The best restaurants Liguria

An adjunct to the luxurious Miky restaurant (which we also recommend, depending on your budget), this marine bistro, with its breathtaking sea views, is at once chic, designer and informal. With a fine wine cellar featuring over 250 labels, Miky's Cantina (which means "cellar") offers a good choice of fresh, tasty regional dishes. The pleasant terrace stretches the length of the restaurant. As in many other places, the tables here quickly fill up at mealtimes. Don't hesitate to come a little in advance or to make a reservation.

A culinary reference on the Riviera, this gourmet restaurant is for those who want to treat themselves to a real taste experience (on a budget!). On the menu, fresh fish and shellfish specialties prepared to a high standard (legendary antipasto of the sea, as well as fried anchovies), graphic plates, impeccably laid out, a cart of simple and tasty desserts, including a chocolate cake to die for. A nice gastronomic stop where to take a break and relax while heading towards the buckwheat village.

The atmosphere here is very convivial, thanks to the music, but also to the fact that the tables are close together and the service is very friendly. The Mediterranean cuisine is delicious, based on fresh fish and local produce. On the menu, for example, a choice of salads, pastas - pesto, tomato and basil, Bolognese, ravioli... -meat tartars, fish, Milanese escalopes... Excellent choice of beers and wines. Everything here is good and affordable.

Right in the middle of Sarzana, this is a friendly, relaxed address where focaccia and pizza are king, as is farinata. For those who don't know, farinata is a local specialty, a sort of salted cake made from chickpea flour, water, salt and extra virgin olive oil. Go and try it, you'll tell us all about it! On the spot or to take away, it's up to you. Tables are available under the arcades as soon as the weather warms up.

Located on the charming little croisette, the restaurant's seafront position offers an elegant, privileged setting, and its terrace lets you take full advantage of the romanticism of the place. The restaurant's cuisine highlights the freshness of its produce while respecting culinary tradition. The specialities on offer, typically Ligurian, are based on the catch of the day, with grilled and fried meats, where the balance of aromas and flavours is the strong point. And let's not forget the homemade pasta and cakes. It's hard not to be tempted!

A small, young and friendly neighborhood bistro halfway between pub and restaurant, a little removed from the hustle and bustle of the seafront. Highly appreciated for its pizzas, which can be enjoyed on the terrace in fine weather, and above all sold at unbeatable prices. Every Wednesday, the menu features a different regional dish, the most popular of which is tripe in sauce. At the bar, the cocktails are equally renowned: ask for a mezza carolina, for example, or a full-bodied mojito, to be sipped accompanied by generous boards of focaccia and cold meats.

At the entrance to the caruggio, with a pretty veranda overlooking the sea, this quality restaurant offers a good choice of fish dishes as well as regional specialties: capon maigre, fresh pasta with pistou, clam pasta, fish from local fishermen and, in season, the famous Albenga artichokes. Excellent Italian wine list, as well as a good selection of French wines, the owner's favorite. Evenings are organized all year round, accompanied by the finest champagnes from Louis Roederer, Laurent-Perrier and Ruinart.

A business tradition that goes back a long way: a former carriage and horse depot, then a wine cellar for aperitifs, and finally today's restaurant. Il Cadraio is one of the city's most popular restaurants, a warm, family-run place offering simple, authentic dishes typical of Liguria and Genoa, enriched by more refined dishes that are always faithful to tradition. One of the house specialties is cappon magro. Centrally located, the restaurant is welcoming and friendly. Excellent service.

Among Portofino's overpriced restaurants - which aren't always up to scratch, by the way - here's a place where not only are prices a little more affordable and the regional cuisine tasty, but you'll also have the chance to meet real Italians, not just tourists. You're guaranteed a good meal in the town of the stars, with simple yet tasty dishes in perfect position on the piazzetta. Octopus salad, fried anchovies, mussels marinara, pesto lasagne, grilled fish and homemade pies.

This restaurant ticks all the boxes of a place where it's pleasant to stop for a meal: the place is very authentic, the cuisine is prepared with fresh, seasonal produce and respects the great Ligurian gastronomic tradition (choice on the slate), and the prices are not at all excessive given the location and the quality of the plates. In short, a restaurant like we love! So it's a good idea to make a reservation if you want to be sure of getting a table in the dining room or on the terrace in fine weather.

