We were looking for a nice, romantic place for a date night on our last night in Cinque Terre, and Torre Aurora turned out to be the perfect setting. Located inside an ancient tower and ruins overlooking the sea, the atmosphere and views are absolutely beautiful--especially during sunset. The service was wonderful from the moment we arrived. Everyone was very friendly, attentive and welcoming, which made the experience even more enjoyable. As for the food, I'd say it was good, but necessarily the best meal we had in Cinque Terre. The appetizers were just average and didn't really impress us, but my anchovy pasta was surprisingly delicious and definitely the highlight of the meal for me. The cocktails were also really nice and paired perfectly with the setting. Overall, I'd come back for the beautiful atmosphere, incredible views, cocktails and a romantic night out. The food was good, but the settings and experience are what really make Torre Aurora special. read more

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The atmosphere is awesome with great views over the harbor at Monterosso. The food and service were fantastic. Just an awesome experience in Cinque Terre. I strongly recommend. read more

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This place was amazing!!! We were staying in Monterosso for our honeymoon and this was one of our favorite dinners! I had the liguine with anchovies and my husband had the rack of lamb. Both were delicious! We also had an incredible view unlike any we had ever had at a restaurant! Our server Jonas was also so kind and attentive! We would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting monterosso! read more

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I didn't actually look at the reviews before deciding to eat here. I honestly wanted to eat at the restaurant on the point that looked like a castle. I looked up directions to get there and we headed there for lunch. Getting seated wasn't an issue and we chose a table on the town side with views of the beach and harbor. I think there are seats on the ocean side but I didn't make it over there. The host and servers were friendly enough and nice to us but I could see how they could be cold to some self absorbed tourists. Do better and learn some Italian... As with the other comments the menu has some interesting wording about ordering an appetizer and a 90 euro limit. We did not order an appetizer but did get a couple of drinks each and a pasta dish each. The muscle gnocchi and pesto pasta. Both were good but I would not put them at the top of my food list while visiting Cinque Terre... We were not forced to order the starter and I did not see the bread charge on our bill, I also cant comment on the 90 euro min as we were just over that. Overall the seating and view was awesome, that was worth the visit for me alone. You can find better food in town. read more

Torre Aurora - View of Monterosso from our seat. - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterosso al Mare, SP

We tried to get into a different restaurant but they were booked out by a large party so we went here instead. I have to admit, some of the negative reviews were kind of off putting at first but after coming here, I'm really glad we did! I had the linguine with local anchovy and rabbit and both were phenomenal. Highly recommend. Everyone else in our party enjoyed theirs as well. The only negative thing we agree with is the bread is not great. Amuse and welcome Prosecco a nice touch. 4.9/5 read more

Torre Aurora - What a view, even on a rainy day! - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterosso al Mare, SP

We loved everything about this place! Right in the heart of Monterosso in Cinque Terre. Wonderful food, views and memories. Thank you. read more

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the view was unbeatable. The tasting menu was required for lunch and if you enjoy seafood, that should not be a problem. This was delicious. Expect to be here for 2+ hours tho, as we were only on a day trip, we did have to ask to speed up the last couple courses read more

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We decided to try this beautiful restaurant for a nice dinner and to watch the sunset. Where do I even begin on how big of a disappointment this place was!!! The restaurant staff are unfriendly....the other reviews are accurate. You're an inconvenience and they just don't have time. The drinks are TERRIBLE. The bread has no flavor (they charge €4pp for it) and the food was unbelievably awful. I think that's an understatement, but not sure a different way to say it. The restaurants in Monterosso are packed because the food is incredible. Skip this place, views aren't worth it and the food is terrible. read more

