Where to eat in La Spezia: farinata, mussels and Gulf flavours
Complete guide on where to eat in La Spezia: farinata, sgabei, stuffed mussels and the best restaurants, fry shops and markets between the centre and the Gulf of Poets.
Foto: Zucchero82 (CC BY-SA 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons
La Spezia: flavours of the Gulf of Poets
La Spezia is the gateway to the Cinque Terre, but has its own gastronomic tradition that deserves an extended stay. Spezzina cuisine blends Ligurian flavours with Lunigiana and Tuscan influences. Here farinata is a cult, stuffed mussels are an art and street food is a way of life.
Must-try dishes
Farinata
Thin chickpea flour cake baked in a wood-fired oven in copper pans. Must be crispy outside and soft inside. Eaten hot with a pinch of black pepper.
Muscoli ripieni
Mussels stuffed with a mixture of bread, Parmesan, garlic, parsley and eggs, baked or stewed in sauce. La Spezia's identity dish.
Sgabei
Fried bread dough, puffy and crispy, served with local cured meats and cheeses. The perfect aperitivo snack.
Mesciüa
Humble soup of chickpeas, white beans and spelt, dressed with extra virgin olive oil and pepper.
Where to eat
Via del Prione and old town
The main pedestrian street is the gastronomic heart. Historic fry shops with farinata, seafood trattorias and wine bars.
Covered Market at Piazza Cavour
One of Liguria's finest covered markets. Ground floor for fresh produce, first floor for rosticcerie and small restaurants.
Budget tips
- Farinata costs 3-5 euros for a generous portion
- Sgabei with cured meats cost 4-6 euros
- Covered Market lunch costs 8-12 euros
- Mesciüa costs 5-7 euros
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Practical info
When should you go to La Spezia?
The best months are April, May, June, September and October, when there are fewer people.
Are there a lot of people in La Spezia?
La Spezia is very quiet compared to the more touristic destinations.
Where exactly is La Spezia located?
La Spezia sits in Liguria, Italia.
Part of the complete guide
How to get there
- 🚆 Nearest station: La Spezia Centrale ~1 km as the crow flies
- ✈️ Nearest airport: Aeroporto internazionale Galileo Galilei PSA ~65 km as the crow flies
Nearest points as the crow flies (source OpenStreetMap): actual times depend on the roads, often mountain ones.
