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We visited about two months ago and I'm just getting around to writing the review. Nessun Dorma is one of those places that hits you the second you walk in. The view alone is insane -- straight-up postcard-level Manarola cliffs and pastel houses glowing in the sun. And then there's the owner, whose energy could power half of Cinque Terre. He literally won this failing spot in a contest and turned it into a full-on experience. Locals may not love that he's a southerner who made it big, but honestly? He's built something incredible. The pesto class is a highlight. You learn exactly where every ingredient comes from, and you realize how tiny an amount of that super-strong garlic you actually need. And smashing basil by hand in a mortar and pestle? Way better than a blender -- you can taste the difference. After class, you're absolutely not leaving hungry. They load you up with wine and a charcuterie board that's basically a meal. And yes -- at some point, you will dance. It's just that kind of place. And the sign you pass on the way in? "Today is a good day to be happy." At Nessun Dorma, it really is.
This is an ABSOLUTE MUST see. We would have easily skipped this town had it NOT been for the Pesto making experience. The class is a major draw to the town and the town is super fortunate to have Nessun Dorma! The owner is charming, gracious and such a wonderful host. The food and the experience were impeccable! The views are some of the most beautiful in the entire world. The topography to get to this location is only for those who can WALK a good distance!
We didn't do the pesto making class but had the best time having some spritz and focaccia. We got a table around sunset, fortunately no wait when we went and immediately got seated. The staff was super helpful and attentive, they even let us choose a table of our preference. We got a couple drinks and Menu #5 (Bruschetta 3pcs, Plate with 350 gr Burrata, rocket salad, diced tomatoes, Parma ham 24 months, melon, focaccia, evo oil, oregano). The drinks and food were okay, not bad but nothing to write home about. I got the Basilito which was extremely sweet so avoid it if you hate sugary drinks. Even though I didn't care much for the food, trust me when I say that the view and service will 100% make up for any shortcomings that you may experience.
When my husband and I knew we were going to Cinque Terre for our honeymoon, this was an experience I knew I had to sign up for. It turned out being one of our favorite experiences of the trip. We signed up for the pesto experience well in advance because we knew it was popular. There was rain in the forecast that week and the restaurant kindly emailed me asking if we wanted to reschedule. We chose a non-rainy day to come. When I got there, I was surprised at just how popular it was. We filled up the whole restaurant! And believe it or not, the pictures don't really do it justice. Easily one of the most picturesque places I've ever been. I loved Simone as our host. He's the owner of the restaurant and he shared his inspiring story of how he came to own the place. He then shows you how to make the pesto with fresh Italian ingredients. And you actually get to eat your creation at the end with a giant charcuterie platter. You also get to keep your aprons and a bottle of wine to take home. For 90 euros each, I think the entire experience was more than worth it. To Simone and the rest of the staff at Nessun Dorma- thanks for giving us a slice of "La dolce vita" that day. I would definitely love to come back!
We visited Cinqueterre for my sister's birthday and the only thing she wanted to do was the pesto making class at Nessun Dorma. We went and some of the husbands were very reluctant to attend the class. Well the joke was on them! They ended up loving the glass and my brother in law the most reluctant not only made the best pesto but ended up having the best time! The setting is incredible and the story behind Nessun Dorma was even more incredible. We had such an incredible time at our pesto making class and I highly recommend booking one when you visit. They do fill up quickly so plan in advance!
One of the best things I did Cinque Terre. I found out about Nessun Dorma through TikTok, and since I wanted to take a cooking class during my trip to Italy, I decided to give it a try! First, let me say that the best way to book the class is by downloading their app. I booked the class two months in advance, but I went in October during low season, and they still had some spots available. If you want to ensure you get in, book it in advance. Now for the experience. The day we had our class scheduled, it was raining, and I was afraid this would ruin the class, but it ended up being perfect. Someone from the restaurant contacted me to let me know the class was still happening. I was staying in Monterosso, and I left early enough to be on time, but because of a train delay, my daughter and I were 15 minutes late. I emailed them, and when we got there, they were very accommodating and welcoming. The staff is friendly and the restaurant has a spectacular view! We learned about the restaurant's history, how they grow their produce, and how to make delicious pesto. The class was fun, and interactive. I also got lots of wine to drink while in the class and my daughter got lots of juice since she couldn't drink the wine. I was also given a bottle to go after the class and you can keep the aprons you use. Once you make your pesto, you get a platter with delicious, bread, cheese and meat to enjoy with the wine and the view. It was a truly fantastic experience. This was a memorable time and I recommend it if you ever find yourself in Manarola!
