13 Best Restaurants in The Italian Riviera, Italy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This popular restaurant serves some of the best seafood in town on the harborfront terrace or the indoor patio with wicker chairs, where you can watch the bustling activity in the old port. Only the freshest catches are presented; try the "Bagnun" anchovy soup or any of the pastas. Dishes are available to take out, too.