very swiftly received our drinks after ordering and, in quick succession, our food came out too. The food is spot on 👌 I went for the mushroom, which comes with mushrooms, truffle, and parmesan. I added truffle oil to my pizza, which was a v good choice! The food was delicious. Funnily enough, we were also treated to an incredible opera performance from a gentleman singing on the high street in Guildford - I wouldn't expect this every time you go there though, of course!

Delicious foof. Wonderful service. Had a grest timr x

Really well run with lots of attentive staff. Great to sit out in summer but haven’t been inside. Husband was really complementary about his parmigiana mellanzana which is a very rare thing. I enjoyed mt polpeti starter.

Wow what amazing Italian restaurant amazing history The food was top quality The staff - waitress outstanding

The restaurant is a perennial favorite and a totally solid choice if you're craving Italian home cooking. I've been here several times for lunch or dinner and can primarily recommend the pizzas and meat dishes - even if the food is generally adapted to local tastes and the team has (rare) misfires. The guest rooms are slanted and quite winding inside, while there are some terrace seats outside, which are better reserved in advance on summer days. Otherwise, the warm service team is completely impeccable, taking care of its guests with Italian charm and 'cordialità'. Grazie aunt! 🍷

Out of this world as always. Perfect food, wonderful staff, made very welcome. Will come again soon

Easy in top 3 places to eat out in Guildford. Food is fresh, tasty and focused on quality rather than being pretentious (and ending up lacking) like many places in Guildford. Prices are what they should be which is ~20% cheaper than most places in Guildford and surrounding areas. Great service and convenient central location. It can get busy at times but that’s relatively small inconvenience. Pizzas are proper Italian, full of flavour and done right just like pasta dishes. Highly recommend.