If you're looking for a romantic, intimate, and memorable experience, I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant, especially in the evening. We were just strolling thru Monterosso when we came across this beautiful old lookout tower. This place looks like it's at least 400 years old... nice sandstone bricks. Feels like you're sitting in a castle. Saw a few lizards running around, camouflaging into the sandstone (I'm a big fan of lizards, so this was a huge deal for me). When the sun started to set, the views became even more epic. As the sun gradually set under the Ligurian Sea, a calm darkness swooped over the mountains. The weather was perfect. We got so lucky, because we did not have a reservation and still got seated in one of THE BEST spots overlooking the sea. Definitely book a reservation. At this point, I honestly didn't even care about the food... the views were enough. However, we were starving of course so we shared a mixed fish platter and some other appetizers. I hate to say it, but I wasn't a big fan of the platter! Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I got a dedicated piece of fish for myself... but overall, it still wasn't terrible, but not the best food we had in Italy. 4.5/5!!! - one of the most beautiful spots in Cinque Terre read more

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Incredible dinner booked for my mom's birthday. The views were incomparable to any restaurant -- no matter which way you faced, you could see both sides of Monterosso. We ordered a bunch as a family and split, and it was incredible. Our waiter was friendly and brought us blankets because it got chilly later in the dinner. Definitely expensive but so worth it (appetizers were small portions but meals were good size) and filled us up. Welcome champagne brought to the table, and definitely recommended in Monterosso for any occasion! read more

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The 3 stars are for the views. Absolutely stunning views and gorgeous atmosphere. Unfortunately, it stops there. The food was a huge disappointment. We ordered the filet mignon (30€) and the baked seafood (€30). The filet smelled really bad, like old meat. The seafood bake was also definitely not worth the price. Come for the views and drinks, skip the overpriced and horrible quality food. read more

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Fancy castle spot on a hill for a drink Highlights: - Great views of the sea from go high with different outdoor levels of this stone castle - Fantastic upscale snack platter with spinach quiche squares, thin cracker bread, and full triangle slices of lovely cheese - Extensive wine bottle menu - Great chilled bottle of rose: Sassarini Lowlights: - Most tables saved for reservations so they're a bit uppity Would love to spend more time here as we had to rush off to catch the ferry back. read more

The food was decent - but I honestly would not pay the price for this food. A friend of mine got the fish of the day and was wildly underwhelmed after she was misinformed about the type of fish. The service was also decent but a bit slow considering the amount of customers. The view is definitely the best part of this restaurant. read more

If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. We asked about an allergy after we sat down and the host said that it was our fault that someone in our party had an allergy and it wasn't their problem. "It's not our problem that someone in your party has an allergy" - like are you joking???? After they offered for us to have a drink at the bar instead, said it would be a 1.5 hour wait and we had to pay for a cover charge for the table we previously had a reservation at. It was the most insane, horrible experience and the host service couldn't have been worse. It's too bad there is horrible staff in the incredible location that this restaurant sits on. I wouldn't return ever and would never recommend this to anyone. read more

The views from this restaurant are beautiful. They sat us right by the water for lunch. The server was friendly and came right over. They gave us a sample of prosecco to start. We ordered a buratta appetizer with Truffle and it was very tasty. I ordered the Pesto pasta with red prawn. It came out amazing, the pesto was soaked into the pasta. The restaurant was clean. I highly recommend trying this restaurant. read more

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View is to die for. Food? So-so. Nothing spectacular, but again...we ate here for the experience and to enjoy the view while enjoying a meal together. read more

Not recommended if you are vegetarian. Their pesto gnocchi was the worst thing we had in our entire Italy trip. Actually their pesto was the worst we had in cinque terre with something bitter in it. Also even though they had several empty ocean facing spots, which remains empty for the next hour, they did not let us have those seats. Without the food and view there was nothing left to enjoy at this place. The wines were just okay. They were not ready to accommodate our vegetarian needs and said they could not substitute or make anything not in menu with vegetables. read more

Torre Aurora - Gnocchi - do not order, very bad - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterosso al Mare, SP

