Cinque Terre, the five gorgeous towns in Italy along the Ligurian Sea, is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. The rugged coastline villages are peppered with colorful houses and gorgeous scenery that are jaw-droppingly beautiful. But, I’d like to argue that you’ll also be amazed by the delicious food and drinks! I mean, what to eat in Cinque Terre is one of the main attractions of visiting. You are in Italy, after all!
Even though it is common to associate Italy with pizza and pasta, It may surprise you to learn that the best cuisine in Cinque Terre does not include these two iconic dishes. Instead, the Ligurian coast is full of locally made food and drinks that make finding what to eat in Cinque Terre unique (and delicious!).
Are you visiting Cinque Terre soon? If so, here’s what to eat in Cinque Terre while you enjoy your trip to these five stunning coastal villages!
What to Eat in Cinque Terre
1. Focaccia
Did you know that focaccia bread originated in the Ligurian region of Italy, where Cinque Terre is located? I didn’t know this before my trip, but it makes sense because the focaccia here is on another level!
Most focaccia bread is brushed with olive oil and dusted with salt. You can top off your focaccia with numerous Ligurian delicacies, like olives or pesto. The focaccia has a crunchy exterior, and the warm interior melts in your mouth with every bite. My mouth is watering just writing this!
2. Pesto alla Genovese
Pesto is another Ligurian specialty that you have to try while you’re in Cinque Terre. Enjoy some delicious pesto sauce on trofie, a special kind of pasta, or on focaccia bread (my favorite way to eat it!).
You can also get little jars of pesto alla Genovese to bring home with you to share with family and friends. They aren’t hard to find either. The pesto jars are available in almost every store!
3. Aperol Spritz
The Aperol Spritz is one of the most popular aperitifs in Italy and is a refreshing and enjoyable complement to the beautiful coast. The Aperol Spritz is a popular apertivo (or pre-meal drink) that is enjoyed in several regions of Italy, including Cinque Terre. The cultural ritual of enjoying an apertivo before a meal was born in Turin, Italy — check out these best things to do in Turin if you add this beautiful city to your Italy itinerary.
Made like a limoncello spritzer, an Aperol Spritz subs out the Limoncello with Aperol. The bright orange hue of the drink is a gorgeous complement to the ocean’s deep blue tone. It makes for a lovely photo and is just as pleasant to enjoy!
4. Seafood
Even though tourism is undoubtedly the primary source of income for Cinque Terre, many villagers in the five towns make their living as fishermen. Fresh seafood from the Ligurian Sea is a popular dining option among locals and visitors alike.
I am not a big seafood eater, but my husband is. One night during our trip, he ordered seafood spaghetti filled with calamari, mussels, clams, octopus, and more. He enjoyed how fresh the seafood was and said you could certainly taste the quality.
You can also order fresh seafood and fish fried and eat it out of a paper cone! Fried seafood cones are a scrumptious and fun way to enjoy this Cinque Terre specialty.
4. Gelato
Gelato is a must if you are visiting anywhere in Italy. But the gelato in Cinque Terre was my favorite during my trip! I especially enjoyed the stracciatella gelato, a sweet cream gelato with chocolate chips.
Gelateria Vernazza in Vernazza and Geleteria La Scogliera in Monterroso are two great gelato shops in Vernazza and Monterroso. I’ve also heard fantastic things about 5Terre Gelateria Creperia in Manarola.
5. Limoncello
Limoncello is easy to come by in Cinque Terre and is available to purchase in every restaurant, bar, or store. Made from the fresh lemons grown in the villages, this delicious drink is simply a blend of lemon peel, alcohol, water, and sugar.
For a refreshing take on limoncello, try a limoncello spritzer. It’s made with prosecco, limoncello, and soda water and is delicious!
7. Cinque Terre D.O.C. White Wine
Cinque Terre is esteemed for its dry white wine. Cinque Terre D.O.C. wine is locally made and rarely found outside of the Ligurian region. It pairs well with the local cuisine, especially seafood!
Where to Stay in Cinque Terre
Here are some recommendations of places to stay during your visit to Cinque Terre!
- Riomaggiore: Malbo
- Manarola: Il Sogno di Manarola by The First (we stayed here, and it was amazing!)
