36 Best Restaurants in The Italian Riviera, Italy

Located on the main street, this bar offers a large selection of wines, both local and from farther afield, plus delicious light fare; its umbrella-covered patio is a welcoming spot to recuperate after a day of hiking. The bar's certified sommeliers are forthcoming with helpful suggestions on pairing local wines with their tasty bruschette.

An offshoot of the highly regarded (but evenings-only) Hostaria Ducale restaurant off Piazza De Ferrari, this more casual and modern place located on the upper floor of Genoa's Mercato Orientale makes the most of the fresh produce arrayed on the stalls below. The small but select menu of meat and seafood dishes changes all the time; recent highlights include fried anchovies, ossobuco ravioli, and, for dessert, zabaglione with brioche and salted caramel. The flavors are somehow enhanced by the bird's-eye view over the busy market below.

There's a steady stream of locals of all ages at this traditional but fashionable spot on a typical vicolo of the old town. The small and reasonably priced daily menu follows the seasons, with generous portions of fish and pasta, sandwiches, vegetables, and homemade desserts.

Find some of the best food in Portovenere at this airy, affordable, and casual portside restaurant. The menu is typical "Ligure," ranging from meat to pasta with seafood, and also offers farinata (fried pancake), focaccia, and pizza. The turquoise and white decor and benches with pillows for lounging create a playful, relaxing atmosphere.

A mix of great charm and great food make this small, bustling osteria in the historic center an absolute dining delight. Dishes are Ligurian with a focus on local fish, but there are some surprises, for example Catalan lobster with mayonnaise and ginger. Meat dishes you might find on the menu include rabbit casserole, Ligurian-style. Leave room for some superb desserts, too. The list of local wines, including organic selections, is excellent. Book ahead.

This is arguably the best restaurant in Monterosso, specializing in tasty, fresh seafood dishes like grilled calamari and monkfish ravioli. If their catalana (poached lobster and shrimp with sliced raw fennel and carrot) happens to be on the menu, know that it's a winner. Multi-course "Innovation" and "Tradition" set-price menus are usually available. There is a little garden in the back, perfect for lunch on a sunny day. 

High above the sea in one of Vernazza's remaining medieval stone towers is this unique spot serving delicious Cinque Terre cuisine such as branzino sotto sale (cooked under salt), tagliolini al nero di seppia con gamberi (fresh pasta with squid ink sauce and prawns), and polpo di scoglio alla griglia (grilled octopus). There's a good selection of vegetarian dishes, too. The setting is magnificent, so try for an outdoor table. Reservations are a must.

This lively beachfront restaurant, with views of the sea from its windows, has changed names and owners several times, but it continues to have some of the best and most inventive fish and seafood dishes in town, as well as a fantastic setting. The wine list is extensive and ventures well over the nearby French border, with select bottles.

This restored 5th-century olive oil mill is now a chic restaurant in the historical center of Finalborgo. The relatively high prices are justified by excellent seafood and meat dishes as well as the pampering setting of clean white, arched and vaulted rooms that foster an air of space and tranquility. The five-course tasting menu (€58) is a great way to sample the dishes on offer.

Vintage wooden furniture and peach-color walls evoke the homey charm of this small family-run trattoria in a pedestrians-only alley. A faithful clientele keeps the kitchen busy, so get here early to grab a table and order Ligurian specialties—fresh pasta, pesto, and vegetable and seafood dishes.

Named after a locally born 19th-century pirate, this maritime-theme enoteca and antipasto bar is popular with locals and tourists looking for typical regional dishes, soups, and fresh seafood. They also offer terrific sandwiches to go, and there's a lengthy wine list.

In the local dialect, bontà nascoste means "hidden goodness," a reference to its back-alleyway location and consistently delicious dishes, which feature risotto, fresh pasta, and an abundance of local seafood, including seafood soup and lobster. There is little for non-fish eaters, however, and only six tables (and a couple more outside in summer), so reserve ahead.

There's usually a crowd of locals congregated at this lively bar and restaurant, often accompanied by their dogs and children. In the morning, tasty brioches start off the festivities and segue neatly into lunch. Alongside the usual range of beers and wines, the bar serves panini made to order and some toothsome pastries, while the restaurant menu has meat and seafood options as well as salads and pizzas.

As the name implies, this place is largely a burger joint. The toppings, however, are not (cheese in this case often means Gorgonzola and burrata). The exceptional antipasti—fried meatballs with cheddar, anyone?—nicely kick off the proceedings. Delicious salads can also be found, as can a fine eggplant parmigiana. Do not miss the desserts—they’re stellar.

If the staggering prices at virtually all of Portofino's cafés and restaurants are enough to ruin your appetite, join the long line outside this family-run bakery where you will find more affordable eats. At this takeaway spot, the focaccia is baked on-site, along with all kinds of sandwiches and other refreshments.

It bills itself as a pizzeria, focacceria (endemic in these parts), and an insalateria. The pizzas are magnificent, as are their first cousins the focaccia. But if you tire of this, their salads are worth a trip in themselves. Portions are copious here. Enter hungry, exit rejoicing while perhaps believing that you ate in what once was a medieval bank (it probably was).

