Panificio Canale — Restaurant in Portofino

Avoid this place at all costs.

I had a deeply disappointing experience here and would not recommend it to anyone, locals or tourists.

I’m Italian, born and raised, currently living in Australia. Yesterday, I visited Portofino with my Australian partner, who doesn’t speak or understand Italian and was visiting Italy for the first time. I was excited to share some fresh Ligurian focaccia and the kind of traditional panini Italy is famous for.

We stopped by this bakery hoping to grab a quick bite before heading to the beach. I asked in Italian if they made panini, and a younger staff member confirmed they did. While I was translating to my partner in English, the older lady behind the counter suddenly became extremely rude and aggressive. I politely asked for bresaola, one of the meats we were offered, and that’s when she began abusing me, first in Italian, then in Ligurian dialect (which I understand perfectly).

I calmly let her know that I understood every word and asked if she could be a bit kinder, as I was simply trying to order what was already offered. Shockingly, the rudeness continued. She said that making a panino was a huge favor, even though we were paying customers and asked for nothing out of the ordinary and she wasn't even serving us and the bakery has just another client in she was attending to. That gentleman she was serving was very embarrassed meanwhile my partner was very confused since he did not understand a word.

In the end, I told her to keep the panino and walked out, completely shocked and embarrassed, especially because this was my partner’s first taste of Italy, and this kind of hostility is not at all representative of true Italian hospitality.

It’s incredibly disappointing to be treated with such disrespect in your own country, especially when you're trying to share it with someone you care about. Sadly, Portofino only has 2 bakeries, and perhaps this gives some people the impression they can treat customers however they like.

I strongly suggest supporting other local businesses where respect and kindness are still part of the culture. Italian hospitality should be warm, generous, and welcoming. This experience was...

So disappointed with this establishment. I needed some Band-Aids and I ended up buying 3 other things that the total was exactly $10 Euros. I gave the lady (I think it was the owner) a $20 Euro bill, she gave me back $10 and she put in front of me on the counter by the bag, at that second, she stopped and acted like she had made a mistake, then she went back to recount the prices of each item already inside the plastic bag, then she took my change of $10 that was still at the counter and put in the register. I was baffled! I told her “ I already paid you, that was my change of the $20 Euro bill that I had paid you with! I explained to her in Italian and in English, and she ignored me, I even told her the $20 Euro bill, color blue that I gave you, and you just took my change! I just left the store disgusted! I could not believe that I was shamelessly scammed by an old lady. It hurts me to think that she was a true Italian. So disappointed in her. I am an Italian descent and I just love and respect Italian people. It is not the $10 Euros it’s the principles! At the end of her day when she batches out her register she will see for sure what she did, or unless this is something that she usually does to make some extra cash,...

Went to Portofino for the afternoon. Been here before, but haven't visited this bakery. Needed some souvenirs (the edible kind) to bring home and this bakery had some good looking products on display.

Ended up buying some Amaretti, spice mix and some anchovies in oil with chili.

Prices were a bit on the higher end, but hey, it's Portofino. Quality-wise all products were really nice, of course we got some for ourselves as well. Amaretti were nice, good flavour. The spice mix is very useful for cooking some good pasta and the anchovies are nice for some charcuterie plates. Good stuff if you're into anchovies like us.

Enjoyed our shopping here and...