Very attentive service. Amazing views of Monterosso from the patio at sunset. Seafood was fresh and delicious. I would highly recommend

Unreal - the food as alright not great but not horrible. The service was horrible, pretentious and rude. We have been all over Italy and never had worse service. Too many other restaurants who actually want your business to waste your time. read more

the view the is the best the food is average. the waiter was so condescending and with an attitude. first time we get such a terrible service in Italy. Also they offer you a welcome, disgusting Prosecco that they charge you at the end. incredible! read more

Torre Aurora - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterosso al Mare, SP

2 stars are for the views. Views are unbelievable. But you can see the same thing for free anywhere else in town. Was sat next to the kitchen so just heard dishes clanking and the vent our whole dinner. Food not great. Cocktails were good and Prosecco as well. Suggest coming for drinks and the view but nothing else read more

Torre Aurora has a gorgeous view overlooking Monterosso as well as a very eclectic menu. It is not traditional Ligurian food but has a twist with local fish. We had a drink on the terrace below while we were waiting for a table. Even if you don't want to go for dinner they have a beautiful space to sit just for drinks. We shared the crudo, which had incredibly fresh raw fish. My husband had the truffle gnocchi and the squid ink pasta with burrata and anchovies. I've never had anchovies before but had to try them since they were from Monterosso. The pasta did not disappoint. It was phenomenal. We finished off with espresso with grappa and the mousse dessert. If you're ever in Monterosso and want a romantic dinner with unique dishes, make sure to stop at Torre Aurora read more

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Views are beautiful, but staff is rude and drinks and food are terrible. Do not recommend.

I must admit... we were a little underwhelmed. The view is fantastic, incredible, gorgeous, one-of-a-kind. Service was attentive. Food was good - not great, not memorable - but good. That's probably it... we had a lot of memorable food in Italy, and this wasn't. Prices were a full price - be sure to check the menu. All in all, a pleasant meal and evening, but the only thing memorable was the view. read more

One of the top, if not THE top, dining experiences of my life. 5+ stars! And it was all by accident. We were taking a twilight swim in the small fishing village of Monterosso. After our swim we started wandering toward our restaurant for dinner. We didn't know exactly where it was, but one of the locals pointed toward the hills and said "it's by the castle tower". There was some kind of monument that resembled a castle tower standing right by the edge of the ocean. We were told the restaurant that we had a reservation at was *behind* the castle. As we walked and got closer to the castle tower, to our surprise, we realized there was a restaurant built into the castle tower. What!? Wow. This wasn't our restaurant but we were so curious, so we go up the path just to take a peek and it's unspeakably beautiful. You have an expansive view of the ocean and all the surrounding city and its mountains. Breathtaking. We stood there in awe of the view a couple minutes, waiting for someone to return to the reception desk. Just for fun, we asked if they had availability, and they told us if we waited 15 minutes they would have a table for us. YES, we're in! He guided us around the corner of the tower to the bar area, and our mouths dropped open from the view. Like spectacular scenery out of a movie. No one spoke, it was that beautiful. The bar opened up to this balcony that had this beautiful backdrop. We had the bar all to ourselves and had a good chat with the bartender who customized our cocktails to our liking. VODKA SOUR APEROL SPRITZ LEMON MARGHERITA They were all excellent. And we drank our drinks over the most delicious view ever. We were seated just after getting our drinks. We went down a few steps to a mini balcony facing the ocean and city view. The sun was just setting. Again, outrageous view. The menu was limited, but seriously, we didn't care -- we were dining at Sleeping Beauty's castle! From the menu we chose: SPAGHETTI W/CLAMS (4/5) My daughter's dish, but we all shared. Very good, great flavor and so enhanced by the fresh parmesan cheese on top. FILET MIGNON (4/5) My wife's dish. She loved it. No complaints. It came with a cream sauce of some kind. SPAGHETTI W/GARLIC, ANCHOVIES, AND TOMATOES (4/5) I ordered the Squid Ink Pasta, but I had them switch out the squid ink pasta for regular spaghetti. Yeah, call me a wimp. I haven't acquired the taste for squid ink pasta...yet. Give me some more time. But the sauce that they served with the squid ink was great, the anchovies blended into the sauce which probably wasn't much more than just the pasta water and the tomatoes etc, but it was really good. The service was off-the-chart great. The waitress didn't speak much English at all, but made every effort to make us comfortable and happy. She seated us and then re-seated us because we preferred to sit at another table closer to the water. And she did it, without even blinking. The bartender was bomb - very friendly, accommodating and approachable. Bartenders tend to be a lot of the opposite of what I just described. The host at reception was equally friendly and was happy to make room for us - despite the fact we were somewhat shabby and sandy walk-ins straight from the beach - without a reservation. Was it the best food I've ever had? No, but it was excellent food and for $20 a plate, it was a steal for this type of charming and elegant environment. This will, no doubt, be one of the highlights of our trip to Italy. Not just for me, for all of us. Our dinner at the castle was just last night, and we've been talking about it all day. It didn't seem real - literally dreamy. If you ever go to Cinque Terra in Italy (and you absolutely should), one of the five villages you will visit is named Monterosso and that's where to find this castle restaurant. I think they're pretty new, otherwise, they would be on Yelp. I'm very happy to be the first to review this place - because it is one the most spectacular restaurants I have ever been to. This is a once-in-a-life time experience for sure. Here's the best part. Completely affordable. In the States, the bill would have been $300 or more but we paid $100 with drinks which is insane. I don't know how that's even possible. I'll try to attach some pictures, but pictures, as you know, do very little to show-off scenery like this. This is such a special place -- seriously, a bucket-list restaurant! I sincerely hope you make it here. If you do, message me. I'd love to hear about your experience. read more

