Must-see restaurants in The Italian Riviera

  • Il Marin

    Genoa

    Eating by the water often means a compromise in quality, but Eataly's 3rd-floor fine-dining space delivers both panoramic port views and Genoa's most…

  • Il Papeoto

    La Spezia

    This friendly osteria (casual tavern) turns out Instagram-worthy plates of creative, cruelty-free delicacies. Rich, complex flavours feature prominently…

  • Trattoria dal Billy

    Manarola

    Hidden off a narrow lane in the upper reaches of town, the Trattoria dal Billy fires up some of the best seafood dishes anywhere in Cinque Terre. Start…

  • A Cuvèa

    San Remo

    This cosy, warmly lit place lined with wine bottles overflows with locals tucking into homemade traditional dishes such as tagliolini with seafood or…

  • Trattoria Rosmarino

    Genoa

    Rosmarino cooks up the standard local specialities, yes, but the straightforwardly priced menu has an elegance and vibrancy that sets it apart. With two…

  • La Cucina di Nonna Nina

    Camogli

    In the leafy heights of San Rocco di Camogli you’ll find the only Slow Food–recommended restaurant along the coast, named for grandmother Nina, whose…

  • uGiancu

    Rapallo

    About 5km inland in the hamlet of San Massimo di Rapallo, this cult restaurant is run by comic-book collector Fausto Oneto, and half of his collection…

  • Da Eraldo

    Monterosso

    One of the liveliest restaurants in town, Eraldo's is a family-style spot where you dine amid arched brick ceilings and red-and-white tablecloths, with…

  • Osteria di Vico Palla

    Genoa

    This old-fashioned tavern near the waterfront has been around in one form or another since the 1600s. Wooden tables, low-arched brick ceilings and a few…

  • Mercato Orientale Genova

    Genoa

    In 2019 a gourmet food hall landed in Genoa's oldest market, offering nearly a dozen different stands. You can dine on wood-oven-fired pizzas, pastas,…

  • Dal Pudu

    Golfo dei Poeti

    Just across from Piazza Garibaldi, Dal Pudu is a tiny storefront serving up some of the best seafood in town. A chalkboard menu lists the day's specials,…

  • Torre Aurora

    Monterosso

    Monterosso's most memorable setting for a meal is undoubtedly this 13th-century tower with a terrace overlooking the sea. Painstakingly prepared seafood …

  • Da Aristide

    Manarola

    Near the tunnel leading to the train station, Aristide has tables in an old village house and in a bright, modern marque terrace on the square. Order a…

  • Trattoria da Oscar

    Monterosso

    Behind Piazza Matteoti, in the heart of the old town, this tiny vaulted dining room is run by a young, friendly team and attracts a loyal local crowd. The…

  • Cappun Magru

    Manarola

    Near the Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Cappun Magru is a favourite among locals for its home-style cooking, its delicious cakes and Manarola's best espressos…

  • Il Massimo della Focaccia

    Monterosso

    Just below the train station, this photogenic takeaway fires up the best focaccia in all of Cinque Terre. You can order that perfectly crisped bread…

  • San Martino Gastronomia

    Monterosso

    The go-to place for delicious market-fresh fair at reasonable prices, San Martino has a changing chalkboard menu posted out front and just a couple of…

  • Bella Bu

    Genoa

    An atmospherically lit spot for tapas and cocktails early in the evening, or a proper dinner later in the night. The youthful owners showcase quality…

  • Belforte

    Vernazza

    A Vernazza classic for more than 50 years, Belforte serves beautifully prepared seafood dishes in an 11th-century castle. You can dine in the atmospheric…

  • Trattoria Da Maria

    Genoa

    Brace yourself for lunchtime mayhem. This is a totally authentic, if well touristed, workers' trattoria and there's much squeezing into tiny tables,…

  • Ristorante Belvedere

    Monterosso

    With tables overlooking the beach, this unpretentious seafood restaurant is a good place to try the local bounty. Start with penne con scampi (pasta tubes…

  • The Cook al Cavo

    Genoa

    Admire the exquisite 17th-century frescoes of Bernardo Strozzi while dining on exquisitely prepared cuisine inside this spectacular dining room encased in…

  • Osteria all’Inferno dal 1905

    La Spezia

    Go early to score a table at this sprawling subterranean osteria, a famed destination for la cucina spezzina (La Spezia cooking). True to its name, this…

  • Revello

    Camogli

    If you're not on a mission to taste-test every town's focacceria, Revello is a suitably respectable choice if you had to choose just one. Pick up slices…

  • Da Paolo

    Camogli

    Up a back lane from the waterfront, stylish Da Paolo has the town's best fish and seafood, all fresh off the boats and done in a variety of simple local…

  • Blue Marlin

    Vernazza

    With outdoor tables on the main drag and a lively soundtrack, Blue Marlin draws a steady stream of locals and visitors throughout the day. Stop in for…

  • La Torre

    Vernazza

    Tucked along a hillside pathway just outside of the centre, La Torre serves Genovese-style trofie al pesto (a pasta with pesto), seafood spaghetti,…

  • Alberto Gelateria

    Corniglia

    A Corniglia mainstay since 1999, Alberto Melandri serves some of the best gelato for miles around. Try the basilico, made from basil grown in his garden…

  • La Pia Centenaria

    La Spezia

    Founded in 1887, La Pia is a much-loved icon in La Spezia. Piping hot slices of farinata (chickpea flour flat bread) is the big draw, though there's also…

  • La Posada Ristorante

    Corniglia

    Near the top of the stairs leading up from the train station, La Posada is one of Corniglia's most memorable settings for an al fresco meal. On a terrace…

  • La Cantina del Macellaio

    Riomaggiore

    A surprising find in seafood-centric Cinque Terre, La Cantina del Macellaio fires up melt-in-your-mouth braised beef, pasta with wild boar and a few other…

  • La Botega Del Gusto

    Genoa

    Genovese fast food done in the most authentic and enticing of ways can be had at this backstreet hole in the wall. Come for a quick and easy plate of…

  • Colle del Telegrafo

    Riomaggiore

    Perched on a ridge south of Riomaggiore, where the old telegraph line used to be strung, the views from the Colle del Telegrafo are spectacular. But they…

  • Pizzeria Savô

    Genoa

    Gourmet pizza in Italy seems a little, well, ironic, with the rest of the world so keen to do authentic Italian pizza. While the pizzas here are…

  • Officina 34

    Genoa

    Genoa is a long way from Manhattan or Berlin, but that urban aesthetic is in full force at Officina 34. It's a beautifully fitted-out space in a pretty…

  • L'Altro Eden

    Santa Margherita Ligure

    A seafood place right on the docks, yes, but this grey-and-white streamlined vaulted space is a maritime kitsch-free zone. Romantic and cosy on colder…

  • Il Gabbiano

    Corniglia

    One of the only places where you’ll find refreshment on the Sentiero Azzuro, this cafe sits alongside the trail (on the Mediterranean side) in Prevo. Il…

  • Pane e Tulipani

    Genoa

    Hectic times rule at this poetically named bakery: everyone wants what they're selling. Drop by any time for one of their several varieties of focaccia or…

  • Rio Bistrot

    Riomaggiore

    One of Riomaggiore's top dining destinations, Rio Bistrot earns rave reviews for its beautifully prepared seafood dishes – with selections changing daily…

  • Gambero Rosso

    Vernazza

    If you've been subsisting on focaccia, Gambero's house specials – tegame di Vernazza (anchovies with baked potatoes and tomatoes), grilled rock octopus or…