In the heart of old Levanto, in the basement of the ancient Casa Restani, the Casa del Capitanato (^13th-14th centuries), Osteria Tumelin has taken up residence. It's the place to go if you're looking for tasty traditional cuisine, prepared according to the rules of the art! The varied menu highlights the freshness of seasonal produce. The decor and service are in keeping with the main characteristics of the Osteria. An address that reflects conviviality, tradition and quality.

Santa Margherita's oldest brasserie, open since 1910, has managed to retain its identity and stand up to the trendy establishments in the area. Well-known for its rich menu and variety of dishes. Its cuisine is based on regional tradition, with a few Italian classics and an interpretation of authentic recipes, using local produce to ensure the quality and freshness of the raw materials. The wine list complements the dishes on offer, and the friendly atmosphere makes for an enjoyable dining experience.

Elbow to elbow with your neighbour, on large tables covered with checked tablecloths, where they don't really bother to sweep up the crumbs before you arrive, you will eat a tasty Genoese cuisine, in a most authentic atmosphere. The same for 50 years. With its success and unbeatable prices (practically it will cost you less than eating at home), the establishment has let itself go a bit lately and the service is not as perfect as it once was. Good for a quick lunch.

One: you can't miss it, the name is written in big letters on the façade. Two: the place is idyllic, whether you are on the terrace or in the panoramic room; the view of the turquoise sea, the abbey and the Doria tower is such that you forget everything! Inside, you will find a decoration where marine elements (shells, anchor, fish) are omnipresent. And in the plate, a local and family cooking (transmitted from mother to son!) based on fish. The pesce alla ligure is simply divine as well as the lasagne al pesto.

A charming address ideally located in the historic center of Portovenere. Authentic wooden interior. Family-style cooking for typically local dishes such as warm octopus salad or chickpea and bean soup. Of course, the menu focuses mainly on seafood products, which are sold in ultra-short circuits! Everything is beautiful and tasty, and the service is more than pleasant. In short, this is a highly recommended restaurant!

Set in an ancient palazzo in the heart of the historic center, the elegant dining room of this restaurant, decorated with frescoes by Bernard Strozzi, is truly magnificent. The table is set with care, and the gourmet cuisine is orchestrated by chef Ivano Ricchebono, who has been awarded a well-deserved 1 Michelin Star. His cuisine draws its inspiration from the sea and the land, for an explosion of aromas and flavors. The dishes are a thing of beauty. Great art! A culinary experience rich in emotion.

Located in front of the covered market, this establishment, run by the Pani family, is well known in the world of Italian restaurants. And yet, the tavern's atmosphere remains family-friendly, with a simple, refined, traditional cuisine offering all the classics of regional cooking, at more than affordable prices. The menu includes appetizers such as vitello tonnato, gnocchi, homemade ravioli or lasagne, fettuccine alle vongole... Desserts include homemade crème caramel and tiramisu. Reservations are recommended.

Restaurant and wine bar on the little port of Riomaggiore. After a successful experience in London, the two chefs returned home to offer a cuisine steeped in local flavors, but delicately revisited with an international touch. It's hard to resist the mixed antipasto and the fish and vegetable frittomisto di paranza. All the more so as the restaurant's location, overlooking the harbour and the fishermen's boats, is one of the most pleasant in the world.

If you're in the mood for a traditional Genoese meal, among all those modern bistros on Via Ravecca, step into this tiny, yellow-painted restaurant. FYI: Zena is the Genoese dialect name for Genoa. Farinata, ravioli, fish, and the classic trofie with green pesto, everything is prepared in the simplest of ways. A very friendly family atmosphere, where French is spoken. Prices are very reasonable and the food is delicious. Places are scarce, but it's well worth the wait!

In the heart of the old city on the heights, the Cigala is not so easy to find! You can sit down on the terrace with a nice sea view as a bonus. The welcome is very friendly, the plates served and decorated with taste and the cuisine tasty. Here, the owner is at the stove and his wife Cristina in the dining room. The dishes are available on the slate: pasta, raw fish in tartar, grilled or fried like this excellent fritto misto, well-cooked squid. In short, a gourmet stopover that is best reserved in high season.