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The one star is for the view. The service and the food were not good. The gnocchi didn't have flavor and the server had an attitude. Wouldn't go back. read more

Beautiful beautiful scenery! Wonderful service! And food was delicious as well. The view was of the coastline of Monterosso and the ambience was wonderful with the bossa nova type of music. The service was very attentive and welcoming. read more

I was initially interested in dining at Torre Aurora because I wanted to have amazing views at dinner. The small menu concerned me a bit, but I decided the views couldn't be beat and to give it a shot. Incredibly happy that I did! The views were, as expected, incredible. We had a seat high up facing right against the water during sunset which was so beautiful. While prices were rather high, the food quality was well worth it. I went with the squid ink pasta and my sister had the ravioli. It was her favorite meal in all of Cinque Terre, and the squid ink pasta was absolutely amazing. The sauce on it was so flavorful and the pasta was cooked perfectly. We also had the tiramisu for dessert and it wasn't your average tiramisu. It added some sweet flavor and was so good! The service was very friendly as well. My only complaint was that there were a handful of bees swarming around which wasn't pleasant. Highly recommend this place for Monterosso otherwise! read more

My wife and I had our dinner on a very pleasant evening and it was a great experience. The restaurant is located on a small hill top (an old fort) over looking the ocean - incredible location with amazing views. Good food but limited menu. Good service - staff was pleasant and spoke English well. It's a great place for a romantic dinner. read more

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Go only for the view. Sunset is impressive, if you can get a table on the south side of the outdoor terrace. About 5 two-tops available. Do not choose this restaurant for the food. My companion had an immediate violent reaction to a ravioli that oddly pairs macerated raw shrimp with it. Second, ravioli is not made there and is weak on flavor and texture. Menu is painfully limited for choices. Not a trace of pesto in a region that internationalized the sauce and grows the most robust crop of basil in the world. The food is fussy and so is the service. No warmth or passion at any level. Problem at the top is my guess. Wait person looked desperate when asking how the meal was. Terrible selection for dolce. Too many weird combos that did not sound remotely interesting. It's all about the view, but the "nine-square meter kitchen" is clearly lost in useless and failed attempt to be creative. Just flat too weird. Fresh fish options should flourish in Cinque Terre. No fish in sight. Just cold, and unfortunate smelly macerated shrimp. Not even an interesting or tasty local white wine,, even though local mountains are terraced with vineyards. Overall, a terrible disappointment and dangerous use of uncooked, unsafe seafood. God forbid the tartare that was listed. Antidote is Imodium. read more

