The restaurants in Porto Venere specialize in seafood (especially mussels and oysters), but you can also find other regional favorite dishes with produce from the land.
We live close to Porto Venere, and it’s one of our favorite places on the Gulf of La Spezia. The combination of historical architecture, swimming, hiking, and excellent restaurants is what brings us back here on a regular basis.
If you’re coming to dine in the Porto Venere restaurants, then you will find an interesting choice of locally owned establishments. Some with enjoyable views of the harbor, and others hidden in the carugio (laneway) of the old town.
There are also a variety of street food options and places to get a quick bite to eat.
In this post, I will share some of the best restaurants in Porto Venere that we appreciate because of:
- Quality fresh food with an interesting or authentic menu.
- Service that is welcoming.
- A vibrant atmosphere.
Find More Food & Related Content
Best Restaurants in Portovenere ITALY
1. Casamare Porto Venere
Price Range: €€€ – €€€€
Location: At the southern end of the harbor
Address: Via Calata Doria, 102, Porto Venere, Italy
Tel: 3336 015 630
Opening Times: (Everyday) 12pm to 11pm
Website/Socials: www.casamarerestaurants.com
About This Portovenere Restaurant
Casamare Porto Venere is a stylish new restaurant serving modern seafood, aperitivi, and small ‘fish bar’ style plates.
Everything here is WOW! The food, the service, and the décor are classy and refined AND that’s before you have the pleasure of dining in a prime spot on the waterfront with uninterrupted views out to sea.
Although it’s new in town, its sister restaurant in the high-end, Forte dei Marmi is already collecting gastronomic praise, and it looks like this new location is also setting its sights on becoming the best restaurant in Portovenere.
If you like innovative food, presented with style in a beautiful setting then this place is what you’re looking for!
Foods to Try
You can expect fresh seafood that features local produce with a modern exciting twist.
Dishes that make this place special include the burrata with beetroot gazpacho and red tuna tartare with zucchini flower.
I can’t wait to go back there, but with antipasti plates at 20 Euros, it’s not a place for everyday eating. But it is absolutely a place for celebrating something special!
2. Antica Osteria Carugio
Price Range: €€ – €€€
Location: Old Town
Address: Via Giovanni Capellini, 66, Portovenere, Italy
Tel: 0187 790 617
Opening Times: (Friday – Wednesday, closed Thursday) 12pm to 3pm and 6.45pm to 10pm
Website/Socials: www.anticaosteriadelcarugio.it
About This Portovenere Restaurant
Antica Osteria Carugio: has been serving food for over 150 years and continues to serve locally sourced produce and traditional foods to celebrate Ligurian culture.
For a place that is completely rooted in this local territory, you will not find anything that is more authentic. Ingredients are carefully selected from local producers, and some of the vegetables, herbs, and olives come from their own gardens and groves.
It's a truly special place for experiencing Ligurian foods.
The atmosphere of the osteria is cozy, and if you dine inside, you’re enclosed by ancient stone walls and a vaulted ceiling.
Foods to Try
Even though the menu is traditional and perhaps ‘rustic’, there is no shortage of pride in its presentation.
Since this is an osteria, the menu will be dictated by the seasons and availability of the produce.
When we visited early in the summer, we really enjoyed the zucchini flowers with anchovies and the mussels with homemade pasta.
Food For Thought: The Gulf of La Spezia is known for its oyster and mussel farming using traditional techniques. When you eat the mussels and oysters harvested from this sea, you’ll notice their salty and intense flavor. Also, don’t be surprised if they are much smaller than you might have eaten in other countries.
Planning a Trip? Here’s Some Content Ideas You May Like
3. Il Timone
Price Range: €€ – €€€
Location: Close to the ferry dock
Address: Via Olivo, 29, 19025 Porto Venere, Italy
Tel: 0187 914 595
Opening Times: (Weekends) 12pm to 3.30pm AND (Everyday) 5pm to 12am
Website/Socials: www.pizzeriailtimone.it
About This Portovenere Restaurant
Il Timone proudly serves flavors of Italy, but it is the service here that is by far its most superior quality and one that is unmatched in the area.
There is a seasonal menu and daily specials that respect the availability of fresh ingredients, and some produce is also grown on their local farm. Foods are grown naturally, and they are particularly proud of their extra virgin olive oil (EVO).
Even simple foods such as cheese focaccia, and Margherita pizza are made with genuine passion, and ingredients are selected for their buoyant flavors.
Even though this is a third generation family-owned restaurant, the décor is fresh, and the modern space encourages a lively dining atmosphere.
Foods to Try
Yes, bread and pizza are a specialty! The focaccia is both perfectly crispy and fluffy. But, for a main meal, I suggest the stuffed mussels (Muscoli Ripieni), which are excellent. This is a typical local dish, and you can find it on most menus, but I recommend that you try them here!
