Fuori Rotta — Restaurant in Riomaggiore

A hidden gem that restored our faith in hospitality.

After several disappointments with the hospitality scene in Cinque Terre, we stumbled upon this place completely by chance. We weren’t expecting much — frankly, most places around here treated guests more like a nuisance than a welcome presence. But this spot turned out to be the heartwarming exception.

On our first night, we stopped in for just a glass of wine. That’s all. And yet, the welcome we received was so kind, so genuine, that we immediately felt at ease. The staff took time to recommend truly lovely wines, spoke to us with warmth, and didn’t make us feel “lesser” for not ordering a full meal. The view of the sea was beautiful, and even though our check was small, we were treated with care and sincerity.

The next evening, we returned — again, just for drinks — and decided to trust the staff’s recommendations, including a bottle of wine chosen for us. We had more wonderful small talk with the team (perhaps owners?), and the evening again felt easy, warm, and intimate.

On our final night in Riomaggiore, we came for a proper dinner. By then they already recognized us and welcomed us like friends. We ordered starters, mains, dessert, local wine and got to try Sciacchetrà, the region’s iconic passito. With each course came thoughtful explanations, gentle suggestions, and a sense of genuine pride in their food and culture.

It didn’t feel like a tourist restaurant at all, it felt like being welcomed into someone’s home. Like we belonged. That kind of atmosphere is rare anywhere and especially in a place so overtouristed it can lose its soul. Here the soul is very much alive.

Yes, it might be a little on the pricey side, but the experience…Absolutely worth it. Especially compared to the rushed, soulless...

A Hidden Gem with Inventive Cuisine and Thoughtful Pairings

This unassuming restaurant was a delightful surprise tucked among more tourist-driven options. The tasting menu was creative, flavorful, and well-paced, with thoughtful wine pairings curated by Davide, the owner and sommelier. His passion for introducing diners to orange wines and regional specialties like Apote and Sciacchetrà added depth to the experience.

The meal opened with a trio of amuse-bouches: fish on a puffed cracker, a delicate potato croquette, and a tomato soup with croutons reduction. A standout early course was the braised pork neck with cherry-port compote — savory, tender, and perfectly balanced with sweet, jammy notes. It was easily the dish of the night.

Next came fusilli with red and green vegetable purées, likely peppers and tomatoes, unexpectedly topped with sour cream. It was seasoned with Mediterranean spices and paired beautifully with the first orange wine.

A brief power outage mid-meal didn’t disrupt the service; the staff remained gracious, offering extra pours while we waited. The main course was a vegetable Wellington, similar to ratatouille in puff pastry. It was good, though not as exciting as the earlier courses.

Dessert was a chocolate mousse with pistachio and hazelnut crumble, punctuated by apricot sauce. The final “thank you” bites — almond, chocolate hazelnut, and meringue cookies — echoed the opening amuse and ended the meal with charm.

An excellent and surprisingly refined dinner. Highly recommended for those looking to experience creative cooking and warm, knowledgeable hospitality...

My friends and I visited riomaggiore for a day and were excited to visit a restaurant that promised high-end cuisine with a great view of the town. Our scenic vista was certainly amazing. However, everything that was in the restaurant’s control was…not. I booked my reservation day-of, at around 1pm for a 9pm slot that was available. Having arrived to the restaurant to meet our reservation twenty minutes in advance, we learned upon arrival that we couldn’t sit outside even as the view was what first drew us in and made us willing to pay a pretty penny for dinner. Meanwhile, the lighting inside was bright and off-putting. We decided we wanted to cancel our reservation. They said sure thing — but you owe us 20 euro each person (there were three of us). Due to the penalty, we were obligated to eat inside, where we were served a pseudo ultra-modern palette that was tasteless, uninspired, and a complete waste of money. The burnt onion fusillone tasted like a stale Doritos bag. The “like a pizza” was a strange deconstructed cream of bufala, sauce, and foam. The exception was the white wine, which was great (and for this I give them two stars instead of one). But by the end we found ourselves rushing to a pizzeria near the water before it closed, because even as we managed to down our food it was hardly nourishing. I would recommend not wasting your visit to Riomaggiore on this restaurant, or at least accepting that you have only come for drinks and a view (in which case, please state that, or you’ll be out at least...