Vernazza with its harbour and Castello Doria

Restaurants in Vernazza: where to eat

Where to eat in Vernazza: anchovy tegame, pesto trofie, the restaurants cited by the guides and booking tips for a small village.

Vernazza with its harbour and Castello Doria

What to order: tegame di Vernazzastuffed and lemon anchovies, pesto trofie, octopus, mixed fry
What to drink: Cinque Terre DOC white and Sciacchetrà
Where: piazza Marconi on the harbour and the streets rising from the sea
Reference guide: Gambero Rosso's June 2024 selectionBelforte, Gianni Franzi, Luca, La Torre
Booking: advised for dinner and weekends
Winter hours: not confirmed: phone before you go

Eating in Vernazza is simple: almost every restaurant is on the harbour square or in the lanes leading to it, and the menu revolves around anchovies. The dish to look for is the tegame di Vernazza, Monterosso anchovies baked with potatoes and tomato. Here are the places the guides have cited for years, what to order and how to avoid being left without a table in a village of a few hundred people.

By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on 10 October 2026·4 min read

What to eat in Vernazza

Vernazza's seafront square with café tables

The tegame di Vernazza is the signature dish: sliced potatoes, tomato sauce and anchovies opened like a book, baked in the oven. It uses Monterosso anchovies and the recipe varies slightly from kitchen to kitchen. Anchovies also come stuffed, marinated with lemon or in a scabeccio marinade; pesto here goes with trofie.

Beyond that, expect fish of the day, mixed fried seafood, mussel and clam soup and octopus with Taggiasca olives. The wine is Cinque Terre DOC white, from Bosco, Albarola and Vermentino grapes; to finish, Sciacchetrà, the local dessert wine.

Restaurants in Vernazza

There is no official ranking. These addresses come from Gambero Rosso’s selection of the six best places in Vernazza (June 2024); they are not our own tasting verdict. Menus, prices and opening days change every season: check by phone.

Belforte

A village classic with more than fifty years of history, overlooking the sea. The guide cites traditional cooking with local ingredients: mixed Monterosso anchovies, homemade pesto trofie and the mixed grill of the day.

Gianni Franzi

On piazza Marconi, opened in the 1960s and in the same building as the hotel of the same name. In summer it has a small terrace. The menu is typical: stuffed and lemon anchovies, pesto trofie and the tegame di Vernazza with Monterosso anchovies.

Luca

On the harbour, run by a long-established fishing family: hearty, unfussy food. Specialities cited include Ligurian-style octopus with Taggiasca olives, mussel and clam soup, anchovies in scabeccio and mixed fry. Gambero Rosso describes it as popular with tourists and locals alike.

La Torre

In the upper part of the village (Preteccia), reached by a steep staircase: a panoramic terrace and rooms nearby. Typical cooking based on local fish and vegetables, with attentive service. A good choice for a view and some calm away from the harbour crowd.

For a quick bite

If you do not want a sit-down meal, the same guide lists takeaway places with stuffed focaccia, sandwiches and pesto trofie, and a spot serving burgers and sandwiches, also vegetarian. Handy for lunch before a walk.

Planning your lunch or dinner

The harbour square is small and fills up at mealtimes. For a table with a view, book or arrive early. In summer places run at full speed; in the colder months some cut their hours or close for holidays, so do not assume a place is open, especially for a weekday lunch. Always read the menu on display before sitting down.

Remember that you cannot drive into Vernazza. The private car parks are on provincial road 51, more than a kilometre from the village, with a shuttle: if you come for dinner, check the time of the last return. By train it is far simpler: see the Cinque Terre train timetable and the Cinque Terre Card. How to reach the village step by step is in how to get to Vernazza.

Before or after the meal

On the Sentiero Verde Azzurro between Vernazza and Monterosso the situation is uncertain: the Cinque Terre National Park declared it closed from 10 September 2026 pending geological checks. Look at the notices before making plans. If you are staying overnight, areas and options are in where to stay in Vernazza; the neighbouring villages are Corniglia, Riomaggiore and Manarola.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about restaurants in Vernazza

What is Vernazza's typical dish?

The tegame di Vernazza: Monterosso anchovies baked with potatoes and tomato. Many places also serve stuffed and lemon anchovies and pesto trofie.

Where do you eat in Vernazza?

Almost all restaurants are on piazza Marconi, on the harbour, and in the nearby lanes. A few are higher up, like La Torre, with a panoramic terrace.

Do I need to book?

Yes for dinner, weekends and a table with a view. Out of season some places cut their hours or close: phone first.

How much does it cost in Vernazza?

We do not have up-to-date prices for individual places and the guides do not give them for 2026: read the menu on display before sitting down. A seafood dinner with a view costs more than a simple lunch.

Can I get something quick to eat in Vernazza?

Yes: there are takeaway places with stuffed focaccia, sandwiches and pesto trofie, and a spot with burgers and sandwiches, also vegetarian.

Where to stay