Where to Eat in Genoa: Best Pesto and Lasagna and Michelin Restaurants

Genoa, Italy has been recognized more and more lately, as in the past, it has been brushed aside to the likes of Florence, Rome and Venice.

However, after being heavily bombed in WWII and taking a while to get back on its feet, it is making a comeback in the tourist and study abroad world. Looking for the best pesto pasta in Genoa Italy? Here a list of the best Genoa restaurants!

Discover best genoa Bars and wine

When I travel, I tend to use food as a large basis on how I judge a city and experiencing the food in genoa and the main dishes Genoa has to offer will not disappoint.  Deciding on where to eat in a new city can be the most difficult part so we have mapped out exactly where to eat in Genoa, Italy for your visit. Discover our Genoa food guide. 

What food is Genoa famous for?

Being a main port city of Italy, you would think Genoa restaurants must be best known for their seafood, and while that is a part of it, you will find that pesto, focaccia and farinata are some of their most well known foods.  

  • Pesto

Pesto is a traditional condiment typical of Liguria, it is included among the traditional Ligurian food products. Its basic ingredient is basil, and more specifically Genoese Basil.

  • Pansoti

Pansoti are a stuffed pasta typical of Ligurian cuisine, similar to ravioli, from which they differ essentially in size and the absence of meat in the filling. Pansoti with walnut sauce are one of the cheapest and most characteristic dishes of the Genoese tradition.

  • Ciuppin

The Genoese fish soup, called "ciuppin" in dialect, is a recipe that includes different qualities of fish, often the so-called poor fish, that is, the one that remained unsold in the market stalls. The fish used can vary according to the tastes and availability of the market, the important thing is to use the freshest fish from the Ligurian Sea.

  • Stoccafisso

In the stockfish "alla genovese" we find pine nuts, traditional of the Genoese cuisine. Not to be confused with stockfish in the Leghorn style.

  • Capponada (not to be confused with Sicilian Caponata)

The Ligurian Capponada is a typical poor dish of the Genoese tradition that was once consumed by sailors, who along their routes prepared it with a few simple preserved ingredients such as taggiasche olives, capers, basil, olive oil and dried fish. Over time, boiled eggs and fresh tomatoes were added to the ancient recipe.

  • Panissa

Panissa is a typical dish of Ligurian cuisine for which the same ingredients are used as for chickpea porridge, but excluding olive oil.

  • Genoa Salami

Genoa salami is a variety of salami that is believed to have originated in the Genoa area. It is normally made with pork meat, but can also contain veal. It is seasoned with garlic, salt, white and black pepper grains and red or white wine. Do you wanna try it? You're probably searching on google: genoa salami near me. Don't waste your time, go to Mercato Orientale and you'll find it.

Cheap eats Genoa

With all of that said, here is where to eat in Genoa:

Let’s start with the basics. You’re running around seeing all of the sites and you want something quick and easy?

Check out these cheap eats Genoa:

  • Head to Sottoripa, a covered street full of shops. Here you’ll have to use your nose and scope out the best foccacerie (type of bakery) for your choice of all kinds of fresh, out of the oven, focaccia bread stuffed with all kinds of fillings.
  • Sottoripa is also home to some great friggitorie (friggere means "to fry") to try some delicious fried foods, from seafood to their famous farinata (chickpea crepe).
  • Il Gran Ristoro - create your own mouth watering panino here right on Via Sottoripa.
  • Ristorante tipico Zimino - one of the great Genoa lunch restaurants. Cheap and traditional. Here you get more bang for your buck!
  • Rooster Streetfood Rotisserie - come here to grab a quick panino or snack on french fries.

Best Genoa Restaurants

Here are some of the best Genoa restaurants to discover according to locals, tourists and food bloggers:

  • Il Genovese restaurant - here is where you will find dishes made with the best pesto in Genoa. A small distance outside of the city center, you will not be disappointed by their many dishes that incorporate their locally produced “Rossi” pesto.
  • Cavour Modo 21 Genoa - located in Piazza Cavour. Here you will find what some call the best lasagne in Genoa as it is a twist on the traditional, made with pesto!
  • Le Rune - Winner of the 2018 Experts Choice Awards, here you will find a plethora of amazing seafood dishes.
  • Al Pisacane - noted as having some of the best pizza in Genoa, here you will find a mix of your traditional pizzas as well as those with seafood toppings.
  • Trattoria Da Maria - a completely authentic experience, you won’t want to miss out on this traditional menu in Vico Testadoro.
  • Sa Pesta - taking it back to simplicity, you will need a mandatory reservation to have dinner here, but won’t regret it.
  • SOHO Restaurant - designed after the famous NYC neighborhood - this restaurant and lounge also acts as a fish market where you can take away fresh fish. Stylish and just a short distance from the famous Genoa Aquarium. This is where to eat spaghetti vongole Genoa and any other seafood you could imagine.
  • The Cook restaurant Al Cavo - One of the michelin star restaurants Genoa. Worth the short trip out of the main city center for a beautiful view with an eclectic menu of mainly, but not limited to, seafood dishes.

 

Still having doubts about Genoa? Don’t take our word for it, go and see for yourself!!

Restaurants in Genoa the complete list
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Restaurants in Genoa the complete list
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The complete best genoa restaurants list
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