Focacceria IlFrantoio is kind of hiding: tucked in a narrow alley off the main drag, but you'll…read moresmell that fresh-baked focaccia the moment you walk nearby. Even if you don't see the sign, follow your nose. Inside the little place, there are only a handful of tables, so most people grab a slice and go. They do those classic Ligurian-style focacce: some round like pizzas (but no sauce) and some square or rectangular slabs. The difference is more than shape, focaccia isn't pizza. It uses dough with more leavening, so it stays thicker, softer, and airier than typical pizza crust, and it gets dimpled and drenched in olive oil before baking. Because of that, the focaccia from Il Frantoio feels pillowy inside but still crispy at the edges -- perfect base for whatever topping they throw on. Go for a classic plain‑olive-oil slice if you want something simple and salty. Or, if you're up for a punchier flavor, try their anchovy version: salty, briny, and made for a beach‑town afternoon. Honestly, it's the perfect snack to grab before hiking to Vernazza -- light, filling, and full of energy for the climb. Bottom line: Focacceria IlFrantoio isn't fancy. It's small, kind of hidden, and not Instagram-flashy. But if you want a genuinely good bite of Ligurian comfort food, warm focaccia, salty anchovies or olive-oil-rich crust, handheld and cheap, this spot hits exactly right.

The focaccia and pizzas were both delicious. The staff was incredibly friendly and shared a special…read morecheese bread with us. The prices were great, and I would stop by every day if I could. There was only indoor seating, but there was plenty of it.

The food was the best I've had so far in northern Italy. Everything is made to order with local…read moreingredients. Emy the owner makes the experience unforgettable. There are only a few tables but well worth the wait!

Emy's Way is the best pizza I've ever had. It's a must-go if you're in Monterosso! My wife and I…read morestopped by for dinner and she ordered the Tricolore, while I ordered the Nicola--both were fantastic. The Tricolore in particular was phenomenal. It was a more unique pizza on a special focaccia crust with burrata, tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. The burrata melted in our mouths and the crust was a perfect balance between crunchy and chewy. Emy was our server and he explained that he created an original blend of three different kinds of flour to create the dough for the Tricolore crust--we loved that personal touch, and it really came through in how delicious the pizza was! Speaking of Emy, he was such a delight to have as our server. He asked us if we wanted anything to drink as soon as we were situated at our table, and when I asked about one of the beers they have on tap, he explained the backstories and flavor profiles of all of their beers, and even brought me a sample of the one I thought I wanted to try to make sure I liked it before I ordered it. Throughout the dinner, he told us stories about Monterosso, how he runs his restaurant, and the lore behind his different (and original!) pizza combinations and recipes. It's so clear that he is passionate about his food and his business, and it absolutely makes a difference in how enjoyable and delicious our dinner was. At the end of our evening, a couple came in with their dog, and Emy even brought the dog a small dish with some water to drink. Such a thoughtful move! My wife and I were thoroughly impressed. Plus, Emy gets bonus points for being open for dinner on a weeknight during the tourist offseason (we visited in early March)--my wife and I stayed near the "new town" portion of Monterosso, where not a single shop or restaurant seemed to be open past 4pm, but Emy's Way welcomed us in! This has been my first-ever trip to Italy, and Emy's Way provided the exact dining experience I was hoping to have--small business, charismatic owner, cute setting, and absolutely phenomenal food. It was perfection. I cannot wait to return to Monterosso and come to Emy's Way again--next time, I may have to be a daily customer.

5 stars purely for the pesto pizza. One of the best pizzas I have EVER had. The pesto was so fresh…read moreand mildly creamy at the same time. The cheese was so fresh and the base was super thin and the crust was super soft. Service was quick, but they only have 10-12 tables outside. We ate on the earlier side, but by the time we left there was a line of around 15-20 people. Seating is on the street, so the classic Italy vibe!

We had a nice experience at La Marina - it was fairly casual and prices were good for the area. Two…read moreteen boys with us who said this has been their favorite pizza margherita thus far. Food came pretty quickly. Nothing too fancy. If you're not super hungry you can definitely share but my boys ate their whole pizza - thin crust.

Great restaurant. We had a raw fish sampler as an appetizer which was excellent. My wife ordered…read morethe swordfish and it was cooked perfectly. Highly recommend this place.

Good reviews so we decided to try it. Bread was weird more like a biscuit than bread. I had gnocchi…read morewith meat sauce and my husband had the spaghetti with clams, white wine and chilis. Gnocchi was okay. Huge portions - I couldn't eat a third of it. My husband's pasta was okay but pretty bland and didn't have much sauce or spice to it. Portions are huge, location is good, food is mediocre. Prices are readable. $49 euros included a bottle of wine.

Ermg this gluten-free pizza was mind-blowing amazing. We had just finished the Blue Path hike, and…read morewere in dire need of some calories. This place popped up with good reviews, so we stopped in to order take out. It's in the old part of the city and very small, so after ordering we waited outside. After only about 5 mins, our hot delicious pizza was ready! They even cooked my gf pizza in its own container and didn't cut it to prevent cross-contamination. We took it back to our hotel room and just devoured it.. was seriously so good. I'm forever ruined to American gf pizza thanks to this experience.

