- Portofino is known for its beautiful bay, and several restaurants have views of the passing yachts.portofino image by Isabelle Barthe from Fotolia.com
If you're touring the Italian Riviera, consider stopping in at Portofino. Famed writer Truman Capote called this place home, and it's easy to see why. In addition to the aristocratic architecture, chic shops and Portofino's idyllic bay, several restaurants dish up home-made pastas, fresh seafood and all the ambiance you would expect in a small Italian town. - If it's a light bite you crave, stop in at this old, family-owned bakery at the entrance of town where locals and fat-walleted tourists line up for the fresh-baked Ligurian foccacia that's made on the spot. If you decide to pass on the foccacia, Canale also offers up sandwiches, macaroons, mini merengues and other irresistible treats. Just don't be dismayed by the lack of seating. Grab your food, and find a lunch spot outside where you can watch everyone else wander into pricier restaurants with half the charm.
Canale
30 Via Roma
Portofino, Italy
011-39-0185-269-248
fodors.com - If you want to know what fresh Ligurian seafood tastes like, stop in at this well-trafficked spot where the fish are plucked straight from the harbor and the owners are friendly. Enjoy a plate of home-made risotto or salt-crusted fish while you watch the passing yachts from the patio. Just make sure to book ahead. With only 14 patio tables and 15 tables inside the restaurant, this place gets packed quickly.
Ristorante Puny
5 Piazza Martiri dell'Olivetta
Portofino, Italy
011-39-0185-269-037
frommers.com - Located in Hotel Splendido--a 16th-century monastery-turned-hotel--this elegant restaurant offers the standard Portofino fare (fresh seafood and home-made pasta), in addition to hearty meat dishes such as sauteed veal and rack of lamb. Even if you're not that hungry, the lush open-air terrace gives you the perfect excuse to book a table and order a glass of wine while you enjoy the stunning view of Portofino Bay. Hardwood floors and hand-painted walls set a more formal mood inside.
La Terrazza
16 Salita Baratta
Portofino, Italy
011-039-0185-267-801
kiwicollection.com - If you're in the mood to splurge while you're visiting Portofino, you'll be in good company here. The only things pricier than the seafood and spaghetti are the yachts owned by your fellow diners. This restaurant is a magnet for the rich and richer. Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Roger Moore are just a few of the diners who've stopped in here. Make sure to book ahead.
Il Pitosforo
Molo Umberto I, No. 9
Portofino, Italy
011-39-0185-269-020
fodors.com - If your travel funds have been depleted after an evening at Il Potisforo, stop in at this cozy, family-owned trattoria that's been dishing up pizza, fresh sole and other regional specialties since it opened in 1946. While you may not have a view of the water (the restaurant is at the end of town), you'll still enjoy the company of gregarious Portofino locals and a reprieve from all the tourists.
Trattoria Concordia
5 Via del Fondaco
Portofino, Italy
011-39-0185-269-207
travelandleisure.com
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