L’Osteria del Tempo Perso — Restaurant in Portoferraio

A Hidden Gem in Portoferraio: L'Osteria del Tempo Perso

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Portoferraio, L’Osteria del Tempo Perso feels like a secret waiting to be discovered. The moment you walk in, the charm of Elba’s timeless atmosphere greets you.

What truly sets this place apart is how it elevates humble ingredients to something unforgettable. The eggplant, for example, is a revelation: smoky, silky, that melt on the tongue. Equally impressive is the zucchini, prepared with simplicity and soul, it captures the freshness of the island in every bite.

But the star of the evening was the turbot. Cooked to perfection, resting on a bed of seasonal vegetables, The balance of textures and clean flavors was nothing short of masterful.

Service is friendly, unhurried, and genuinely caring—true to the restaurant’s name, which roughly translates to “the tavern of lost time.” Here, meals are meant to be savored, not rushed.

If you’re in Elba and looking for a meal that tells a story of the land and sea, L’Osteria del Tempo Perso is...

This restaurant is so good that we booked again for the next night. The care taken in the preparation of the dishes was excellent - the best you could ask for. I had Vitello Tonato, a dish I was wary of trying. It was well balanced yet packed a punch. My husband and I both had homemade pasta, his with porcini, mine with mussels, clams and sunblush tomatoes. Both exquisitely prepared. I love clams and these were the sweetest I've had. We shared a stuffed turbot which was beautiful. Front of house/service was exemplary - warm, friendly, everything you could ask for. The wines by the glass were delicious. Can't wait for tomorrow to try some more dishes from this talented chef - you can taste the love in his food. This small business deserves...

We found L’Osteria del Tempo Perso by chance and after reading some online reviews were hooked.

We showed up just after 7pm and were asked to come back around 7:30 to allow the kitchen to stagger the meals. The restaurant is run by a young couple who run both the kitchen and the front of house themselves so you have to be patient to give them time but it is so worth it.

The pasta is made fresh everyday and was the best pasta I’ve had in Italy. My partner of Coeliac and the wife was so helpful with what she could and couldn’t have as she’s also Coeliac. They serve a GF beer as well!

We didn’t get to try the Tiramisu as I was very full but it looked amazing and was also GF.

Would recommend to anyone and would...