There's wonderful seaside dining on Riomaggiore harbor, with a menu of local Ligurian dishes and an extensive wine list.  On bad-weather days, take advantage of the lovely dining room with vaulted ceilings, built into the rock.

Imagine having a swell glass of wine (their list is beyond foolproof) in a narrow, highly vaulted hall. The space may date to the 16th century, but some experts would argue it’s earlier. No matter. Their plates of affettati misti (mixed cold cuts with trimmings) are divine. As are their lunches.

Across the bay from Lerici, this relaxed and intimate restaurant in the San Terenzo neighborhood has won an enthusiastic following, both for its creative, seafood-leaning menu and its congenial ambience. You can observe the chefs at work in the open kitchen, but the results are always somewhat surprising, whether it's such straightforward dishes as squid-ink risotto or fresh tagliolini with pesto, or more unusual combinations, for example salt cod in a chutney sauce, and there are gluten-free options, too. The interior has exposed stone walls, and there is some outdoor seating.

For a truly Genovese experience, this unassuming restaurant, located in the vaulted basement of an old palazzo in the heart of the centro storico between Strada Nuova and the port, is just the place. You'll find some of the best, most authentic food in the city, with a focus on fish, meat dishes, and, of course, pesto. There's an extensive choice of desserts, and they offer a take-out service, too.

Relax on Vernazza's main square at this fine trattoria looking out onto the church of Santa Maria d'Antiochi. Enjoy such delectable dishes as shrimp salad, vegetable torte, and risotto alla ciccio (with squid, prawns, and mussels). The pesto, served atop trofie (a short twisted pasta), may be some of the best in the Cinque Terre. End your meal with Cinque Terre's own sciacchetrà, a dessert wine served with semisweet biscotti. Don't drink it out of the glass—dip the biscotti in the wine instead.

An extensive and highly rated selection of burgers and pizzas is the stock-in-trade of this trendy spot buried in Genoa's caruggi (alleys). Bare brick walls hung with LP sleeves, a retro-rock soundtrack, and cheerful staff help to create a good-time feel, while the menu includes plant-based and vegan options as well as hot dogs, steaks, and salads. For liquid refreshment, you'll find a good range of craft beers, too. It stays open till midnight—later at weekends.

This cozy bistro-style restaurant located a few steps from Piazza de Ferrari is popular with locals and visitors alike for its refined, almost elegant menu of primarily seafood dishes, with a few pastas and meats. The decor is art nouveau with exposed brick walls and small, square tables. If you're unsure what to order, go with the tasting menu (€45).

Located in a former olive-oil mill (the enormous wood grinder still sits in the middle of the dining room), this is a no-frills but fine-food restaurant serving excellent antipasti al mare and homemade pasta dishes. You can eat very well for a bit less than at most of the touristy spots in town.

At this bright and friendly trattoria with a maritime theme, you can dine on some of the city's best pesto and Ligurian dishes in a casual, comfortable setting. The staff are knowledgeable about the region's specialties and the wines on the always interesting menu, and even if you don't order a pesto dish, taste some with bread before your meal. Fried sardines, a local catch of the day, and seasonal torte (savory Ligurian pies) are menu staples. It gets very busy, so arrive early or book ahead.

This cozy former cantina with wood paneling, a fireplace, and local maritime memorabilia serves some of the best dishes in town. Using the bounty of the two bays that frame the village, its chefs create inventive menus with standout mains, which include expertly seasoned fish, as well as such starters as spaghetti with anchovies and gnocchetti alla Sorrentina (with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil) and some great desserts. The wine list is primarily Ligurian. The nearby Polpo Mario, on Via XXV Aprile, is under the same ownership and has the same menu.

The cordial welcome and meaty menu at this osteria a short walk from Brignole station have ensured its continuing popularity among locals. The traditional character is enhanced by its setting of chandeliers, bare brick walls, and shelves of wine bottles, but while the menu offers a range of steaks and Genovese favorites, there are seafood and a few novelty options, too, including prawns with cognac and orange and zebra goulash. You can sample these and other dishes on the four-course tasting menu, and check out the board of daily specials. Book early for one of the outside tables in warm weather.

Considered an institution, this arched, vaulted, and simply decorated pizzeria dates back to 1887. It gets quite busy at lunchtime, with locals inside or, in summer, on the patio munching happily on farinata (a chickpea pancake and a Ligurian delicacy) and thick-crust pizza served hot out of the wood-burning oven. There's a take-out counter, too.

In a departure from the local norm, meat dishes, not seafood, are the specialty on the menu at Oca Bianca. Choices include tasty pastas as well as mouthwatering preparations of beef, lamb, pork, and octopus. There's also an extensive wine list from its next-door cantina, and attentive service adds to the experience. The decor is a bit dated, with wood columns and upholstered chairs, but the food makes up for it.

With its slightly quirky but quality cuisine, attentive staff, moderate prices, and central position near Via Roma, this place ticks all the boxes for a satisfying lunchtime or evening meal-stop. The accent is firmly on seafood, often with an unusual twist, evident in such dishes as roast squid with creamed broccoli, olives, and polenta, fish soup, and grilled octopus. Nonseafood choices are available, too. The restaurant is accessed through the Best Western City Hotel, though it has no other connection to it. You can eat alfresco in the tranquil piazza in summer.