Rêve Café Restaurant — Restaurant in Santa Margherita Ligure

Reve Osteria Contemporanea delivers one of the most satisfying dining experiences on the Ligurian coast. The combination of polished service, a sleek yet comfortable atmosphere, and refined takes on traditional dishes makes this a standout spot just minutes from Portofino.

The meal began with a bottle of still water and a modest cover charge, setting the tone for a meal that respected the classics without inflating the extras. From there, each dish was a hit. The gnocchi with pesto and prawns was perfectly balanced. The pesto tasted fresh and house-made, with just enough garlic and cheese to complement the soft, pillowy gnocchi. The prawns were tender and added a pleasant depth to the dish.

The standout starter was the crispy octopus with cream of potatoes. It arrived beautifully plated and cooked to perfection, with a golden sear on the outside and a tender bite inside. The cream base was smooth and subtly flavored, letting the seafood shine without overpowering it.

Another highlight was the avocado and lime tartare of the day. It was fresh, clean, and light, a perfect choice for summer dining. The dish hit the mark with both flavor and texture. For mains, the shrimp pasta was also well-executed. The pasta was cooked al dente, with a delicate seafood flavor that didn’t rely on heavy sauces.

Desserts were classic and satisfying. The panna cotta was silky with just the right amount of wobble, and the tiramisu struck a nice balance between creamy mascarpone and rich coffee-soaked layers. A single espresso wrapped things up with a strong, clean finish.

Service was smooth and professional. The staff were quick, polite, and knew the menu well. Courses were well-timed and there was no sense of being rushed, even on a busy evening.

The total bill came to €141 for three guests, which included drinks, starters, mains, and dessert. At €47 per person, it felt like excellent value for the quality of ingredients, execution, and experience. Notably, there were no surprise charges, and the pricing was transparent.

Reve Osteria Contemporanea lives up to its name. It's modern, respectful of tradition, and deeply enjoyable. For a relaxed but refined meal in Santa Margherita, this place...

It's our third year that we come for a vacation here in this lovely town. But our first time here at this restaurant. We booked ahead, but actually besides us there was only one other table that night (a weekday).

It's a comfy, cosy place with a nice courtyard. Our Bulldog was welcome as well.

We ordered the fried seafood and the octopus meatballs for starters. A bottle of Pigato (white) with the meal.

The fried seafood was really nice. Tasted fresh and crispy. A good mix of different fish and seafood. The octopus meatballs were very disappointing. Didn't taste fresh unfortunately and had a strong flavour. Not sure it wasn't very fresh or just frozen. We love seafood, but this wasn't it.

For the mains we chose the Pesto Gnocchi and Shrimp Risotto. The Gnocchi were pretty good, the Pesto was ok. The shrimp in the Risotto were really nice, but the rice for our likings a bit overcooked - we do enjoy a bit more bite. The wine was nice though. Pigato is always a good choice.

The food was a bit on the disappointing side then. We had higher expectations, and this town has so many choices of restaurants.

Not sure it was a slow day or we were just a bit unlucky that day. The reviews are very good - but not our experience.

That said, I have to point out that our waiter was fantastic. A really nice guy, took care of us very nicely. That was really great. And the prices...

The best restaurant in Santa Margherita Ligure. My wife and I (we are on our honeymoon) had a meal twice at Rêve, and the food, service and atmosphere cannot be faulted. A small menu, which is definitely a good thing as each of the dishes are just superb. There are only a few tables, which makes the setting feel really intimate and cozy. The two staff waiting on each night are great. Really polite and smiley. They are incredibly generous, and made our experience so great as they knew it was our honeymoon. We tried almost all of the other restaurants in the area during our honeymoon, and if you want an exceptional dining experience with great food, intimate and pretty atmosphere, and to feel full at the end, then you have to go to Rêve! Thank you for making our...