Wine-lovers alert! There are many great, 100% authentic wine bars in Cagliari, and I happen to be a wine lover (and a local) and know all the best ones.
When you’re in Cagliari, you’ll often find the best way to experience the culture here is to find somewhere to eat and drink and let your taste buds learn for you.
I find that the very best places to get this sort of experience are wine bars. Of course, if you’re a wine-lover, you’ll already be thinking of this yourself. Sardinia has some fantastic local wines (as well as craft beer) to try out, and where better to sample them than in a place designed for drinking wine?
Wine bars aren’t just places to drink, though: the best wine bars in Cagliari also boast food menus, packed with delicious dishes and small plates to further showcase the Sardinian style.
But most of all, these are places where friends meet. I regularly visit local wine bars with my friends and can tell you these are the real thing, so authentic, so local – we sip local wines, try Italian and even foreign wines, and enjoy a bit of local food in these locally run businesses.
Cosy and filled with chatter and laughter, you’ll have your best evenings in the city in a wine bar. To give you some inspiration, I’m sharing a selection of my favorite authentic places to get a glass of wine. These are all places I visit regularly, and you may well find me seated there, enjoying a glass of wine.
Check out my posts, A Guide To Sardinian Wines and Wineries in Sardinia You Should Visit for more information.
If you are spending time in Cagliari, you will find my Guide To The Best Attractions In Cagliari and Cagliari Weekend Trip Planning Guide particularly useful.
Best Wine Bars In Cagliari
Sabores
With its gorgeous tiled floors and minimalist bar, this place is like a modern take on an old-school delicatessen. There’s a fridge overloaded with meats and cheeses (they have a fantastic selection of Sardinian pecorino), things hanging from the ceiling, shelves stacked with jars, vintage scales on the counter, a few tables – I love it.
With all this delicious food, it’s no wonder there are tables here – how could anybody wait to sample what they’ve got on offer at Sabores?
The Sardinian cheese and meat boards are incredible, as is the local wine – it’s a wonderful place to get acquainted with Sardinia’s culinary landscape. This definitely is one of my favorite wine bars in Cagliari.
However, beware: Sabores also carries lots of Italian and foreign wines, just in case you want to drink something different. All wines served here are natural wines.
The staff is excellent. As soon as you walk in, you’ll be asked about your likes and dislikes, then served food and wine that match your tastes. Samuele, the owner, speaks really good English, so you will be in good hands.
Sabores is located at 6 Via Lodovico Baylle, in Cagliari’s Marina District. If you plan on visiting on the weekend, and especially in the summer months, make sure to reserve a table in advance.
Pipette Bar Au Vin
Walk inside this Cagliari wine bar, and you’ll be instantly transported to Paris. The interior decoration is simple, traditional, and very Parisian, if I may say.
There is an excellent selection of national and international wines – in fact, the wine menu comes with a map, and the expert owner will be ready to suggest a wine to your liking based on the region you are considering,
When I visited last, we had a fabulous champagne, but there’s even Lebanese wine on offer.
The menu includes a selection of snacks and munchies – think freshly cut fries, top quality anchovies with toasted local bread and butter, and seasonal bruschetta. But if you fancy a proper meal, they have you covered.
Their polpo (octopus) is delicious, and I have spotted some pasta dishes I will have next time I visit.
Pipette is located at 8 Via dei Mille, in the Marina District. Reservations are recommended.
Osteria Paradiso
I only discovered this wine bar a few months ago, and I immediately decided to add it to my selection, since my experience was very positive.
Osteria Paradiso has plenty of outdoor seating (including heaters if you decide to visit in the colder months) and a few indoor tables (cozier in the winter). While there is a good selection of cocktails, the focus here is certainly Italian and Sardinian (natural) wines, which you can order by the glass (ask your server for daily selections) or by the bottle.
To accompany your drink, you can pick one of their charcuterie boards. They have a selection of “salumi” (cold meats) from around Italy, to satisfy your every gluttonous desire. There are lots of cheeses too, and options for vegan and gluten-free customers.
If you want more than just a bite, you can opt for one of their warm dishes, which include a selection of various kinds of lasagne, polenta, stews, soups, and more. They also serve some Sardinian staples such as culurgiones and panada.
You can finish your meal with a mouthwatering dessert – they have sebadas as well as pardule, two of Sardinia’s most famous sweets.
What I loved about Osteria Paradiso isn’t just the selection (and excellent quality) of wine and food on offer, but also the warm and easygoing service. The waiting staff is particularly kind and attentive, and ready to crack a joke. I can foresee going more often!
