Cinque Terre

[Kikyo]

I am travelling at the end of July/beginning of August to Cinque Terre with my husband and parents. We will be there for a week. We are staying in Monterosso, but plan to spend time in all of the villages and perhaps take some day trips if something seems worth it.

Does anyone have any recommendations for restaurants, or other food/wine related things to do either in the Cinque Terre or as a day trip?

We have the Rick Steves book, but perusing other travel books, we found not much info on the Cinque Terre. Any help would be appreciated!

[marons]

We were recently in the Cinque Terre. In Moterosso al Mare, right on the shore in the old town, there is a restarurant 'Belvedere'. It's not in any of the guidebooks. We ate there three years ago and agin twice two weeks go. We love it. It is unpretentious and we found the 'trenette al pesto' and the broiled orata excellent.

Mike Arons

[Gifted Gourmet]

discussion here on Cinque Terre

some more recommendations on this website

and a bit more .. this time from Frommers

[moosnsqrl]

Using the Plotkin book and overcoming my general rule of thumb about going somewhere mentioned in such a book (and the author's own claim that you would "hear more English and German than Italian") we nonetheless ate at Gianni Franzi. And the food was really quite good, plus we liked the atmosphere and, apparently, were lucky as there was a group of maybe 10 Italians celebrating a birthday and a few other 2-tops when we were there (ok, some were German) so the vibe wasn't too touristy. I had a zuppa de verdure that essentially ruined me for all other zuppa. The memory of it still haunts me. Damn, I wish I could make it but I think it's genetic or something.

[Kikyo]

Thank you! Guide books are fine, but I really like to get "foodie" suggestions for trips, especially if I am going to be staying somewhere a while. I remember looking at the Gianni Franzi website when looking for hotels and remember the restaurant did look quite nice. I'll have to remember that soup!

I'll be checking out all of those links now, as well.

[Kevin72]

Fortedei mentioned a place in Liguria on another thread (click here) but I'm not sure if it's on the Cinque Terre. Maybe you can PM him and get more info.

[Carlsbad]

We stayed 4 nights in Monterosso a few years ago. We had an enormous and excellent pasta with seafood at Belevedere, although one fish main wasn't good at all. We asked the very friendly owner at our hotel (Villa Steno- recommended highly for simple, comfortable A/C rooms in an extraordinary setting- prices have climbed significantly though) where he would recommend, and he suggested Miki. We liked it so much, we returned. The front room is mostly tourists, but you'll see a lot of locals going to the back room and terrace. The waiters in the front speak English well and will make you feel at home. I would order the pasta/pesto and a whole fish as you like it.

[Kikyo]

Mmm ... Miki sounds great, and the Villa Steno is where we are staying! I read that they have a good breakfast. I will have to ask the hosts if they have any new restaurant recommends, since they steered you right last time.

[Carlsbad]

The people at Villa Steno are first rate, and will guide you in the right directions on everything. The breakfast is very good, and the view is even better, and not just the water. If you watch the village from up there, it's fascinating.

[lagrassa]

I always dine from the Slow Food Osterie d'Italia, which is not available in English. It has never led me astray. I recently tried out several of its recommendations in the 5 terre:

Ripa del Sole, Riomaggiore

This restaurant is well worth the climb to the top of town, where it benefits from lovely views of town and the sea. It is Slow Food par excellence. I enjoyed a sublime plate of trennette with tomatoes, fresh anchovies, and pine nuts, followed by a zuppa di pesce, seafood in tomato presented atop crostini. All their seafood was prepared perfectly. For dessert, squares of chocolate cake with zabaglione of Schiaccetra', accompanied by a glass of Schiaccetra'. just lovely.

Osteria a Cantina de Mananan, Corniglia

A tiny place, be sure to make reservations. The proprietor is warm and helpful, and will help you chose among the days' offerings posted on a blackboard on one wall. This is a good place to try a mixed appetizer plate of anchovies prepared 3 ways. Do try a spaghetti ai frutti di mare, which they're happy to make with whichever seafoods you prefer - just cicale or vongole - but you also can't go wrong letting them make the decisions.

Enoteca Internazionale, Monterosso

Not recommended for a real meal, but you can make a great light lunch of their regional wine tasting flights and a plate of anchovies and a salad. Our host rather brusquely insisted I write the names of the wines on our paper placemats next to the stem, quizzed me on which I preferred, and then gave a mini-lecture on the differences in production. He won no points for charm, but I learned more there about 5 terre wines than in the rest of the trip combined.

There was another place highly recommended near Monterosso, Il Ciliegio, that was closed when I was there. Ask at the tourist office or at your hotel about it, they can tell you how to get there, as it is not in walking distance.

And a note of warning: the hiking between towns is serious, go prepared.

[Kikyo]

I always dine from the Slow Food Osterie d'Italia, which is not available in English.  It has never led me astray.  I recently tried out several of its recommendations in the 5 terre:

And a note of warning:  the hiking between towns is serious, go prepared.

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Thank you ... what great recommendations! As for the hiking, I am as prepared as I am going to be. I am actually counting on it to offset all of those meals I will be eating!