3 Best Restaurants in Cinque Terre, Italy

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). The setting is magnificent, so try for an outdoor table. Reservations are a must.

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.

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 spaghetti, 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.