11 Best Restaurants in The Italian Riviera, Italy

For a truly Genovese experience, this unassuming restaurant, located in the 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 (including rabbit), and, of course, pesto.

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).

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.

This cozy bistro-style restaurant 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.

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, they'll bring you some to sample before your meal. Fried sardines, a local catch of the day, and seasonal torte (savory Ligurian pies) are menu staples.

There's a warm and welcoming atmosphere at this osteria near Brignole station. Despite the young, enthusiastic staff, it has a reassuringly old-fashioned character, with a setting of chandeliers, bare brick walls, and shelves of wine bottles. The meat-favoring menu features some novelties among the genovese favorites, including pansotti (fresh pasta) with a walnut sauce, reindeer stew, and prawns with cognac and orange. You can sample these and other dishes on the four-course tasting menu (€38), and check out the board of daily specials. 

Just a few steps from Porta Soprana and the Childhood Home of Christopher Columbus, this place makes a handy stop for a snack and a sightseeing pause. On street-level is a straightforward café (with some seating upstairs, too) offering sandwiches, pastries, and ice creams, while in the basement (accessed by a separate door) you'll find a cavernous hall where succulent hamburgers and other hot snacks are the main draw. Only the best local beef is used in the burgers, and there's a great selection of craft beers, too. It's always busy, and you may have to wait to put your order in, but the results make it time well spent. There's a second branch at Piazza della Vittoria 36r.

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 lobster salad, fish soup, prawns with almond flakes, and roast octopus with rosemary on a bed of lentils. Non-seafood 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 summer.

Dishes are created specifically to complement wines at this casually elegant enoteca with dark wood tables and bottle-lined walls in the heart of the modern town. The Ligurian menu varies daily, but the real draws are the excellent antipasti and the vast wine list, which includes many organic selections.

Wood paneling, lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and communal tables, as well as delicious dishes, add to the old-world Genovese charm of this unassuming trattoria. It's particularly popular at lunchtime for the small menu that changes daily and includes homemade pastas, a variety of fresh seafood offerings, and perfectly baked desserts.