Dining by the sea in Genoa: the best restaurants between Quarto, Pegli, Boccadasse, and Bogliasco

Bai Beach – Quarto

Pleasant bar/restaurant with a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Quarto (and with the possibility of renting sunbeds). A pleasant place to relax during the day, which lights up for aperitif time with music and appetizers. However, it starts with breakfast, and then moves on to lunch and dinner, enjoying a young but attentive service. The cuisine is varied, from the simple toast to be consumed between one swim and the next to delicious fish-based dishes such as basil tagliatelle with prawn and mussel ragù (14 euros), fish ravioli with scampi and courgette flowers (14 euros) or even seared tuna with green pepper and caramelised onion (15 euros). The fried anchovies are absolutely recommended (12). To accompany, a carefully selected wine list and cocktails.

Bai Beach. Via Quarto 8r, Genoa. Tel. 375 7013923.

Osteria del Bai – Quarto

A few steps from Bai Beach we find L'Osteria del Bai, a small piece of history for the city inside an ancient anti-Saracen fortress from the 15th century overlooking the sea. And the view is one of those you will never forget. The cuisine can be defined as regional, creative and seasonal and is mainly fish-based. The menu offers baby squid with cream of beans and chicory (15 euros), snoring tuna (15), pansoti in walnut sauce and raw prawns (22), lobster with salted butter sauce, purple cabbage and caviar (45). But there is no shortage of meat dishes including knife-cut Langa beef batutta (15 euros), tagliolini with pesto (16), imperial rabbit (20) or Langa beef rib-eye with chips (7 euros/kg).

Osteria del Bai. Via Quarto 12, Genoa. Tel. 010 7316485. Website: Facebook.

Piedigrotta by Carmine and Antonio – Quinto al Mare

Piedigrotta da Carmine e Antonio in Quinto al Mare is one of the best-known seafood restaurants in Genoa. Located between Quarto dei Mille and Nervi, it offers a menu rich in choice from raw fish to dishes such as paccheri Setaro with filleted gurnard and fresh tomato (18 euros) or seared tuna with pistachios and caramelized onions (22), passing through Ligurian cuisine recipes, for example we suggest the ravioli al tocco (14) or the stockfish accomodato (16). And finally here you can also try traditional Campania pizza. The restaurant is very welcoming, has a large terrace where you can dine accompanied by the sound of the sea waves and with a wonderful view that ranges from the Portofino promontory to Capo Mele.

Piedigrotta by Carmine and Antonio. Via Angelo Gianelli 29 E/R, Genoa. Tel. 010 3200561. Website: Facebook.

The Cellars of the Medi – Pegli

We move westwards, more precisely to the Pegli seafront: here Le Cantine del Medi is worth a visit, a restaurant inside the historic building which also houses the Hotel Mediterranee. A young and welcoming atmosphere with a small but very pleasant terrace overlooking the sea. The menu offers contemporary cuisine which does not lose sight of tradition and the products of the region, accompanied by a good selection of wines. Among the dishes on offer we find, among the starters, smoked black angus speck with burrata and confit cherry tomatoes (14 euros), a crispy focaccia with raw Santa Margherita prawns, cherry tomatoes, basil, burrata and celeriac powder (18), among the first courses, scialatelli with basil, local scampi, cherry tomatoes and foie gras (16) and among the second courses, swordfish in a panko bread crust with gazpacho and basil-flavoured aubergines (16).

Le Cantine del Medi. Via Teodoro II di Monferrato 1G, Genoa. Tel. 010 2924437. Website: Facebook.

Trattoria da Nanni – Pegli

Also in Pegli, we recommend a visit to this family-run trattoria, where you can enjoy simple, almost home-style cuisine, yet carefully prepared and tasty. The friendliness and warmth are a strong point, along with the view, which never disappoints. Seafood, of course, takes center stage on the menu; the seafood carbonara is highly recommended. The restaurant is small and intimate, so reservations are highly recommended.

Trattoria da Nanni. Viale Benedetto Zaccaria 12R, Genoa. Tel. 010 6975012. Website: Facebook.

Patanegra – Boccadasse

But not just fish with a sea view. Returning to the Levante, and more precisely in the splendid setting of the small gulf of Boccadasse, we find this grill/pizzeria. A young and modern atmosphere, quality meat and a good selection of wines. On the menu we find platters of Iberian cured meats and cheeses with honey (from 10 to 14 euros), Blonde d'Aquitaine fillet tartare (from 15 to 20 euros), tonnarelli with carbonara (14). The menu also includes some fish dishes and pizza. And for those who want to have an aperitif, cocktails and appetizers for 15 or 18 euros. Finally, a mention for the desserts, among which we recommend the Passion Cake, a tartlet with whipped ganache made with Dulceley chocolate and caramel, passion fruit toffee and sandblasted pecans (8).

Patanegra Boccadasse. Piazza Enrico Bassano 2, Genoa. Tel. 344 2884135. Website: Facebook.

Blunt Beach Club

Blunt is a restaurant, beach club, and all-round venue offering fun both summer and winter. Located in Sturla (and therefore easily accessible by public transport), it has two covered, air-conditioned indoor dining rooms and a splendid beach terrace where you can enjoy a seafood dinner. Dishes include squid ink tonnarelli with mussel ragù (14 euros) and grilled or fried catch of the day (18 euros). Also interesting is the aperitif option with fried focaccia, pinsa, and cuculli for 10 euros. At night, on weekends, it transforms into a beachside disco with DJs and vocalists.

Blunt Beach Club. Via del Tritone 11/N, Genoa. Tel. 010 396585. Website: Facebook.

Just Peruzzi – Bogliasco

Still in the Levante area, but this time outside Genoa, precisely in Bogliasco, we find a historic bar and restaurant renowned for its splendid terrace overlooking the sea. It began as a pastry shop and tea room in 1901, founded by the Peruzzi family, and immediately became a meeting place for social events. Over the years, it then established itself as a restaurant, with a menu that remains firmly tied to the local area despite having undergone a process of renewal, also thanks to the excellent wine pairing curated by an expert sommelier. Hand-made fusilli with fresh tuna, clams, olives, cherry tomatoes and basil (16 euros) stand out among the first courses, along with the trofiette di Recco with delicate pesto (12) and the taglierini with lobster (18).

Just Peruzzi. Via Giuseppe Mazzini 132, Genoa. Tel. 010 3470021. Website: Facebook.

The Cove – Bogliasco

This beach club (and restaurant) overlooking the Ligurian coast, also in Bogliasco, is a charming establishment, with a small beach area, a pebbly shoreline, and crystal-clear water. It has a terrace where you can enjoy a meal while admiring the horizon. It also has tables right on the beach. The atmosphere is family-friendly and welcoming. It often hosts themed evenings on weekends.

La Caletta Bogliasco. Via Cristoforo Colombo 19, Genoa. Tel. 347 5879506. Facebook.

Maa Beach – Bogliasco

This venue is also nestled in the stunning Bogliasco setting, which includes a restaurant, a beach club, and a beach bar (for breakfast and lunch by the sea, as well as aperitifs at sunset and in the evenings). The restaurant offers contemporary cuisine that combines simplicity and sophistication, always focusing on the quality and freshness of the ingredients. Here, you can enjoy seafood and meat specialties, always enjoying a splendid sea view. A grill restaurant on the pier and a pizzeria are also available.

Maa Beach. Via Giuseppe Mazzini 122A, Genoa. Tel. 393 9127191. Website: Facebook.

Eating by the sea in Genoa

[Cover photo Just Peruzzi]