Tourist menus in Cinque Terre often feature generic Italian dishes, but authentic Ligurian cuisine is distinctive, aromatic, and deeply connected to the steep terraces and fishing traditions of this coastline. Here’s what locals actually eat – and where to find it.
In Liguria, we cook with what the mountain gives and what the sea returns. The terraces give us basil, olives, and wine. The water gives us anchovies and mussels. Everything else is unnecessary.
Forget the jarred versions. True pesto uses Genovese basil (smaller, more aromatic leaves), pine nuts from Pisa, Parmigiano and Pecorino in specific ratios, and Ligurian olive oil. It’s traditionally made with a marble mortar and wooden pestle – the ‘pestare’ (pounding) gives the sauce its name. Serve it with trofie (hand-rolled pasta twists) or trenette, never spaghetti. Add a splash of pasta water to emulsify, and never heat the pesto – toss it with hot pasta off the flame.
Pesto Genovese: The Real Thing
Fresh anchovies (acciughe) aren’t the salty fillets from a tin. In Cinque Terre, they’re served marinated in lemon (acciughe marinate), fried crispy (friscieu), or baked with potatoes. The anchovy catch shaped local cuisine for centuries. Look for ‘acciughe di Monterosso’ – the local variety is prized for its delicate flavor. Salt-packed anchovies from Liguria are exported worldwide, but the fresh preparations are what locals prefer.
Anchovies: The Cinque Terre Staple
Ligurian focaccia is thin, oily, and topped simply with coarse salt and sometimes rosemary or onions. It’s breakfast, snack, and aperitivo food. Farinata is even more local – a thin chickpea flour pancake cooked in wood-fired copper pans. Crispy edges, soft center, eaten hot with pepper. The best bakeries open early and sell out by noon. In Vernazza, Forno Moltedo has served focaccia since 1963.
Focaccia and Farinata
Start with focaccia di Recco (paper-thin with stracchino cheese) or muscoli ripieni (stuffed mussels). For primo, trofie al pesto or pansoti (ravioli with walnut sauce). For secondo, fresh catch of the day (pesce del giorno) simply grilled, or stoccafisso accomodato (stockfish stew). Finish with canestrelli cookies and a glass of Sciacchetra dessert wine. Skip the tiramisu – it’s not Ligurian.
What to Order Like a Local
Food & Drink
January 25, 2026
9 min read
Beyond tourist menus – the real flavors of Cinque Terre.