The view is stunning and it is a beautiful venue. The reason why I am only giving one star is because what happened to my friends and I when we tried to eat here. We were seated and decided that after looking at the menu more closely we only want to have cocktails. I apologized to the server and said as much, and she threw up her hands and stormed away. She then immediately got on the phone. I completely understand the frustration of thinking that someone is going to eat a full meal and then finding out that they will not be doing so, but truthfully, we were going to order multiple cocktails and tip. We felt so unwelcome. Another server came over and explained that "they have to work" as he took our napkins and silverware. We ended up leaving as we felt so uncomfortable. It was such a shame, as I'm sure it is a wonderful restaurant. read more

Good just wasn't that good but location was great! It is expensive as advertised- display of food is great

This restaurant gets a solid 5 star. I ordered a burrata filled ravioli and my wife ordered the swordfish with vegetables. They were both excellent! The views are spectacular and the service was superb. Worth the money! read more

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Beautiful romantic venue and wonderful food. Panoramic views of Monterosso and the sea. Good service. An absolutely delightful meal. read more

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A more beautiful view and setting cannot be had in Monterosso. The see surrounds you, the tables and lighting are lovely, and beautiful music plays. Once the sun sets, bistro lights maintain the romantic ambiance. There is no indoor seating and reservations for dinner are needed so keep these things in in mind as you plan (you'll want necessary attire for temperature, sunglasses, bug spray if you're sensitive to mosquitoes like I am). We loved toasting to the beauty around us with the sangria (a welcome change from wine, but still "italian!"). The beef tartar was an adventurous selection for us, but we needn't have worried- wow! And the pastries that accompanied it were wonderful! I selected a pasta with swordfish as my main dish which was good, but my husband's ravioli with lamb was by far my favorite dish. We ended our evening here with tiramisu. I like to think of us as tiramisu connoisseurs, as we order it everywhere. This one incorporated berries, and I thought it was a delicious twist! At the very least, this place is a must for a glass of wine and pretty views, and a wonderful dinner option as well! read more

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Perched on the cliff under the fort this gem is found. We rewarded ourselves after a hike and this place was truly amazing. Best meal we had in cinque terre. We ordered the mixed salad, spaghetti with lobster and salmon and everything was delicious. I had the violet injection drink which was super cool. Highly recommend this place! Very romantic ambiance and amazing views. read more

Torre Aurora - Wine Bars Near Me - Monterosso al Mare, SP

Beautiful views, modern restaurant with background music and amazing cocktails! Tip: if you're here just for drinks - sit at the long bar with an amazing view to watch the sunset! Great staff. Check out their cocktail list, with amazing cocktails and local wines from Cinque Terre. New restaurant that was a private home until 2017 now open to the public as a restaurant. Check out their menu with delicious spaghetti with spicy squid! read more

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View was great. The decor was lovely and the music was soothing. The wine suggested to us was nice and most of the food was delicious. My friend ordered the steak and was served less than medium rare although he asked for medium. He sent it back and although it was better, it was still too rare. We believe it was the thickness of the cut. He wasn't able to eat it all; it wasn't appealing. Other than that it was a wonderful experience and we are glad we came. read more

Unforgettable view, terrific food and drink, and friendly and competent staff. This was the best dinner I had in Monterosso.

Terrible service. The waitresses are rude and very unwelcoming. Changed our mind and left as a party of seven. Took our business elsewhere. Stuck up attitude across the board. read more