Wow what a tourist trap. We walked up around sunset and got a table right away. The view was gorgeous. They rushed us to sit and get our drink order. We quickly picked a tagliere board and the server went off. 10 mins later (around 1850) the food was delivered and we were told the kitchen is closing and we cannot order more. Five minutes passed and we had to ask two servers for our water and wine. They dropped off the wine around 1900 and at the same time tell us to eat quickly they close at 1930. At 1911 they came back with plastic cups to take our drinks to go and told us we had to leave and they took our board. I said "you close at 1930 we will be done by then". And the male server said "sorry you leave now we want to close". We were so rushed we were just about done anyway but WHY WOULD YOU SEAT US IF YOU ARE CLOSING?! This whole ordeal cost €64. They chased us (and other people) out. On the walk down the hill one of the servers almost knocked people over as he was running home/to the train. No idea what the deal was but I would tell everyone reading this to go up the hill for pics then go elsewhere for food. You get no info from them or on their website. You have to get their app and it's not helpful at all. Such a tourist scam I could cry.
I always love visiting this spot when I'm in Cinque Terre. The drinks are all very creative and the bruschetta is divine. Everything is made with fresh ingredients and the view is incredible. Service is quick and the waitstaff are kind. You really can't get a better view so check them out for lunch or a pre-dinner drink/snack!
If you are visiting the Cinque Terre, I HIGHLY recommend going to this pesto making class. We had so much fun! Music, wine, pesto making and snacks all with a gorgeous view?! Service was attentive and definitely curated good vibes. Truly a wonderful experience.
Delicious aperitivo-type place with the most beautiful location. The food was good, but you are certainly paying for the view. I don't think it is the most filling thing- I left a little hungry still- so just know to treat this less like a legit dinner and more like an experience. Their reservation system is also very clunky, so just know that you need to get their app to be able to get a spot.
We did the pesto experience here! It was such a fun way to enjoy the beautiful views from this restaurant. The food is limited to charcuterie but it's absolutely delicious. The pesto experience was about 80 euros each and lasted about 3 hours. During this time we made pesto, ate charcuterie and had plenty of wine! I thought it was well worth the price as about a bottle of wine and plenty of charcuterie was included. We also got to keep the aprons too which was a fun souvenir! The pesto class is also a great way to ensure that you get a table here. You need a reservation for the class but the restaurant does not accept reservations for simply dinning. The line to dine here can be very long so it was nice to avoid that by signing up for the class!