This small group of friends, young fishermen entrepreneurs, have opened a friendly bistro in the most picturesque corner of the Genoese Riviera. They serve only the products of their catch, sometimes lobster. Their boat is always "parked" on the pebble beach of Boccadasse. The place is small, but we're happy to wait with a fruity white wine and a variety of calamari and seafood. Our favorite is the fish pasta. Reasonable portions.

This ultra-trendy restaurant chain promises elegance and refinement in the heart of the plate! Just a stone's throw from the port of Genoa, a chic address in the centro storico, with a rather refined black and white design decor. On the menu, sea products worked like gems: scallops, fettuccine with langoustines, fresh fish of the day and, for dessert, a delicious frozen pear to fall in love with! Indeed, the fruit is covered with spicy chocolate... Pleasant terrace, quickly crowded in summer.

A new address nestled in Genoa's caruggi district in search of recognition. An informal, relaxed atmosphere in which to enjoy traditional Ligurian recipes, reinterpreted in a slightly more modern version, or recipes as original as bread tagliatelle with squid, asparagus and pistachios. The creative cuisine draws its inspiration from the great Ligurian classics, but is also enriched by other Italian and Mediterranean ingredients. A successful contrast between the antique setting and the contemporary decor.

On the pretty pebble beach, with its feet in the water, this establishment, which rents deckchairs and parasols on the beach, is a gourmet stopover for lunch and dinner. Romolo Mare's tasty cuisine attracts gourmets all year round. We particularly appreciate the fresh fish, cooked with style. Good to know, the address is also very popular at aperitif time to enjoy the sunset and appetizers. A feast for the eyes and the taste buds! And in high season, don't hesitate to make reservations.

This restaurant, located in the heart of the city, offers a variety of pasta dishes and locally caught fish purchased at the Imperia fish auction. Swordfish and ricciola tartare compete with baccalà frittelle, not forgetting the delicious fritto misto (mixed fish fry). Homemade desserts include mille-feuille with berries, ricotta cream with sabayon sauce and parfait with amaretto (almond paste). In winter, enjoy the heated veranda in front of the square. Bikers are welcome.

Just outside the Vernazza train station, this pretty little address on the coast offers traditional Italian and Mediterranean street-food recipes. Particular attention is paid to the choice of raw materials, especially for the preparation of fritto misto (fried fish, shellfish, seafood and vegetables, all served in a cone) and the various pizzas. You can eat in or take away to enjoy the sea. Professional, friendly team.

This restaurant is located in one of the characteristic alleyways of the historic center. Its specialty is fish, with a very interesting cuisine that revisits traditional recipes, retaining the essentials while leaving room for innovation. Seafood lovers are in for a real treat. A warm and elegant place to discover a delicate and tasty cuisine. A talented young team serves up dishes that are as beautiful to look at as they are tasty to eat! Well done!

Original formula for this pizzeria in the heart of the old Imperia on a pretty shady square: on the choice of pizzas, you don't have a say because the pizzaiolo is a master in the matter! If the topping is not to your taste, wait for the next batch! Rest assured, the ingredients are all exquisite and of the highest quality while the pizza dough is tasty and well risen. No reservation is possible, but the service is rather fast. An Italian address as we like them, authentic, simple and cheap!

Cuisine Ligure. Decoration between the modern and the typical. Ambiance "yacht".

The 2 small rooms overlook a beautiful panoramic terrace with views of the harbour. Fish specialties.

A few steps from the Porto antico, this is an address that accurately recited the best of Neapolitan cuisine in a family atmosphere. In cooking Carlo caters his fish dishes, always ultra-fresh, while in the room, under the vaults of this historic room, Chiara will help you choose among the few 200 wine labels that account in the cellar of the house.

For a small trough at reduced prices. Vegetable salads or fresh fruit, very refreshing in summer.

An address we'd like to find more often... Small and friendly, this bistro attracts its clientele as much with its menu as with its warm setting in the heart of the authentic Maddalena district. The two young owners are wine connoisseurs who place great emphasis on blending food and labels. The emphasis is on the freshness of products that are rigorously seasonal, and that smell of the land. As soon as it's time foraperitivo, you can sit down on the charming piazzetta and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Fish restaurant located in the heart of Genoa, a stone's throw from the Piazza de Ferrari and the Palazzo Ducale. The place is decorated with elegance and care, and particular attention is paid to comfort, an essential element to accompany good food. A renowned address in the city that the chef and his team have maintained by offering refined, personalized dishes. The raw ingredients are treated with experience and delicacy to convey their aromas to the full. A fine wine list completes the picture. Warm atmosphere and professionalism.

