Rapallo
Ligurian comfort food – salt cod fritters, chickpea soup, spinach-stuffed pasta with walnut sauce, mussels gratin – gets served up here with a minimum of…
Must-see restaurants in Northwestern Italy
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…
Turin
For a satisfying midday snack, make your way to this tiny shop with just a handful of seats a few blocks from Piazza Castelo. Creamy rich polenta is…
Courmayeur
This attractive, lively, central bar-restaurant-pizzeria has an array of Valdostan dishes and local specialities – including polenta with fontina and…
Porto Venere
A perfect spot to pick up something to snack on while dangling your feet in the drink, this is Ligurian street food made with love. Grab a panini stuffed…
Ventimiglia
Near the seafront on the border side of town (overlooking the new marina) you'll find elegant Pasta & Basta. Various house-made fresh pasta can be mixed…
Tigullio & Baia del Levante
After a walk on the pretty seafront promenade of Passeggiata Anita Garibaldi, make your way to Nervi's tiny picturesque harbour (about 1km west of the…
Langhe, Roero & Monferrato
An easy, contemporary place that does Piedmontese staples but, helpfully, doesn't keep to rigid service hours or menu formats. Need a quick vitello…
Cuneo
Slow Food–affiliated Chiocciola's upstairs dining room is the colour of buttercups and makes for a soothing setting to linger over expertly crafted local,…
Courmayeur
For a memorable lunch with front-row views of Mont Blanc and the Lex Blanche glacier, head for the ample sun terrace at Rifugio Elisabetta, high on the…
Turin
Liguria's moreish focaccia has crossed the border and Sant'Agostino's is one of the best. Whether it's plain, stuffed with straccino cheese or topped with…
Langhe, Roero & Monferrato
Sigh-worthy meals are to be had at this justifiably well-regarded restaurant, upstairs in what used to be the village prison. They do the Piedmontese…
San Remo
Italian panache with a perfectly positioned terrace in front make this elegant cafe-enoteca-salon de thé one of the most appealing spots in town for a…
La Spezia
A short stroll from Piazza Cavour, Bellavista hits all the right notes, with high-quality produce, good service and creative dishes all served up at a…
San Remo
Basking in a quiet medieval square in San Remo's remarkable old town, Urbicia is slavishly faithful to old Ligurian recipes, with a strong bias towards…
Langhe, Roero & Monferrato
A sunny outside terrace is the big draw here, although you'll be far from unhappy with the menu of local dishes: Ligurian rolled rabbit, risotto with…
Aosta
Fabulous Valdostan cuisine is dished up at this dark and cosy trattoria, tucked down an alleyway off Via E Aubert. Antipasti such as puff pastry filled…
Aosta
Oca means 'goose' and there are plenty, both on the menu and reproduced in hilariously kitsch china forms around the room. This quaint perch under an…
Vernazza
In a perfect location on the waterfront, Il Porticciolo whips up heavenly perfection in its all-natural gelato. Indulge in fruit flavors like strawberry,…
Genoa
A cute little hole in the wall that breathes new life into the traditional rotisserie chicken. Birds are all free range and local; buy them whole (from €9…
Rapallo
Seafood is the star here, and it's done well with the occasional creative touch. House-made stuffed pastas have particular appeal – sea bream ravioli…
Corniglia
If you need a break from sit-down restaurant fare, pay a visit to this lovely deli and food shop. The front counter offers oven-baked veggies, made-to…
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore's standout street food is a mound of fresh fried seafood – calamari, anchovies, shrimp, cod – stuffed into a paper cone and served on the go…
Genoa
A selection of beautiful traditional gelato flavours are complemented by a creative menu of semifreddo-filled cups, ice-cream sandwiches and chocolate…
Tigullio & Baia del Levante
This pleasant restaurant with a shaded terrace fringed by lemon trees serves the best cooking in San Fruttuoso. Seafood dishes (grilled fish, spaghetti…
Manarola
Opposite the more sedate restaurant of the same name, this lively spot with its Latin grooves serves up a small selection of inexpensive specials (pasta…
Manarola
A number of fish dishes, including some tasty antipasti such as soppressata di polpo (sliced boiled octopus) are served up here along with right-by-the…
Genoa
A much-loved local institution, this back-lane bakery fires up some of Genoa's best focaccia, which are available in countless varieties. The Antico Forno…
Vernazza
Traditional Cinque Terre seafood (mussels, seafood ravioli and lemon anchovies) has been served up in this harbourside trattoria since the 1960s. When it…
Riomaggiore
Perched within pebble-lobbing distance of Riomaggiore's wee harbour, Dau Cila is a smart, kitsch-free zone, and specialises in classic seafood and hyper…
Monterosso
If you're looking for something a little more elegant than a seafront fry-up, Miky does a seasonal fish menu in a moody, modern dining room. Booking ahead…
Turin
Sip cups of molten coffee in the glorious, gold-on-black Sala Cinese of the Venaria Reale palace. Also on order are top-quality panini, pastries and ice…
Riviera di Ponente
Presided over by Laura Chiesa, this delicatessen offers a huge array of seafood salads, salamis, cheeses and gnocchi with pesto, of course. Order what you…
La Spezia
Down on the waterfront, this casual spot is a local institution for delicious plates of octopus salad, steamed mussels and fried fish plates. It's quite…
Manarola
In the running for the title of Cinque Terre's best ice-cream joints. Superbly crafted flavours, including vegan and lactose-free options, never fail to…
Manarola
One of several restaurants lining the main route down to the harbour, this is a popular spot for an alfresco seafood feast. Expect seaside bustle and a…
Monterosso
Perched on a cliff overlooking the crashing waves, this long-running spot serves high-end seafood-topped pastas, grilled fish and roast meat dishes in a…
Corniglia
This casual spot serves simple but delicious market-fresh fare. Think well-balanced seafood risotto, tomato and mozzarella salad, hearty plates of ravioli…
Corniglia
An all-around good option, no matter the time of day. Friendly staff serve up hearty breakfasts, focaccia sandwiches, wine and appetiser specials, and a…
Courmayeur
Set on the slopes above Courmayeur, within walking distance of the cable car, is the fabulous sun-kissed terrace of La Chaumière. Views straight down the…