an experience of a lifetime! pesto class with amazing tasting pesto, great meat and cheese board, wine, and last but not least, the VIEWS. the staff was also very friendly and really hyped you up to make this pesto haha read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
So we show up for this class which says Max of 30. This place was packed with people. I think ok, most are in line for lunch so I start asking. And they all say, no they are waiting on the class. We left. A cooking class with 60 or more of your not best friends...one to 60 ratio. They have caved to commercialism and the euro. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Elvis and Chung brought me here for my work birthday and Chung made me like the fish skin. It wasn't what I had in mind but it was better when me and Elvis splitted a colada and a ham. I will probably come back here all the time every year but if I do I won't come with Chung. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
We did the pesto making experience for Father's day and it was awesome! Great experience for for families and the included lunch and wine were great. The proprietor also tells his story of creating the restaurant during the pesto making experience which was very inspirational. Would recommend getting there early to ensure you get a seat with good shade cover if you come in the summer time read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
8 years ago
The view is the main draw for coming here but it is a very hip place with bumping music flowing down the hill and trendy overall vibe. The food definitely has seemed to have improved a bit at least from Mo and my experience. Although it could just be what we ordered was good this time of year. Eats: Tri Colore Bruschetta (Pesto, tomatoes, basil, and stravi cheese) toppings were pilled on pretty well and everything had good seasoning and flavor. Insalata Special (Bread, Anchovies, Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Basil) This was very very salty but it was saved by the fact we were given more bread to balance out the salt. Fruit salad This came with melon, green apples, strawberries, and pineapple. It wasn't too bad. Mo wanted it and the fruit was actually quite good. I just don't like mixing my fruit in this manner. Drinks: We were given 2 waters on the house? Didn't expect that but apparently it comes with the food. I also ended up getting a glass of local red wine which was good in my opinion but Mo didn't like it haha. The white apparently is quite good as well but I have a slight cold so 2 glasses of wine with my cold medicine probably would have dropped me. Service is good overall. However definitely some of the servers are better then others. The server who intially helped us was really rude and made a comment about how we didn't order anything to drink AND took the menu even though I made it clear I just hadn't decided yet?? Later a different waiter came to dropoff the food and was much nicer and asked if we needed anything else. When I finally decided which wine to try the waiter even offered to make a recommendation. Also if you want a right hand side table you most likely will have to wait since those are always taken. But we opted for a left side table since I'm not fond of heights and it worked out well. read more
5 years ago
Highly recommend experience with their personal pesto making class! Started at 10:30 and they provide ingredients, apron, water and all the white wine you can drink. Spoiler alert...having only wine and pesto first thing is the equivalent of tequila shots when you're 40. The class was fun, and we were drunk. Thus a more detailed account of the development of the cliff side restaurant and history of the food, would be inserted here. However, I still know how to make better pesto than I've been making. Finished the pesto making with a charcuterie plate. The best focaccia we've had in the region, prosciutto and salami were all great and we saw another couple got the vegetarian option. Then treated ourselves to the focaccia, Nutella, and strawberry sandwich. By this time, about 12:30, there was a massive line for their drinks and treats. read more
BEST VIEW!! While you feast and drink to your hearts content, you can enjoy the amazing view of the town of Manarola! This was one of the coolest restaurant experiences that I have had during my trip to Italy! Location: +++++ (I wish I could give it more than 5 stars) The restaurant is situated on the top of the cliff that overlooks the main part of Manarola. The views and pictures you get are ones you see in the post cards! Food and Drinks: ++++ Honestly, I didn't come here for the food or drinks, but they had large selection of tapas-like dishes. They also had a very extensive drink list with wines and mixed drinks as well. Service: +++++ Wow, these waiters and waitresses were super nice and accommodating. I've never had a waiter come up to ask me to take a picture for us! Who can be upset when you have such a cool work place to oversee the beautiful city? They even helped us find the playlist on Spotify since we loved the songs so much. The Vibe of the restaurant was what made the experience all that much better. It was very chill with a fantastic selection of music! Price: €€ Worth it? For sure!!! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Cute little bar in Manarola that gives you an INCREDIBLE view of the fishing town of Manarola, the steep cliffs and vegetative life, and an even better view of the sunset over the ocean. View was 10/10. 