Must-see restaurants in Northwestern Italy

  • La Piola

    Alba

    Part of the Ceretto family's small empire, La Piola offers a faithful menu of traditional Piedmontese dishes, but at the same time manages to be stylish,…

  • More e Macine

    Langhe, Roero & Monferrato

    A rambunctious, casual and seemingly chaotic place that turns out some of the town's best food. This is the Piedmontese kitchen at its most essential:…

  • Gaudenzio

    Turin

    Meet the gang who are intent on breaking down Italy's beloved course structure. It’s small plates here – although there is a sliding scale of small to…

  • 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…

  • Scannabue

    Turin

    Scannabue, housed in a former corner garage, is a retro-fitted bistro that has a touch of Paris in its cast-iron doors and tiled floors. There's a casual…

  • 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…

  • La Brasserie de Bon Bec

    Valle d'Aosta

    In a warmly lit dining room adorned with old farm tools and glossy oil paintings, Bon Bec serves up outstanding mountain cuisine. Start off with house…

  • 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…

  • Alba, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy  - February 20, 2019: View of Piazza Duomo in the historic center of the famous city of the Langhe.
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mediterranean cuisine, gastronomic excellence, fine wine, editorial, piazza duomo

    Piazza Duomo

    Alba

    Enrico Crippa's Michelin-starred restaurant is now in its second decade and is considered one of Italy's best. Dreamlike frescoes by Francesco Clemente…

  • 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…

  • EDIT

    Turin

    Breathing new life into a former industrial district, EDIT (which stands for Eat Drink Innovate Together) is set in a capacious two-storey building that…

  • 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…

  • Le Quattro Stagioni

    Piedmont

    One of Saluzzo's iconic gathering spots, Le Quattro Stagioni has a cavernous but warmly lit dining room with vaulted ceilings, and fresh flowers on the…

  • 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,…

  • Consorzio

    Turin

    At this Quadrilatero Romano institution, it can be almost impossible to secure a table. Do book ahead, don't expect flash decor and pay the not-always…

  • 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,…

  • Chiodi Latini

    Turin

    Chiodi Latini serves elegantly prepared Slow Food fast. Amid a sunny space with tall ceilings, upbeat jazz and big windows facing onto a lively stretch of…

  • 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 …

  • Birdy Bakery

    Valle d'Aosta

    Conveniently placed opposite the bus stop on Breuil-Cervinia's lower traffic circle, this friendly corner bakery and all-around local hangout serves tasty…

  • Sciamadda

    Turin

    This much-loved local snack spot serves up Ligurian delicacies, including fried anchovies and calamari, pasqualina (an artichoke tort), trofie al pesto (a…

  • Banco vini e alimenti

    Turin

    A hybrid restaurant-bar-deli, this smartly designed, low-key place does clever small-dish dining for lunch and dinner. While it might vibe casual wine bar…

  • Soda

    Alba

    A stylish, minimalist space near the south side of the old town that serves outstanding vegan cuisine. Here you'll find beautifully prepared pad thai,…

  • 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…

  • Il Vecchio Ristoro

    Aosta

    Originating from the Valtellina, Alfio Fascendini knows a thing or two about good food and wine. Sample creamy polenta with gorgonzola and egg, boneless…

  • Osteria Arborina

    Langhe, Roero & Monferrato

    Part of the Arborina Relais hotel, this very smart dining room offers gastronomic menus that either rework Piedmontese standards in surprising ways or go…

  • Brandini

    Langhe, Roero & Monferrato

    There's a stunning view across vineyards to a wall of snow-capped mountains from the rustic farmhouse tables that grace the light open space at Brandini,…

  • 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,…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Donna Selvatica

    Langhe, Roero & Monferrato

    On the Barbaresco hills overlooking the village, the name Donna Selvatica honours the local grappa producer Romano Levi for whom the 'wild woman' was a…

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