This was an amazing meal. The best lunch we had on vacation (we only went out for lunch)!! This is…read morea beautiful restaurant in an old building. They do have outdoor seating but we loved eating indoors with the cooling effect of the stone building. The service was outstanding!! They had a pre fixed meal but we opted for a la carte. We loved the sparkling wine we started with. It was a brut nature. There were 4 of us so we just shared everything. We started with the prawn carpaccio, it was amazing!! Everything we ordered was delicious but our hands down favorite was the black truffle ravioli. The rabbit tortellini had a lovely red sauce and I don't even like red sauce! It was so good!! That was our second favorite. The pappardella was the last to come out and it was also amazing. The gnocchi was tender and delicious as well. The seafood in it was tender and perfectly cooked. While we may have had favorites it did not decrease the deliciousness of every single thing we ate!! We only ordered one main, and it was the best duck breast we've ever had anywhere!! We also ordered two desserts, which were great. One was a deconstructed tiramisu and the other a pistachio semifreddo. Highly recommend this restaurant for service and food!!

Amazing food! We had the spaghetti with seafood and the octopus. Thus far, this is the best…read morerestaurant we've had in La Spezia.

We were only in Vernazza for 2 days, but visited Il Pirata multiple times. The main guy running the…read morecafe is very chatty and runs the pastry side of the business, while his brother apparently runs the rest of the food menu. Everything we tried was delicious, and appealed to me more than the super-touristy spots further down the road (though obviously most of the clientele here are also tourists). Prices seemed reasonable for the amount/quantity of food. Most importantly, Il Parata sells toilet paper, which proved hard to come by in Vernazza. Be sure to arrive before 5pm if you want food (outside of cannolis, which were available later).

The only shame is that I can't remember the owners name, but I definitely remember his good…read morehospitable energy and great food. He was so passionate about each pastry and dish which makes all the difference. Some chefs are just robotically serving up something to make money, but once in a while you come across the few special ones who are crafting their passion into an experience of flavor - they care about the customer, they care about the food, they want to see smiles and make your day memorable. They create an atmosphere out of their own infectious energy. These artists are truly making the world a better place and I can definitely say that about this establishment. They served this pistachio cannoli which was loaded with ricotta and actual pistachio flavor touched with orange, which was the best cannoli we had through a month of gluttonous Italian adventure. Their pistachio croissant matched the greatness and in fact was even better than any that we found in France! The berry panna cotta was also perfectly balanced being quite the treat yet clean feeling; the trademark Cinque Terre pesto gnocchi of course hit the spot; and the walnut ravioli sheesh what flavor as well as unique factor - dare I say, I even tasted a hint of hazelnut. If you go to Cinque Terre they say have have to go to Vernazza, and if you go to Vernazza I'm saying you have to visit Il Pirata. It's a little peace away from the madness tucked into the top of the street. They will treat you right

Our visit to Nessun Dorma for their pesto-making class ended up being the highlight of our entire…read moretrip to Cinque Terre. We came in not knowing what to expect--whether it would feel overly touristy or genuinely authentic--but it exceeded every expectation. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel incredibly welcome, especially traveling with our young daughter. The class itself was both fun and informative. The owner took the time to explain the history and importance of each fresh ingredient, which made the experience feel meaningful rather than just a cooking demo. What really set this apart was the atmosphere. It was interactive, relaxed, and genuinely joyful--we even found ourselves dancing with our daughter by the end. Enjoying freshly made pesto and burrata while overlooking one of the most stunning views in Cinque Terre made it unforgettable. A special thank you to Michael, who went above and beyond--answering all our questions and sharing great local recommendations, especially for swimming spots. If you're visiting Manarola, this is an absolute must-do experience.

We visited about two months ago and I'm just getting around to writing the review…read more Nessun Dorma is one of those places that hits you the second you walk in. The view alone is insane -- straight-up postcard-level Manarola cliffs and pastel houses glowing in the sun. And then there's the owner, whose energy could power half of Cinque Terre. He literally won this failing spot in a contest and turned it into a full-on experience. Locals may not love that he's a southerner who made it big, but honestly? He's built something incredible. The pesto class is a highlight. You learn exactly where every ingredient comes from, and you realize how tiny an amount of that super-strong garlic you actually need. And smashing basil by hand in a mortar and pestle? Way better than a blender -- you can taste the difference. After class, you're absolutely not leaving hungry. They load you up with wine and a charcuterie board that's basically a meal. And yes -- at some point, you will dance. It's just that kind of place. And the sign you pass on the way in? "Today is a good day to be happy." At Nessun Dorma, it really is.

Amazing food, service and location!!! Absolutely must have a…read morereservation as this is a very popular restaurant. Highly recommend you plan ahead and dine here.

Within a short walk from our apt in Manarola. Gorgeous views from all of the little dining areas…read more Waitstaff was friendly. We had caprese and pasta dishes and every bite was delish! If I lived here I'd be back but as a tourist I am sure grateful I got to dine here.