5 stars. On the downside, they don't serve real lunch or dinner-not anything more than a couple appetizers (no oven). Items like a charcuterie board, bruschetta, and salad are available. So definitely eat before you come, or you will need to eat after. Definitely a miss on the food (however, it's really the view and the experience you come here for). Also, the tables next to the ocean (where you will WANT to sit and the main reason for coming here) are VERY limited. We were lucky enough to get one but don't expect that you will. The tables all have misters (spraying water) so you will be cool even on a hot day. Another important thing to know is that they do not accept credit cards (more of a hassle than anything), so bring enough Euros!! read more
A wonderful view and food We stopped in for lunch as soon as they opened. What a wonderful view of Manarola. Of course you do not need to visit the restaurant to get the view but sitting there enjoying some food while looking out is memorable. We were still working through the menu when our server came by and we asked him for a recommendation. Without hesitation he recommended the meat and cheese platter and bruschetta, so that's what we did. It was great, and way too much food for just the two of us. We ate until I was overly full. The seating is all outside on a beautiful day, I liked the Italian music played in the background, and the servers all seemed busy and happy. They did have misters going, although I don't think they were needed. Our only glitch was in paying. Once we flagged down our server we learned the little slips of paper that were dropped off along with the drinks and food were in effect our bills, and we needed to take those to a window by the exit to pay. Had we realized that we would have kept better track of those papers and not assume they were just trash. read more
When in Cinque Terre, you must come to Nessun Dorma! This place has it all from the perfect view of the Manarola seaside villages to the drinks and tapas to munch on. Even though this place doesn't serve actual entrees, their tapas and small plates is way more than enough to stuff you. I was so surprised by how much food they gave you on top of a complimentary platter too. If I had knew we would get a complimentary platter filled with olives, chips, bread, and charcuterie, then I wouldn't have had to even order my cheese and charcuterie plate at all. Luckily, we arrived early enough that there was no wait for a table as there was a bit of a line as we were leaving at 6pm. Even though we didn't get a table right on the edge, the view and atmosphere was still amazing. I decided to get the Aperitivo Vista Mare Vini (€16.00), which a set they had consisting of a cheese and charcuterie plate and two glasses of wine. So this set may have been meant for two people, but I enjoyed my two glasses of wine by myself anyways, hah! My friends also ordered the Insalata Di Fruita (€7.00) and Bruschetta Nutella (€6.00). The salad bowl was nice and refreshing while the Nutella bruschetta was sweet and crunchy. Honestly, the view, atmosphere, and food could not get any better than this! I also noticed they have a Pesto-making class and a Wine experience here too, which sounds like an amazing time. Don't miss out checking this place out when in Cinque Terre. It's exactly what you see out of a magazine. Note: Even though they state it's cash only, they do accept card if you spend over €35.00. read more
I followed this place on instagram so the moment we set foot in Manarola we took the hike to Nessun Dorma for the spectacular views and bottle of house wine. It was all amazing! Luckily when we arrived mid afternoon there was not a wait but other times we walked by there was a line so if you come try to visit at off hours. We ordered a Greek salad and bruschetta with pesto. The pesto is made fresh and tasted so creamy. They put pesto, tomato and fresh cheese on top of crispy bread with a dollop of olive oil--YUM. If you are in Manarola it is worth the hike to this place for a cocktail and great platters of food. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
My heart is absolutely dancing after an incredible pesto making class with lunch. I cannot say enough for the service, educational experience, and wine & lunch that comes with the class. Come hungry, leave full and happy; all while enjoying the breathtaking views read more
7 years ago
This small restaurant on the coast of Manarola is such a gem!! I arrived with my husband around 2pm and with no wait we were able to snag a table with the most perfect city and ocean views. Food and drinks arrived quick. I ordered the Lemon Colada. Tasted like an alcoholic strawberry lemonade; so good and refreshing! To eat I got the tuna bruschetta. I drizzled some balsamic vinaigrette on it. Literally the best bruscheta I've ever had. All the ingredients tasted super fresh. For delicious food and an unmatched view of Manarola, this place is definitely worth a lunch or dinner visit. read more
9 years ago