Under the arcades facing the palaces in the Porto Antico district, Chen Chao is the owner of this small enoteca, frequented by passing tourists and old pinball-playing regulars. Here, people come, go and leave... A cosmopolitan clientele. If the terrace isn't always clean, the idea is to eat your panini on the go, garnished with quality ingredients (cured ham, pancetta, pecorino, cheeses and more). A good idea if you come on Sundays, as this is one of the few places in the arcades to be open.

Concealed in an alleyway leading downhill, a bar run by a friendly Genoese couple. Regular customers. Tourists can nevertheless make their way in. Inside, a few small tables are ideal for a quick lunch. On the menu, daily specials and, above all, savoury snacks(panini, toast, focaccia farcita, slices of pizza...). Then the traditional coffee with a few sweet treats for dessert. A practical, efficient address that helps out when you're feeling peckish. A discreet but typical neighborhood address.

Whether you're a vegetarian, a fan of charcuterie or simply love good food, welcome to the realm of panini ! The sandwiches are well-stocked and prepared with care and love, in line with Slow and Street Food trends. There's a choice of sauces (and creams) to accompany your panino. The hams hang in the window, and the sauces and toppings are on display behind the counter. There's no doubt about it: freshness and quality are the order of the day. A delicious and economical break for lunch on the go!

The Il Marin restaurant, overlooking the Darse on the top floor of Eataly, not only offers a magnificent view of the old port. The cuisine on offer is refined, meticulously prepared using fresh local produce. Service is impeccable. Let us advise you on the catch of the day and follow chef Marco Visciola in his creations. Ligurian gastronomy is reinterpreted with great skill. A refined setting for those seeking a high-level gastronomic experience.

Ideally located on the seafront, this restaurant specialises in fresh fish. Seafood is prepared with originality and know-how by the chef, who prepares a quality cuisine, carefully prepared and home-made. For example, fresh fish tartars, San Remo prawns with bacon and fried leeks, tagliolini with squid ink, cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper with swordfish tartar marinated in lime) and pane fritto.

The restaurant is well known for its fish specialities. Focaccia and grissini are home-made.

Focacce with oil, sage, cheese, onions, vegetable pies, farinata and pizzas... This tiny bakery in Boccadasse is probably the best in Genoa. No strict opening hours, but just walk past it along the alleyway that runs down Corso Italia towards the sea; in season, the oven is almost always in action and the whole alley smells of warm bread. The store itself is well worth a visit, with its tiled counter, wooden benches and old photos on the wall, it's like something out of the 1980s.

Faced with the small port, Otello has long been the meeting point for a clientele of visitors, who find themselves there to enjoy a cuisine with Mediterranean flavours where the fish is king. 

The restaurant's decor is well thought-out and the atmosphere refined without being pompous. After a successful experience with the Le Cicale restaurant in Santa Margherita, chef Matteo Costa and his wife Federica have opened this establishment a few steps from Piazza della Vittoria. The emphasis is on fresh, high-quality produce, from meat and fish to homemade pasta, bread and focaccia. Another address, Le Cicale in Albaro Bistrot, focuses more on the wine bar formula, perfect foraperitivo.

This friendly café-bar-restaurant, with its red brick walls (hence thename rossi), is a favorite meeting place for young Genoese at aperitif time, or for group dinners at the end of the school year. The atmosphere is youthful, and with good reason: a vast choice of pizzas to devour on large convivial tables, pastas, risottos, seafood, etc., as well as a fine cocktail menu. And don't forget the bar to round off the evening. Good value for money, in a neighborhood where interesting addresses are few and far between.

In the old town of Sestri, this restaurant needs no introduction! Its simple, tasty recipes based on the freshest fish have been a hit with locals for decades. The chefs sublimate the catch of the day (the restaurant has its own boat), with fish soup, pasta, grilled and fried dishes on the menu. All in a traditional and friendly marine setting. In high season, remember to reserve a table on the terrace! The restaurant also organizes cooking classes, including how to make your own pesto.