The food is very good here but honestly you will be gazing out at the beautiful views from the…read morepatio. We had just hiked from Vernazza to Corniglia and were looking for lunch with a view. Terza Terra is the perfect restaurant for that. We took the stairs down from the alleyway to the patio. Terza Terra also has a bar that is totally separate and does not have the views. We ordered bruschetta with prosciutto and melted cheese and a panini and shared them. Also had a couple glasses of wine. Very relaxing lunch on the patio, it was a beautiful day and took several photos during lunch. Terza Terre is a great place to have a relaxing lunch with awesome views.

In Corniglia for the day and wanted a place where we can nibble on some bites with good views so we…read morecould unwind and read our kindles. They have terrace seating with Manorola in the far left view. Though it was sunny, it's shaded enough so you don't have to worry about sun in your eyes and it also helps keep the heat at bay. We got the combo with light toast appetizer and two glasses of white wine (at 10am) and got lost with the views of the sea while enjoying some light reading. Perfect pit stop if you're in this town.

The atmosphere (namely the view) gets 10 stars. You have one of the best views of the sunset,…read morewater, and sunset in Riomaggiore. Note, from town ground level, it is a climb - 225 steps to the restaurant. The food was great, we had the spaghetti alla mari and lasagna al ragu, plus a limoncello and a local sweet wine, Sciacchetrà, which reminded us of a port but less sweet. The service was fantastic - our waitress was friendly and checked in with us occasionally which was perfect. We didn't have reservations but they kindly sat us at a table with an amazing view.

(Spring Italy Trip 2025) Remember when Frodo and Sam had to…read moreclimb the stairs of Cirith Ungol? Quite similar. I've heard about "earning your meal" by doing a workout but this was a bit extreme. First, just trying to find the bottom of the stairway was a task as every map app we used brought us to a dead end including literally a break in a wall where the tide was rolling in. So we used the Force. The Force worked. At least right up to the point where we found ourselves behind the restaurant supplier who, and I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP, is using a motorized push cart with TANK tracks to bring produce, meat, drinks etc, from the bottom to the restaurant. The good news was it forced us to slow down to catch our breath. The bad news is it forced us to slow down and catch our breath. Reminded me when I'm at the gym and I'm silently cursing my trainer to hurry the F-up and get this session over with. You come to Cinque Terre and you definitely want to combine some great food with some great views. Ristorante La Torre hits both of those at a price. That price was a "I'm lost" and "I'm going to die on this path" hike up winding stairs wondering if the restaurant is ever going to appear. But its worth it. The view of Vernazza and the neighboring towns and of course the glistening Ligurian Sea are just breathtaking. There is inside dining but thankfully the weather permitted us to sit on their multilevel patio. We did opt for some shade because by the time we got up there it was a little bit of sun and my buttery body was melting. I really could have used some wine but I was dehydrated enough so skip. Service was surprisingly attentive, perhaps a nod to understanding the American tourist. Is this a touristy place? For the quality of service and food I want to say no. It has been my experience that a tourist trap sacrifices one or both. Yes I was sweaty and wondering how much will a hospital stay in Italy cost me but this was a great visit. Food: sadly, no gnocchi (which is what I zeroed in on first) related dishes that day. Maybe the ingredients were stuck in the bottom of the hill. I'd normally dock off some love but given I literally witnessed the effort to get supplies I'm not going to complain for a shortage of a dish. Fritto misto : great lightly fried batter on sardines, calamari, shrimp. Spaghetti alla Mari (seafood spaghetti): perfectly cooked pasta with generous amount of shrimp, langostino, calamari in a simple olive oil and garlic sauce. Tagliolino all' Aragostella (taglino with lobster): again perfect al dente pasta in a pomodoro sauce Pasta (forget which style substituted for said absent gnocchi) in pesto. Simple and comforting. All the food was super fresh and tasty Oh and downhill was easy.

Hidden trattoria, some troubles with parking, otherwise tasty hone-made delicious meals, cozy…read moreplace. Service is OK!

We found this gem thanks to yelp and stopped for a late lunch... Walking in we didn't expect much,…read morebut the food was delicious. Chicken that took me back to childhood, nicely flavored steak, pesto lasagna? Yes, please! A couple of days earlier we had chocolate cake and tiramisu in Florence. These were so much better so as to render the Florence version unrecognizable. Excellent, friendly service, even with our limited Italian. Thank you! Great stop!

We loved this place!!! Had pizza in Rome and Florence, and Tra Monti e Mare was by far the best!!!…read more Very friendly staff and owner. Unbelievable view of La Spezia. Highly recommend!!!

Super great pizza! The restaurant is hidden in the homes of the locals. It was way better than I…read morewas expecting since the town we were in only had 2 restaurants. The staff is so kind and happy to help!

A very lovely spot located on a beautiful street. The mista salad was only fair because of the…read morebitter greens they incorporated into it. The pizza was good but not great and the Branzino was dry. Service was so so, we had to fetch the waiter to take our order. If we had had a great experience we would of course come back tomorrow.

Pretty decent but not over the top good authentic Italian. It tasted more commercialized than…read moreauthentic...especially the pasta.