Nessun Dorma is a famous opera piece meaning Without Sleep. Well, I wouldn't close my eyes for a second here. The view just cannot be beaten. The angle is phenomenal. The servers are cheeky but funny and the drinks are DELICIOUS AND STRONG. I recommend the aperol drink with rosemary sticking out of it. It was SO. Good. They also gave us a free platter of bruschetta bites when we were there - not sure if it was because it was Aperol Day (free flip flops and plastic sunglasses for all!), but we were happy campers. The not-sleeping kind, of course. read more
3 years ago
What a fun experience. We booked the day before and were able to get in. So happy they added another class. Hubby was not too excited at first but I actually think he had just as much if not more fun than I did. Simone was wonderful, entertaining, educational and passionate about his craft. The whole staff were very nice and accommodating. They serve a beautiful and yummy charcuterie board and wine at the end and you can take the pesto you made home. They also gifted you and apron and a bottle of wine. You can't beat the beautiful view and the misters are a nice and needed touch. I would highly recommend doing this if you're th read more
We came here after hiking over from Corniglia (via Volastra) and the food and view were amazing!! This restaurant is perched right at the top of a cliff, with great views no matter where you look. We ordered the prosciutto and mozzarella panino, anchovie appetizer, and special salad (anchovies, tomatoes, mozarella) and both of the anchovie dishes were out of this world delicious! The service was fast and the prices were fair, would definitely come back again. read more
7 years ago
What an amazing way to end my hike in Cinque Terre. Coming into Manarola was surreal, the most magnificent view just hitting you in the face, all while ascending up the hill toward Nessun Dorma. I came right before it got busier around 18:00 and snagged a small table to myself. The service is so friendly and bartender recommended a refreshing passion fruit drink. Prices for appetizers are pretty cheap and HUGE portions. I had dinner plans else I would have eaten more, but the server was kind enough to split the serving in half for me. I HAD to try something with pesto (it's from this region!) so I had their bruschetta with pesto. Just sitting there overlooking Manarola was a great highlight and an experience I won't forget. If you like reggaeton, that's what's you're gonna hear. It made the experience way better to me, imo :) read more
What an incredible restaurant! It has the most amazing view of Manarola. There is always a line, but it moves extremely fast. If you want to sit closer to the water you'll have to wait, but it took us all but 30 minutes to get the table with the better view. However, you don't care about about that and you want to get right in. It seemed like you could if just wanted to sit on the other side. The staff is all business, but pretty efficient and friendly. As for the food it's a lot, but extremely good. We got the bruschetta and the meat and cheese board. You get about six large pieces of bruschetta, as for the meat and cheese plate it says it for two people, but could easily feed four. I would just order one food from the menu at a time so you don't waste the food like we did. When you're done you pay up front. They only take cash, so be prepared. As for the bathroom it's right about the restaurant on top of the hill. If you ate at the restaurant it was free, but if you didn't you had to lay a small price to enter. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience and the food was pretty cheap. My wife and I would definitely come back again. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
Quite possibly the worst service I've ever experienced anywhere in the world. I'll preface this by saying that my negative review will do nothing at all to slow the traffic they see daily. This restaurant relies on unsuspecting tourists who they know they will never have to see or serve again. They don't see any need to be kind or courteous. If this was a restaurant frequented by locals, I'm sure the experience would be much different. They give you a number either in person or through the app. We got our number and waited over an hour. The server in the front says numbers and let's you in when your number is called. He reads the numbers out like an auctioneer with barely a breath in between. We were behind a bunch of people and when we walked up after he said our number he had moved on to the next numbers. Instead of seating us, he gave us a new ticket behind 25 other people. Actually insane. About 10 minutes later a couple of girls ran into the same problem I had. There number was called but they couldn't push through fast enough before be passed their number. They told the same server and he let them in. Once we were sat, I asked if I could use the restroom. I was told to go outside the restaurant and up some stairs. So I pushed through tourists and made it to the bathroom. Once there, a bathroom attendant told me I needed a red token from the restaurant to use the bathroom. I was told I needed to go back and ask for one. The same server who turned me away, also sent me up to the bathroom without letting me know I needed a token. I went down, got the token, returned and then was permitted to use the bathroom. Enjoy waiting. And if you can't teleport in front of the crowd of tourists when your number is called, you get to wait again. Zero stars. read more
4 years ago