Rabbit alla Ligure is another local dish. It isn’t my preference, but if this is a meat you enjoy then you can find it here.
Food For Thought: Muscoli Ripieni (stuffed mussels) is a very La Spezian dish that is typically made from mussels filled with mortadella, chard and marjoram. Of course, Mortadella isn’t strictly ‘local’ but at some time in history it became a commodity ingredient that was traded for salt between the Ligurian and Emiliano-Romagnoli merchants.
4. Portivene
Price Range: €€ – €€€
Location: Old Town
Address: Via Giovanni Capellini, 94, Porto Venere, Italy
Tel: 0187 792 722
Opening Times: (Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday) 10am to 2.45pm and 7pm to 9.45pm
More Information: Ristorante Portevene
About This Portovenere Restaurant
Portivene is an elegant restaurant serving modern dishes and taking some inspiration from international flavors. Dinner is a gourmet experience, but the price tag is reasonable. Of course, you can enjoy a variety of seafood, but they often also add meat dishes like New Zealand lamb to their menu.
You can dine in the intimate and stylish indoor dining area (which I recommend) or the outdoor streetside tables amongst the atmosphere of the carugio (laneway).
The restaurant also has an extensive list of Italian and French wines and is also a Champagneria.
Foods to Try
We like exploring the flavors here and (being Australian) particularly appreciate their Asian-inspired dishes with creations like tuna tataki and pork belly with shiitake mushrooms.
Unusually for us, this is one place where we always keep a little room in our bellies for dessert. Which, by the way, is not to be missed!
5. Torre di Venere
Price Range: €€€ – €€€€
Location: Close to San Pietro Church
Address: Piazza Lazzaro Spallanzani, 3, Porto Venere, Italy
Tel: 320 067 2392
Opening Times: (Friday – Wednesday, closed Thursday) 10am to 4pm and 6pm to 11pm
Website/Socials: www.torredivenere.com
About This Portovenere Restaurant
Torre di Venere is easy to miss behind a stone wall façade and iron-gated entry. But, even so, it’s well known and often visited by local (and international) rich and famous.
Behind the wall, you’ll be surprised to find a contemporary open-air dining space that has expansive views over the sea looking towards Palmaria Island.
So, of course, it’s going to be expensive. But for diners with a discernable palate and high expectations, the service, food, and views are probably worth it.
Foods to Try
Because I just can’t say no to seafood pasta, I ate their popular lobster linguini and Justin had crispy black cod on creamy potatoes. Both were superb.
They also serve a variety of signature cocktails and long drinks. So, if you want to enjoy the atmosphere, without the price tag, then head there for an afternoon aperitivo and enjoy the view.
“Pin & Read Later”
6. Trattoria Tre Torri
Price Range: €€€
Location: Piazza Basteri
Address: Piazza Bastreri, 9/a, Portovenere, Italy
Tel: 0187 790 477
Opening Times: (Everyday) 7pm to 11pm and (Tuesday to Sunday) 12pm – 3pm
Website/Socials: www.trattoriatretorri.it
About This Portovenere Restaurant
Trattoria Tre Torri is an elegant restaurant on the edge of the old town with a commanding view of the main piazza. Because it is a little out of the way, you might be surprised to find a table even on a busy day.
Their menu reflects the seaside location and is characteristic of Ligurian foods and flavors but with their own flair. Instead of the more common home-style cooking, dishes come presented like artwork and are decorated with a colorful garnish of herbs and sauces.
You can eat inside their stylish conservatory-style dining room or outside under the shade of colorful umbrellas.
Foods to Try
Our Australian palate often seeks out raw seafood, tartare, and ceviche-style dishes. But I’m cautious and fussy about where I will eat raw fish, so reserve this adventure for higher-end restaurants.
So here, I’m happy to indulge in the prawn tartare and local oysters. For a fish option, the crusty breaded tuna is a good point of reference. 👀…Delicious!!
Food For Thought: The Muscoli (mussels) that are farmed in the Gulf of La Spezia are now famous throughout Italy and have become a source of pride. However, before mussels, it was oysters that were originally farmed around La Spezia. The La Spezian oysters have rugged shells, and firm meat with a slightly briny and sweet flavor, perfect for raw consumption.
Planning a Trip? Take a Look at Some Portovenere’s Best Experiences
7. Porto 82 Risto-Pescheria
Price Range: €€€
Location: Old Town
Address: Via Giovanni Capellini, 82, Porto Venere, Italy
Tel: 0187 1676 053
Opening Times: (Everyday) 12pm to 11pm o Sunday) 12pm – 3pm
Website/Socials: www.porto82.it
About This Portovenere Restaurant
Porto 82 Risto-Pescheria is a casual but well-presented restaurant in the heart of the old town. It’s popular for its delicious seafood and welcoming service.
