Following on from our adventures Eating Our Way Around Florence, I thought it only right that I make you drool over our foodie finds in the Cinque Terre too.
Before we left for this trip, I was a little worried about eating in this region on the Italian Riviera as it’s hugely popular for seafood and pesto, neither of which I eat (I’m not a fan of seafood at all and I’m allergic to nuts). I knew I’d be so disappointed if I couldn’t try the local delicacies and so my rumbling stomach thanks the food gods that there was plenty for me to eat and the Cinque Terre very quickly became one of my very favourite foodie destinations from all of our travels.
Il Pirata delle cinque terre
Il Pirata was without a doubt our favourite restaurant on our travels around Italy and we found ourselves heading towards this small café in Vernazza every single morning for breakfast. Their pastries were to die for. Literally. I wouldn’t have been surprised if someone had told us our plane had taken us to food heaven instead of a little village in Italy!
My morning breakfast consisted of a soft flaky ricotta and strawberry croissant, the thickest and most chocolately hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted, and a freshly squeezed blood orange juice. I could easily have just worked my way through their fresh pastries all day but the dinner menu was far too tempting to resist.
A plate full of tomato and mozzarella bruschetta went perfectly with a bottle of chilled rose wine to start, and the spinach and ricotta cannelloni…well…there are no words. This is the sort of food that you can’t help but moan over. It was food porn at its finest and I have been trying to find a similar dish that makes my belly just as happy ever since but nothing quite lives up to the scrumptiousness of this.
Aside from the food, what I loved about this place was the super friendly brothers who ran the café. They would make us laugh and chat to us about our day exploring the Cinque Terre. They always remembered I had a nut allergy and would recommend nut-free dishes including this Eton Mess which was just a-maze-ing.
Alex’s drool-worthy dessert that I unfortunately couldn’t try 😦
Lunch box
After our yummy breakfasts we grabbed some packed lunches from Lunch Box before we set off on A Hiking Adventure in the Cinque Terre. About half way along the hike we stopped for a rest where we eagerly tucked into our lunch of fresh focaccia packed full of Italian cheeses, meats and salad.
I couldn’t think of a better spot for lunch with the green hillsides and the blue sea as our backdrop. Just look how happy it made us… 🙂
batti batti
If you time it right this is can be a quick snack stop. If you time it wrong you’ll end up waiting in a huge long line with all the other tourists who have just come off the train for a day visit. But wait anyway because the focaccia here made me think I’d gone to food heaven again. Through no fault of my own (the food really is just that good) I found myself popping in regularly for a slice of warm and fluffy focaccia.
pizzeria fratelli basso
Take away pizza Italian style is a whole lot different to Dominos so this became our favourite place for a quick and casual meal. Our little bed and breakfast was right across the road from this place so we grabbed a take away pizza, a bottle of wine and some plastic cups, which we took down to the water front and ate on the rocks overlooking the sea.
It’s the best view I’ve ever had with a take away!
gelato
I really can’t single out one gelateria that was better than any of the others because it’s gelato, in Italy, and it’s damn good wherever you get it from.
Do you have a favourite restaurant or foodie find in Italy? Let me know in the comments below or at:
Mama Ayla's Adventures 
Was forever grateful for your Il Pirata trip – we only went the once but the savoury food was, as you say, totally to die for and the dessert cannolis were absolutely scrumptious as well!! The brother who served us was such a charmer too 🙂
lol, Il Pirata *tip* I meant!
I’m seriously craving it again just thinking about it!
Mouth watering post, Ayla 🙂
Frankly speaking, I just opened the post, scrolled down and I couldn’t resist the temptation to have something heavy, so I rushed to have my lunch 🙂
Now I could read it properly 🙂
Well compiled post 🙂
Haha thanks Sreejith! Glad I could make you hungry 🙂
Omgoodness. Brb while I wipe my drool…
Ha! Hope you managed to stop drooling enough to get to the end of the post! 😉
That’s one thing I love about Italy, even take away sandwiches are so delicious and fresh!
Lots of love,
Angie
Best. Food. Ever.
Hello Italian food! Yes, all of it please! Thank you!
All of the food in all of Italy. Yum!
Was that rose wine for breakfast 😉 The food in Italy is just the best, isn’t it!
Suze | LuxuryColumnist
Haha no the wine we left until at least midday Suze 😉
So many tasty treats! Delicious! 🙂 I am such a fond foodie and this post has made me hungry! http://www.shehearts.net x
Glad I could make you hungry! Italian food has a way of doing that 🙂
Eating your way around Cinque Terre sounds like the most heavenly thing right now. I cant wait to go one day. The 5 towns have been on my list for a very long time 🙂 And come on, Italian food? Amazing!! xx
It is such a beautiful place, definitely go when you get the chance. One of my favourite places in the world thanks to the gorgeous little villages and of course the delicious food 🙂
Great post! Cinque Terre is such a beautiful place – And yes, any combination of foccacia/pizza/birra goes down well with those stunning views! My favourite spot was sitting on the rocks at Manarola, watching braver people than I jumping into the sea 🙂
Think Italy is my favourite place in the whole wide world 🙂
Isn’t it just beautiful? I could have sat on those rocks all day and never got tired of that view 🙂
Who doesn’t love proper Italian food – I’ve never made it to Cinque Terre yet but it’s definitely on the list. We’re headed to Milan at the end of the month and I’ve definitely got high hopes for some foodie delights!
You would love it Connie. The food is just heavenly. I’m pretty sure Milan will have amazing food too – it is still Italy after all 🙂
I love how even basic food in Italy is so good! Looks like you had a lovely time x
Italians just do everything better 🙂
Ahhhhhh I am literally drooling over my keyboard!
Italian food is definently my favourite cuisine 🙂
Simone x | The Aussie Flashpacker
Mine too! And it’s soooo much better in Italy than it could ever possibly be here!
my kind of food!
Mine too! The best 🙂
You had me at Ricotta & Strawberry croissants ermahgerd!
I have never had such an amazing croissant Emma. Seriously. So good!
I just got back from Italy. Cinque Terre is next though – looks amazing!
Ashleigh xx
http://www.quintessentiallyme.co.uk
Everywhere in Italy is just fabulous but the Cinque Terre especially so. Any excuse for a return trip 😉
Ah the only thing better than a trip to Italy is enjoying the food! ESPECIALLY the gelato – you’ve really made me miss that
Italy + Italian food + extra gelato = best trip ever!!
It seriously is ONE of the best things about travelling…. trying the local cuisines and food! Making us totally drool right now 🙂
This food would make anyone drool. Italian cuisine is just the best!