Osteria Paradiso is located in Via Sardegna 126 in the Marina District, tucked away from the most chaotic parts of the district. It’s open daily – reservations are recommended on the weekend.
Bottiglieria del Popolo
I tried this wine bar in Cagliari last weekend for the first time, and fell in love with it. It’s a tiny spot, tucked away in a very quiet corner of the Villanova historic district, a few minutes’ walk from my place. Some sommelier friends of mine had visited a week before, told me about their immense wine list, their delicious food, and recommended I visit.
They were right. Bottiglieria del Popolo offers a fantastic selection of wines by the glass and bottles from around the world, with prices that range from a few euros for a glass to thousands of euros for a bottle of the most refined wine.
I had a glass of Champagne (I have a soft spot for this French wine), and my friend tried a Marchese Villamarina by Sella e Mosca, my favorite Sardinian winery near Alghero. I immediately noticed how professional the staff is: they literally tasted the wine before serving us, to make sure we were getting the perfect glass.
We were also offered a tasting of the fried sage, and it was hard not to order a bunch more because it was so good.
The food menu is small, with very few dishes that are cooked to perfection in the open kitchen. Dishes reflect seasonal ingredients, so they change on a regular basis.
We loved the service: incredibly attentive, yet very friendly. I honestly can’t wait to go again, and you should visit too.
Bottiglieria del Popolo is located in Via Goceano 1, in a lesser-known corner of the Villanova district.
Sa Binuteca
I tried Sa Binuteca following a friend’s recommendation, and walked back home thinking I’d have to add it to my selection of the best wine bars in Cagliari.
Needless to say, I loved it. This shop/wine bar only offers wine from smaller wine producers in Sardinia – so you’ll know that what you are having is local and genuine.
They also prepare the most delicious “taglieri” – wooden boards filled to the brim with delicious local cheeses, preserved seasonal vegetables, charcuterie, and more. The spreads are actually made by the owners’ mother: talk about family-run!
They are located just off Piazza Garibaldi, one of Cagliari’s most famous squares in the Villanova District, but in a spot that is not known to tourists yet, so chances are you’ll only find locals there.
Sa Binuteca is located at 22A Via Farina, in the most modern part of the Villanova District.
Retrobanco
Intimate and cosy, with small tables and a small kitchen, Retrobanco is the perfect place to while away an evening.
Contrary to most wine bars in Cagliari, Retrobanco has a strong focus on French wines, but you will find a selection of local and Italian wines too, as well as Argentine, Spanish, and Chilean wines.
Owner Pippo is incredibly knowledgeable and will help you pair whatever food you order with the best wines on offer.
Retrobanco offers an excellent selection of meats and cheeses with charcuterie boards, perfectly complementing the in-depth choice of wine, which you can enjoy by the glass or bottle; and you will also find a selection of appetizers, pasta dishes, and main courses, as well as desserts, with a selection of meat and seafood dishes and options for vegetarians too.
The atmosphere at Retrobanco is sophisticated, yet cozy. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly – along with the owner, the waiting staff will take excellent care of you, and the chef creates modern dishes with top quality ingredients.
I only tried it recently, but I can foresee visiting again, and again – it has already become one of my favorite wine bars in Cagliari.
Retrobanco is located in Viale Regina Margherita 91. Dinner reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.
Ex Tipografia
Ex Tipografia has a cool aesthetic, mixing modern chic with rustic, traditional decor for an interesting mix of old and new. The bar is constructed from an antique set of drawers, which is extra cool. Style is certainly at the forefront of this Cagliari wine bar.
This is part of what helps the atmosphere of this place shine through. While nights here can be spent sampling the wine collection (they have an extensive wine list, which includes international wines too), days are about luxuriating over a long lunch or enjoying one of their famous breakfasts.
It has a “Market Bar” that allows you to buy bottles to take away from a regional and national selection.
Ex Tipografia is situated on 80 Largo Carlo Felice in the heart of the Stampace district.
Cronta
Cozy yet smart, Cronta is a crossover between a wine bar and a cellar, the kind of place where you’ll actually sit at tables surrounded by shelves packed full with different bottles of wine.
With a selection including wines from pretty much everywhere in the world, the range of wine by the bottle here is nothing short of outstanding.
What I love about Cronta is that they have one of the best selections of Champagne in Cagliari, and being quite the lover of Champagne, you can imagine I go there often. You can have it by the glass and by the bottle – there’s something in pretty much any price range.
To get a more Sardinian experience, purchase bottles of local wine and sit down to enjoy it in the bar, pairing your choice with small plates. They also have a proper lunch and dinner menu if you are hungry for a full meal.
Cronta is located at 25/27 Viale Armando Diaz, just outside the Villanova and Marina districts.