There is a respectable variety of seafood on the menu, and everything is prepared for flavor and quality.
You can eat inside their fresh and modern dining room or in the atmosphere of the carugio (laneway).
Foods to Try
We enjoy that they are not entirely traditional with their flavors.
There are several good dishes but for something a little different try the prawns with Bloody Mary sauce or the tuna tartare.
For a more classic palate, their spaghetti vongole and tiramisu dessert are also popular.
Other Porto Venere Restaurants to Try
To complete the list of my top 10 restaurants in Porto Venere, I think these places deserve acknowledgment. They are without doubt casual ‘touristy’ restaurants, but offer good quality food at reasonable prices:
Al Gabbiano (€€) does classic pizzas and pastas. They have a straightforward menu and serve all day. We take visitors here for a quick lunch or when there are children in the group.
Invariably when we haven’t made a booking, (even on a busy day) we can find a table here. And if we’re in luck we get a port side table right on the water!
Trattoria della Marina da Antonio (€€) is a casual and traditional seafood restaurant. It happens to be one of the oldest in Porto Venere. It might feel like the service is a little abrupt, but for a touristy restaurant, the prices are fair, and the food is good.
We’ve eaten here several times, and they can accommodate larger groups. They also offer a free meal for dogs!
La Chiglia (€€-€€€) is across from the beach at the northern end of town. Most of the other eateries around are cafes or bars. But La Chiglia serves a full menu of traditional, hearty style food in a casual way.
For something a little different you can dine on the beach, but the internal dining room is also well presented.
Food Experiences in Port Venere
If you’re looking for something different, then there are other ways in which you can enjoy the local Ligurian and Italian foods. Below, I’ve shared some ideas on how you can combine food with a local experience.
- Rifugio Muzzerone (€€). For hikers and adventurers, you can take the paths from Piazza Basteri and do a circular route passing by Rifugio Muzzerone. We’ve done this walk several times and prefer to do the route in a clockwise direction so that you have stairs on the steep downhill section instead of loose rocks.
If you plan on enjoying the rustic food and spectacular views at the Rifugio, then remember to book ahead!
- Bajeicò La Bottega del Pesto (€€-€€€). Honestly, (at the risk of sounding a bit arrogant), I normally prefer my homemade pesto, but this shop sells DELICIOUS pesto! In addition to their shop, they’ve recently opened a beautifully designed pesto school and will teach you traditional methods for making pesto in a mortar. Afterwards, you can enjoy a light meal and a glass of wine.
- Grand Hotel Portovenere: Oyster Experience (€€€€). The Grand Hotel organizes several experiences including this, Oyster Tour. The experience includes a boat tour around the Islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, and a visit to the oyster farms in La Spezia.
After a lesson on cultivation, you will have an opportunity to taste the oysters with a pleasant accompaniment of white wine from the local Cinque Terre terraced vineyards. This is a truly immersive experience into the local culture!
Wrap Up
In this post, I’ve shared 10 places to eat in Portovenere and offered some ideas for foodie experiences and local Ligurian dishes to try! If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Portovenere, then I’m hopeful this guide will be helpful.
Justin and I enjoy eating out, especially when we have visitors, so watch out for more food-related content!
Disclaimer: We’ve done our best to present the restaurant information as accurately as possible. However, restaurants around Italian tourist towns can close over winter and have irregular opening times. If you have your heart set on dining somewhere, then call ahead to check their opening times and to make a reservation.
FAQ
What are the must-try local dishes in Portovenere?
There are so many from this area! But you should try anything seafood related. A very particular specialty is the Muscoli Ripieni (stuffed Mussels) and the local oysters. For meat eaters the Coniglio alla Ligure (Ligurian rabbit) is oven cooked with herbs, olives, pine nuts and tomatoes for a dish of complex but fresh flavors.
How expensive are the restaurants in Portovenere?
Porto Venere attracts an influx of tourists, so restaurants do tend to be slightly more expensive than restaurants in La Spezia. However, they do serve premium quality seafood. An average meal (that includes seafood) for two people (2 courses each) including a bottle of wine will range from €90 to €130. A casual café style meal might be closer to €60.
What are the best restaurants in Portovenere with a view of the sea?
I recommend you try either Torre di Venere or Casamare. They are both high-end restaurants that have sophisticated menus and attentive service. The views are also uninterrupted in a more private setting away from other restaurants.
Are there vegetarian or vegan-friendly restaurants in Portovenere?
Italian cooking has many dishes that are vegetarian and vegan friendly. Even if restaurants don’t have a special menu there are typical local dishes such as Trofie al Pesto (pasta with pesto, Riviera di Levante Minestrone (vegetable and bean soup) and Verdure Ripiene (stuffed vegetables) that might be suitable vegetarian options.
Strict vegan and plant-based options are more limited, but both Il Timone and Al Gabbiano had vegan options the last time I checked.