- Monterosso al Mare: Gemera
Eat Your Way Through Cinque Terre
Okay, my mouth is officially watering! If you are visiting the five villages soon, I might be a bit jealous. I hope this list of what to eat in Cinque Terre helps you enjoy every moment of your culinary experience!
Enjoy Cinque Terre. Salute!
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Girllllll, this post is making me hungry! So many amazing things to try in Italy, but even more so specifically in Cinque Terre! It’s one of my favorite destinations in Italy!
I totally agree, I am a big pizza and pasta girl, but I love that Cinque Terre has even so much more to offer!
Cinque Terre looks absolutely stunning & there’s so much delicious food to choose from! I’m going for the gelato! Thanks for sharing!
Yum, you can’t go wrong with gelato! Thanks for reading 🙂
Great food is definitely one of the things we found when we visited Cinque Terre. Hubby just loves pesto and was happy to find it in many dishes. I found an Aperol Spritz and now when I drink it, I am reminded of Italy. Seafood and gelato are always on our list for food in this region.
I love to order an Aperol Spritz when I’m eating outdoors to remind me of my time in Italy, too! I’m a big pesto fan as well, so me and your husband are in the same boat! Thanks for reading, Linda 🙂
These sound delicious! I could do with some pesto and Aperal right now.
Me too!
Not a huge fan of seafood, but I wouldn’t say no to some limoncello and gelato! The food in Italy is always so delicious.
I agree, Krista! Seafood is definitely more of my husband’s thing, haha. I’m more of a gelato fan like you! 🙂
I would to visit Cinque Terre and try all these amazing foods, especially focaccia.
The focaccia was out-of-this-world amazing! Especially with the pesto on top. I’m drooling just thinking about it!
Wow this food all looks amazing! I love focaccia so much and I can’t wait to go back to Italy to get some more!
Me too! The focaccia in Italy puts the focaccia in the US to shame, haha. Thanks for reading, Rachel!
I loved Gelateria Vernazza! The focaccia in Liguria is SO good, too! My favorite is at this place in Riomaggiore that doesn’t have a name. It’s just #62 on the main street!
That sounds like such a great find! When we return to Cinque Terre (because we’ll definitely be back!) I’d love to check that spot out 🙂
Awesome article, all sounds so delicious 😋
Thank you, Elyse!
I bet the Focaccia in Cinque Terre is absolutely delicious! I could probably live off when we visit! I’d love to sip an Aperol Spritz next to the sea too!
It’s seriously amazing! I can’t hype it up enough, haha. And nothing beats an Aperol Spritz on a warm, sunny day by the coast! Thanks for reading, Hannah 🙂
My husband and I had to cancel our trip to Cinque Terre in 2019 and were so disappointed. We keep hoping the world will open…. Thanks for the great inspiration on some new foods to try when we do actually get there.
Oh my goodness, that’s such a bummer! We were there in 2019, so we might have seen each other 🙂 I hope you get to go soon, it’s truly a magical place! 🙂
You succeeded in making me hungry! The focaccia looks amazing! I would certainly enjoy the seafood, as well. When I was there I fell in love with their anchovies. I never found anchovies elsewhere that can compare to those on the Ligurian coast!
Hahah, mission accomplished! 😉 The Ligurian Coast certainly has some amazing seafood. But yes, the focaccia was my favorite!
Oh how I miss focaccia! After being diagnoses celiac its the thing I miss most. At least I can still have gelato and seafood
Oh my goodness, that’s such a huge bummer! Hopefully, they’ll find a way to make a gluten-free version that’s just as delicious 🙂 I’m glad you can still have gelato & seafood because those are super delicious 🙂
I am really looking forward to visiting Cinque Terre someday. Had to cancel a trip in 2020, so maybe 2022. Thanks for the good tips.
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it when you get to visit. It’s a magical spot!
[…] 7 Food & Drinks You Have to Try in Cinque Terre, Italy […]
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Gelato was my favorite from the Cinque Terre too! I didn’t try the stracciatella gelato. I had one with Nutella in it. I wish I could find it back home – truly the best I’ve had! Excellent list – and some I wish I had tried when I was there. Another reason to travel back I suppose! 🙂
Let’s start a petition for them to bring Italian gelato (the good kind!) to the states!
I’ll be here next Tuesday! Thank you for the helpful tips! Can’t wait to have the limoncello.