Are you planning to visit Genoa?
Would you like to know which the best restaurants in terms of quality-price ratio are?
Or maybe you live in the capital of the region Liguria and want to know where you can eat fish without spending too much in the centre or in the harbour area.
In either case, you have come across the right article.
If you don’t know me yet, here’s my introduction.
I am Andrea from Discover Genoa and I was born and raised in Genoa.
Today, I am going to tell you which, in my opinion, are the best trattorias in Genoa and the surrounding area, where you can eat amazingly well without spending too much.
Hold on, we’re starting!
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The best restaurants and trattorias in Genoa, where you can eat superbly without spending too much
Eating well without spending too much: it is hard to find.
Especially in a city like Genoa, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack
Unless you settle for a sandwich or a happy hour, it is difficult to find a place in the Ligurian capital for a nice dinner where your wallet doesn’t become suddenly lighter.
Difficult, but not impossible.
I’ve decided to list here my top 5 favourite restaurants with extraordinary quality-price ratio: I set a maximum cost of 25 € per person and found out the restaurants where you can enjoy a good meal without exceeding it.
Ostaietta Genova
I’ve known Marco — the owner — for many years now, but I’ve never understood how he can offer such a service at this kind of price.
Fresh seafood, tasty and very refined meals, and the bill never exceeds 20€ per person.
This restaurant is not one of the most beautiful in Genoa — nor is it the most centrally located — but it is surely one of the best for its quality-price ratio.
As a starter, I suggest you the brandacujun (salt cod and potatoes) — a treat for everyone.
Uh, I almost forgot: Ostaietta has a long waiting list, therefore if you intend to eat there, I suggest you to book well in advance.
- Address: Via Canevari, 280r, 16137 Genoa
- Opening hours: Tuesdays and Sundays 12:00-3:00 p.m., from Wednesday to Saturday 12:00-3:00, 7:30-10:30 p.m., closed on Mondays
- Price: 15-20$ per person
- Phone number: +39 345 982 9289
Trattoria dell’Acciughetta
Do you know that cliché according to which the Genoese are all unwelcoming?
There, those who invented that have never been at Trattoria dell’Acciughetta.
It is a young and lively restaurant, showing great attention to detail, and the staff are always cheerful and smiling — this is Acciughetta.
It opened 5 years ago, and in a few months it has become a place not to be missed in the city.
Its prices are not like those of Ostaietta, but it is certainly one of the best restaurants in Genoa where you can eat seafood without spending too much.
I suggest the carbonara di pesce (fish carbonara): it will conquer you.
- Address: Piazza Sant’Elena, 16126 Genoa
- Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday 12:30-2:15, 7:30-10:00 p.m., closed on Mondays
- Price: 25$ per person
- Phone number: +39 010 869 3918
Molo 21
Like Ostaietta, Molo 21 is not one of the most beautiful restaurants of Genoa.
But if you are one of those people who choose a restaurant based on food and not furniture, you’ll find your ideal place in Molo 21.
Typical Genoese meals of high quality, good draught wine, incredibly fast service, and extraordinary low prices.
On the other hand, if you need large space for pets, strollers or luggage, you won’t find it.
But you must try Molo 21 for its simplicity, warmth and quality food.
It’s one of the best restaurants for its quality-price ratio in the area of the harbour of Genoa.
- Address: Via del Molo, 77r, 16128 Genoa
- Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday 12:00-2:30, 7:00-10:40 p.m., closed on Mondays
- Price: 15-20$ per person
- Phone number: +39 320 648 1464
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La Cabotina
Located in the old town, just a few minutes walk from Piazza De Ferrari, the central square of Genoa, La Cabotina is a typical restaurant with very competitive prices.
The Genoese meals, pizza, focaccia and farinata (made of chickpea flour) are delicious and the portions are generous.
The members of the staff are simple and very nice people and the prices are incredibly low.
It’s very well recommended!
- Address: Vico della Loggia Spinola, 16123 Genoa
- Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday 12:00-3:00, 7:00-11:00 p.m., closed on Mondays
- Price: 15$ per person
- Phone number: +39 010 590 373
Trattoria Ugo Genova
Ugo is a trattoria with home cooking and is strategically located inside the old town of Genoa.
If you love Genoese traditions, you must try pasta with pesto, Genoese tripe, minestrone soup, stuffed anchovies or Ugo’s cuttlefish — everything has a very low cost.
It is a family business: in the kitchen you can find Patrizia, Ugo’s daughter, and in the main room her brother Fabrizio serves the tables.
- Address: Via dei Giustiniani 86r, 16123 Genoa
- Opening hours: From Tuesday to Saturday 12:00-2:00, 7:30-10:00 p.m.
- Price: 15-20$ per person
- Phone number: +39 010 246 9302
Hostaria al Mercato Genova
If you want to eat well without spending a fortune, Hostaria al Mercato is the perfect solution. Located at MOG, this restaurant offers high quality cuisine at affordable prices, with an average cost of 35€ per head.
We made a slight exception in this case, as this restaurant is a bit more expensive than the previous ones.
But Hostaria al Mercato’s winning formula perfectly balances excellent quality and low price, making it a benchmark for a tasty and quick lunch break.
Among the most acclaimed dishes, you find the Breaded and Fried Anchovies and the Rabbit alla carlona. Thanks to its innovative and original proposal, Hostaria al Mercato is the ideal place for those seeking excellent value for money.
- Address: Via XX Settembre, 75 rosso, 16121 Genova GE
- Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Thursday to Saturday, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday closed
- Price: 35-40$ per person
- Phone number: +39 010 897 3003
Conclusions
Well, this is the end of this short article about my top 5 restaurants in Genoa where you can eat well without spending more than 25€.
Do you like this list?
Have you ever been to these restaurants? Do you know more?
Let me know with a comment below.
If you need more information, read the articles about the best restaurants where you can eat pesto and the most romantic restaurants in Genoa, Italy.
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