Babeuf
With its terrazzo flooring and cute, mismatched furniture – as well as a scattering of vintage knick-knacks as decoration – Babeuf is a cool spot for wining and dining in Cagliari. It’s all about enjoying the hip yet welcoming ambience featuring wine paired with small, local plates.
There’s a fantastic selection of wine on offer at Babeuf, which certainly puts it at the top of any wine lover’s list. (For the beer-lovers, there’s craft beer on tap). With a small library and games to use, it’s a relaxed, friendly sort of place to hang out with friends.
The dishes here (different every day) are great value for money, so get yourself a few different plates to sample local flavors. It’s also listed as LGBTQ+ friendly.
Babeuf is located in Via Giardini, tucked in a lesser-frequented spot of Villanova.
Vineria Villanova
Located in my favorite historic district of Cagliari, Vineria Villanova is one of the most recent additions to Cagliari’s nightlife scene in terms of wine bars. Sit outside in the summer months to enjoy the fantastic atmosphere of the very local district, or opt to stay inside to appreciate the cozy historic building.
Vineria Villanova has a very good selection of local, national, and international wines and makes some of the best cocktails in town, which you can accompany with some small bites too.
This is by far one of the best wine bars in Cagliari.
Vineria Villanova is located in Via San Domenico 6 in the heart of the Villanova District. It’s a busy spot, so go early to make sure to grab a table.
Le Zitelle
I first tried Le Zitelle a week ago with a friend of mine. I was keen on going as it’s very close to where I live, and I heard they have not only a great selection of wines, but also vegan cheeses (and since I am lactose intolerant, that grabbed my curiosity).
We loved it. The host is on a mission to make sure you fully appreciate the wine you are drinking, so she will have you try a bunch before you place your order. You just have to tell her if you want white, red, rosé, or bubbles, and she will come to the table with three bottles of whichever kind you prefer, and offer you a small taste to help you choose.
If you’re hungry, you should definitely try one of their charcuterie boards. They have a bunch of options. We ordered a large one that was enough for 3, and replaced the regular cheese with vegan cheese. Indeed, this is one of the most vegan-friendly eateries in Cagliari.
You’ll find Le Zitelle in Via Garibaldi, one of the main shopping streets in Cagliari.
BuffHouse – Wine Therapy & Bistrot
The fact that this place has “Wine Therapy” in its name should tell you a lot. It’s the sort of place to come to reset, with no airs and graces; just good food, great wine, and a wonderfully rustic and friendly ambience that makes for a classic place to while away an evening.
The service is excellent here; the staff are very knowledgeable and will be happy to tell you about the food and its origins. There’s a wide selection of high-quality Sardinian wine to choose from (available by the glass or bottle), and the outstanding food menu is also well worth exploring.
Their cutting boards of cheeses, meats, and olives are divine. If you want to try it out, it’s a good idea to book ahead – this place is pretty small.
BuffHouse is located in Via Angioy 66, a quiet corner of the Stampace Historic District.
Wine Tasting Tours In Cagliari
To get acquainted with Sardinian wines, you may also want to join one of these guided tours:
- Wine tour Sardinia – the best-reviewed wine tasting tour on the island.
- Wine experience around Cagliari – similar to the one above, but with a slightly smaller group.
- Wine tasting in Serdiana – visit a fantastic winery in Serdiana, a small town about 30 minutes drive from Cagliari.
Final Considerations on Wine Bars In Cagliari
Cagliari has no shortage of wine bars, but choosing well makes a difference. Most good spots are in Marina, Stampace, Villanova, and Castello, all within the historic center, and all easy to walk to.
Reserve a table on weekends. Locals go out late, and the best places fill up quickly, especially for outdoor seating in spring and summer.
If you want to taste properly, ask for calici (by the glass) instead of ordering a full bottle. Many bars rotate small Sardinian producers, and staff usually know their selections well. Don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations based on what you like—Cannonau, Vermentino, Carignano, or something more experimental.
Check whether food is included. Some bars serve generous platters; others focus strictly on wine.
Finally, pace yourself. Distances are short, so you can try two or three places in one evening without rushing.
Recommended Readings
Further Readings
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Claudia Tavani
Claudia Tavani was born and raised in Sardinia, and after moving between the United States and the United Kingdom, she's now back living in her hometown, Cagliari. She's a travel blogger and certified travel designer who loves planning trips and publishing guides, travel tips, and packing lists so that you don't have to. Owner of Strictly Sardinia, cat mom to Minnie. Loves pizza, hiking, archeology, cities, beaches, swimming, and running. Hates peppers.