GF PIZZA was good, not great-4 euro extra was not obvious, but was on the menu, a few pages later…read more Red table wine very good! I did get GF Pizza

Best meal we had in Cinque Terre! Saw good reviews on Yelp. Off the beaten path. Great old…read morefashioned atmosphere. Great service. I was craving grilled fish and boy did this deliver. Delicious grilled sea bass - best seafood I've had in years and only 25 euros! A bargain. My husband really enjoyed his spicy salami pizza too. Saw they had tasty looking steaks and pasta as well. Highly recommend!

Decent good spot in a nearby alley away from the touristy spots. Still on the pricier side, but…read morewhat do you expect! Three of us stopped by for lunch and were seated immediately. Got the tuna steak, seafood pasta (in a foil swan), and fish, and a couple glasses of wine. Straightforward but friendly staff. Worth a visit if you're already in the area!

Se sei a Monterosso e non di fermi al Fornaio di Monterosso sei veramente stato a Monterosso?…read moreAllora ti devi assolutamente fermare qui o per colazione o una focaccia al volo o anche da mangiare lì. Ci sono dei piccoli tavolini per fermarti e mangiare qualcosina. Le focacce sono OTTIME. Assolutamente dovete prendere qualsiasi cosa al pesto perché ovviamente il pesto qui è come da nessun altro posto. Abbiamo preso delle focacce al volo e ce le siamo godute al mare. Erano buonissime, freschissime e l'impatto molto digeribile. Tornerei subito!

100% recommend!! The food was absolutely delicious! I would get the salami Milanese again. The…read morebread was so soft and buttery. The patio seating was nice. Not many cars drove by and it had a great view of the mountains and water. The server was very nice and the menus were in English, Italian and French.

Great little place just past the entrance of Monterosso central. Very cute little quaint…read morerestaurant, with goods music, a decent number of patrons, and good pizza. The price / pizza cost is very good! (10€-15€ roughly) Most of the reviews you'll see a quite old, but still relevant. The pizza is infact unremarkable, but it does tickle your fancy when you're in a bind and need a quick meal, canned mushrooms or not. I'm still gonna eat it! My friend and I arrived on the northern-ish side of Monterosso near the train station walking the 10 minutes to the restaurant. Once inside we were immediately greeted, ushered to whatever table we desired and had menus in seconds, they got our order in, food out, and drinks served in under 15 minutes. The food is good, atmosphere pleasant and clean, the staff were warm and charming, and the restaurant was reasonably busy but not overwhelmed.

Gayle and I "dined" here on the 2nd evening we were in Cinque Terre. We had enjoyed a substantial…read moreLunch in Corniglia (after hiking there), and decided to "go easy" for Dinner. Our Rick Steves' book led the way (and just down from the Church). We were seated outdoors and under a canopy directly across the street from the restaurant proper. The Pizza was tasty, but along with the service was otherwise unremarkable. At the same time, we were happy enough to sit, relax, and take stock of a pretty remarkable day.

4.5 stars Located in Monterosso's Centro Storico, the patio…read moreat Emy's Way made for a nice setting to enjoy their handwritten menu of Piatti del Giorno (dishes of the day). In the Cinque Terre, one must-try item is the local anchovies, and this restaurant's Acciughe alle Erbe (anchovies with herbs) were simply cooked, seasoned with olive oil and herbs. We also had the ubiquitous Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare, spaghetti with calamari, mussels, shrimp, and clams in a light tomato broth. The dish was on the bland side, but the spaghetti had a nice al dente texture, and the sauce was perfect for mopping up with the basket of bread. But the most memorable part about this restaurant was Emiliano, the friendly one-man-show owner and waiter, who served every table enthusiastically and passionately! He even obliged when I asked for a sample of their pesto sauce (a local specialty), which had a nice nuttiness from the whole pine nuts, balanced by the freshness of the basil and olive oil, and the saltiness of the cheese. What a friendly local restaurant, and everything came at reasonable prices too!

Great food & location. Located in old town Monterosso, great pizza, pasta, and fried calamari…read more Definitely recommend.

Excellent pizza spot right across from the beach! My husband and I had dinner here knowing we…read morewanted to order pizza. We were not disappointed! My husband had a spicy pepperoni pizza that was absolutely delicious; he felt it was the best pizza he has ever had- and we come from Chicago! I had a pizza with olives, artichoke hearts, prosciutto and mushrooms. It was very good- great chew to the crust and excellent flavor. The pizzas were also very big if ordering one per person, and we were stuffed! We also had a grilled octopus appetizer that was incredibly tender and tasty. The whole meal, in addition to a bottle of wine and water, cost us less than $55. I would definitely recommend a stop here.

THE BEST MEAL we had in Cinque Terre, by far…read more.. Pizza is delicious and wonderful. The gnocchi with house seafood sauce was one of the best things I've ever eaten - ever. I will crave it. We stopped here because they were packed at lunch - every table taken - while other restaurants weren't busy. Fair prices, good service and GREAT food.