Liguria is a narrow, crescent-shaped region in northwest Italy, hugging the Mediterranean between the Alps, the Apennines, and the sea. Known as the Italian Riviera, it is famous for the five cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre, the glamorous harbour of Portofino, and the maritime city of Genoa. Liguria is also the birthplace of pesto, focaccia, and a culinary tradition built around the sea and the steep, terraced coast.
Liguria's cuisine is defined by the sea and the steep terraced hills behind it. Pesto alla genovese—basil, Ligurian olive oil, pine nuts, garlic and aged cheese pounded in a marble mortar—dresses trofie and trenette across Genoa. Focaccia, eaten at any hour, and focaccia di Recco col formaggio are regional icons, alongside farinata (chickpea flatbread), pansoti with walnut sauce, cima alla genovese and salt-cured anchovies. Local wines include the rare sweet Sciacchetrà of Cinque Terre plus crisp white Pigato and Vermentino, finished with Genoa's spiced pandolce.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Liguria.
Trofie al Pesto
Short twisted pasta dressed in pesto alla genovese, classically with green beans and potato
Where to try: Genoa trattorias / Il Genovese
Price: €9-14
Focaccia di Recco col Formaggio
Thin unleavened focaccia filled with molten crescenza cheese, a speciality of Recco
Where to try: Recco bakeries / Camogli waterfront
Price: €4-8
Farinata
Chickpea-flour flatbread baked in a copper pan in a wood oven
Where to try: Sa Pesta / Genoa friggitorie
Price: €3-6
Pansoti con Salsa di Noci
Herb-stuffed pasta parcels in a creamy walnut sauce
Where to try: Traditional Genoa and Riviera trattorias
Price: €10-15
Acciughe (Anchovies)
Salt-cured / fried Ligurian anchovies, a coastal staple
Where to try: Genoa friggitorie / Monterosso al Mare
Price: €5-10
Cima alla Genovese
Cold stuffed veal breast filled with egg, vegetables and herbs, sliced thin
Where to try: Genoa osterie / Antica Osteria di Vico Palla
Price: €10-16
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Seafood
Ligurian
Food tours & tastings in Liguria
Eat your way through Liguria with a guide.
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Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Focaccia Genovese
Dimpled olive-oil flatbread eaten from breakfast onward across Liguria
Find it at: Genoa bakeries / Riviera towns
Farinata
Crisp chickpea flatbread served hot by the slice
Find it at: Genoa friggitorie / Sa Pesta
Frittura di Pesce
Paper cones of fried anchovies, squid and small seafood from friggitorie
Find it at: Genoa old town / coastal harbours
Panissa
Fried chickpea-paste batons, a savoury Genoese snack
Find it at: Genoa friggitorie and bars
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Mercato Orientale
Genoa's grand covered market for produce, cheese, fish and Ligurian specialities
Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30AM-7PM
Mercato del Carmine
Small neighbourhood market in Genoa's old town with local produce and delis
Hours: Mon-Sat 8AM-1PM
Mercato di Santa Margherita Ligure
Riviera fish and produce market a short hop from Portofino
Hours: Mon-Sat 8AM-1PM
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch runs roughly 12:30-2:30 PM; dinner starts around 8 PM along the coast
Pesto is freshest where it is pounded to order—ask if it is made in the mortar (al mortaio)
Order farinata and focaccia early in the day when batches come straight from the oven
Tipping around 10% is appreciated though service is often already included (coperto)
- Vegetarian
- Strong options—pesto pasta, farinata, focaccia and vegetable-stuffed pastas are widely available
- Halal
- Limited; Genoa has some halal restaurants but Riviera towns have few
- Gluten free
- Increasingly available in Genoa; ask for 'senza glutine'
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €6-15 per meal | Focaccia, farinata and friggitoria seafood cones eaten on the go |
| Mid-range | €25-45 per meal | Traditional trattorias serving pesto pasta and Ligurian seafood |
| Upscale | €70+ per meal | Portofino and Cinque Terre fine dining with sea views and local wine |