Top Culinary Delights in Genova

Ligurian cuisine is considered to be one of the best cuisines in Italy. Indulge your taste buds in the gastronomic paradise of Genova, where every bite is a journey through culinary mastery. From the mesmerizing scent of pesto to the delightful crunch of focaccia, this city has prepared a lot of flavors waiting to be savored. Get ready to embark on a gastronomic adventure as we uncover top culinary delights in Genova.

Trenette al Pesto Genovese

This is the most popular dish in Genova and throughout Liguria. Pesto is a paste made of basil, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, salt, and white cheese – most often it is Parmesan. Trenette is a fettuccine-like pasta that is typically local to Genova and is served with pesto in restaurants all along the coast. We recommend it because it is one of the best dishes to try in this region.

Trofie al Pesto

Trofie is another local variety of pasta from Genova. It is a thin, short twisted pasta, characteristic for this region. As well as trenette, it is an essential addition to pesto.

Focaccia with cheese

Focaccia is a popular meal in Genova. It is a kind of bread served with various toppings. Most often those are olives, tomatoes, rosemary, or cheese. In Genova, focaccia is eaten with crescenza cheese inside – it creates a flat toast with a chewy white filling inside. Here you will also be able to try the traditional Focaccia with cheese and the more local version without yeast, then the focaccia is as flat as a pancake.

Farinata di Ceci

It is a flat cake made of chickpea flour, salt, water, and olive oil from Liguria. Some sources claim that Genova has brought this recipe from Middle Eastern countries to Italy. However, it is still a local dish from Liguria to this day. A typical version for the region is the one with spring onions and freshly ground pepper. If you want to try genuine farinata we recommend visiting Antica Sciamadda, Via S. Giorgio, 14/R, 16128 Genova, Italy.

Panera ice cream

What is a must-try in Genova? This time something sweet, something you won’t find anywhere else – panera ice cream. Italy is famous for gelato, and the local ones in Genova are different from the ones in the rest of the country. What is panera? It is specially prepared coffee ice cream, cream parfait, ground coffee, sugar, and eggs. Legend says that a student mistakenly poured coffee into the cream and shouted panera or Panna Nera (black cream).

Where to eat panera in Genova? Today, the best one is made at Cremeria Buonafede in the city center. Panera differs from coffee ice cream in consistency and lightness – it is more like foam.

Pansotti alla Genovese

What else to eat in Genova? This is the Ligurian version of the well-known dumplings in Italy. Pansa means belly in the local language, and dumplings similar to ravioli are stuffed with a filling of boiled vegetables. They are then topped with either walnut sauce or sage butter.

Genovese ravioli

Ravioli are stuffed with passion in Genova. Some even believe that this dish was invented here. Ravioli alla Genovese are square ravioli with meat stuffing, somewhat similar in appearance to al ragu from Bologna, but made of veal and pork, and chicory.

Sciroppo di Rose

Sciroppo di Rose is a syrup made from rose petals, prepared mainly in the Liguria region, and is used as an addition to desserts and drinking water. It consists only of rose petals, lemon juice, sugar, and water.

You can buy it in supermarkets or local food stores. It will be a nice souvenir!

Where to Stay in Genova

One of the popular places to stay for young travellers in Genova is Ostello Bello hostel, located a stone’s throw from Genova Principe Station and therefore at the gates of the historic center. You can reach the hostel comfortably by train, subway, or bus and stay in the ideal position to visit the city. Moreover, it is a perfect location to discover the most fascinating villages and beaches of Liguria. Ostello Bello offers all the amenities you may need, and the prices are reasonable. It is a perfect place to meet like-minded travellers! You couldn’t make a better choice for your stay in Genova because Ostello Bello will more than exceed your expectations!