This place has an amazing view, good food, and energetic employees. They don't take reservations. The best way to get a table efficiently is to download their app. This will allow you to get a number in their queue when you are within Cinque Terre. This way you can do the things you want to do and the app will update you as to how many people are ahead of you in line. Otherwise you can go to the restaurant and scan a QR code which will then put you in the queue. It is best to get the app because you can basically get yourself in the queue whenever you want. We were staying in Riomaggiore and God in the queue before we even got on the train to go to Manarola. read more
11 years ago
The panoramic views from Nessun Dorma Cinque Terre are absolutely breathtaking! My husband, sisters, and I stopped here for a light snack after walking the vineyard trail in Manarola. Our table was situated on the edge of the cliff and overlooked Manarola. I could have sat there for hours just drinking in the majestic view! The menu at Nessun Dorma consists of a wonderful selection of apertivo snacks, salads and sandwiches. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco and a platter of prosciutto and melon for the table to share and each of us ordered a salad. The dishes were so simple yet so well executed with fresh, high quality ingredients. The restaurant grows some of their own herbs and produce. You can see many of the plants growing around the cafe. This really is the perfect spot to enjoy Manarola! Nessun Dorma will be my first stop next time we visit Cinque Terre! read more
I had researched this place months before going to Italy and I have to say, it was quite wonderful. We planned to come here right when the sunset and boy, am I glad we did. The view was unbelievable and the photos I was able to capture were unreal. They had a small tapas menu and we ordered some beer, wine and meats and cheeses. The one complaint that I had that they almost couldn't help was that there were the tiniest flies I have ever seen (smaller than fruit flies) essentially taking over our food and drinks. We didn't even notice it until maybe mid-way through. Again this place is completely outside, so it's something that they can't necessarily control. Hundreds of them... all in our drinks and all on our meats and cheeses. We kind of laughed it off and even covered our drinks. The view, music, sunset and ambiance was simply too beautiful to care! Perhaps this is not an issue in other months (we were there in October)? I'd highly recommend this place for the view alone. Make sure to look up sunset times in advance! You won't regret it! Also - cash only! read more
I knew I wanted to stay in Manarola on my visit to Cinque Terre because of this view! We arrived in the early evening, and there was a 45ish-1hr minute wait to be seated as it was pretty much 1 in 1 out. However, in that scenery, it was not at all frustrating as we enjoyed looking out over the colorful village while we waited for a table. The sangria was amazing, a very generous serving and very tasty. The Charcuterie board was overflowing with goodies, and I nibbled off of that as my meal. My boyfriend ordered a sandwich and that was delicious as well. It was definitely a lighter dinner, so this could be a good place for apps or a drink before heading down into the village for a heartier meal. If you are in Manarola, this place is a must-hit! read more
What an amazing place in Cinque Terre! We came here while in Manarola for the pesto class. It was one of best experiences in Italy and would recommend to anyone. We signed up online a few weeks before the class. They are closed on some days, so plan ahead if this is something you want to do. Simone is the owner and instructor of the class, and is amazing. They provide all of the ingredients for the pesto, and walk you through step by step. He also talks about making it at home, and the importance of the oil, cheese, basil, freshness, etc. It was so refreshing and a nice experience. After the class, they gave us each a charcuterie board and wine. And of course we got to enjoy your own pesto! We were able to sit here for some time after the class and hangout, which was great. This place is cash only, so do prepare for that. Overall everything about Nessum Dorma is amazing. Loved the service, views, food, drinks, and experiences. Do checkout Nessum Dorma while in Manarola! read more
8 years ago
Pro tip: if there's a line, don't bother waiting for a "table on the right" (the side closest to the famous Manarola view). You can get a cozy table on the left and still see the view, and if you want to take a picture, I'm sure it's easy enough to sneak over after one of the tables on the cliffside vacates. We had their piña colada, aperol spritz, and bruschetta. This was one of the best aperitivos we had in Italy because of the view, the quality of the drinks (the colada was blended, as it should be!), and the quality of the food. Best little place in Manarola and perhaps all of Cinque Terre! read more
This place is unreal ! Very cool atmosphere, and very friendly staff. Their mix drinks are fantastic ! I have their lemon/pineapple/strawberry drink. To eat we ordered bruschetta with olives, onion, and tuna. Food was very fresh. The view and atmosphere were def worth it ! I would come back ! read more
More info about Nessun Dorma
Località Punta Bonfiglio
Manarola, La Spezia
Italy
Directions
340 8884133
Call Now
Hours
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
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