The best place to enjoy Portofino's stunning views is from here. It's a 15-20 minute uphill walk. Entry costs 8 euros per person. There's also a small cafe inside. You can reach it by following the pier or the church.

This place was better then expected. My wife and I were on a cruise and did not book an excursion. We got off and walked over, paid 16 euros and were delighted with the views. It’s a little hike that would be difficult for people with mobility issues but it’s worth the effort!

Bit of a climb, but an amazing view! You can go inside, but nothing special. Just right for 8 euros entrance. We also sat on the terrace, witch had some Black Eyed Peas ambiance. Very fitting, haha.

Very nice place to visit, wonderful view on sea and Portofino town. The castle is a silent witness to famous visitors from the world of cinema of the 60s and 70s and you will find numerous photographs of them in the halls of the permanent exhibition organized here.

Only spent a few hours in this beautifull place,a place made famous by many stars,Humfrey Bogart,John Wayne,Kim Novak,Sophia Lauren among the few,will definitely revisit this magical place sometime in the future

Castello Brown, a 16th-century castle in Italy, is now a museum, event space, and art gallery with beautiful gardens and stunning bay views. Castello Brown, overlooking Portofino’s harbor, is a 30-minute walk from the harbor up the hill 350 steps. A stairway path leads uphill from the harbor. A small cafe, featuring espressos, cappuccinos, themed exhibitions, classic Hollywood posters, original furniture, and a beautiful staircase, awaits you inside. From the gardens, you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Portofino and its coastline. Always check the website for opening times, as the castle may close early for private bookings. Functioning as a museum, it’s open to the public and showcases themed exhibitions and original furniture. The castle boasts elegant interiors and beautiful gardens for visitors to explore. There is a small entrance fee of 5 Euro to enter Castello Brown.

The walk up to the castle was lovely. It’s mostly shaded and there are benches/ picnic areas along the way to sit down and rest. You will get an amazing view of Portofino from the top. There are some fascinating pieces of art and history to look at/ read about . There is also a bar outside if you wish to have a drink and there is bathroom.

Visited the eco-farm within the park. Our tour guide, Camilla, was amazing. Tour was arranged through Essence of Italy. We had a picnic lunch at the eco-farm with a view that was fabulous.

Beautiful place 😍

What a wonderful world. Italy has many beautiful surprises and this is one. A nice and atypical park with many many great places. The path is well marked and there is a lot of picnic area with tables and views. Sadly there is two drawbacks. The first one is the map indicated on every main signals in the park, indeed the satellite view isn't accurate enough. Secondly there is no place to bivouac. I know there is a shelter but a national park which is close to nature must have a dedicated place to campers. Globally if you have a detour to do to see this park, do it.

amazing experience and place, you should visit!

A magical park area that marries the land, the beautiful ocean and the turquoise sky. Thoroughly recommended to access Portofino from Santa Margherita Ligure. This is a breathtaking experience.

Stunning!

Beautiful ❤️ place for visiting

Pretty good, but nothing very special. I ordered the sole and it came just with a quarter of a potatoe as a side. Wine was very reasonably priced , we had a 35 euros bottle of red and it was very good. Location is nice though.

Great experience! I got the spaghetti pomodoro and my husband got the veal, and both were great. We stopped in many places to check out lunch and this place was the most welcoming and offered the most hospitality. Their view was also exceptional. I would absolutely recommend them if you are looking for a great lunch spot in Portofino!

Very nice restaurant right by the seaside with an incredible view of Portofino! The staff was very friendly and the food came fast. It was super delicious and looked good as well. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot!

The food here is excellent! I really enjoyed the freshness of every dish — full of flavor, rich, and absolutely delicious.

Delicious and fresh pasta dishes! Amazing location and lovely service. We ordered the mussels for our appetizer, and the sauce was amazing. Loved it! You must try their pesto trofie pasta which made me look at pesto with different eyes. I am giving 4 stars for the atmosphere because we were seated at a table in the hallway and did not really experience the place the same way as people who were seated on the terrace.

We were refused of 2 restaurants on the port because no reservation. We found this one a bit at the end of the port on a more quite and lovely side. Fish and pasta and cappuccino were delicious. Good service as well.

The food was exceptional, some of the best pasta I’ve ever had. We had the pappardelle portofino and tagliatelle with prawns. Tiramisu was also delicious. Beautiful location with a lovely view. Staff were friendly and attentive. ☺️

The Marina di Portofino is truly magical. Nestled in a picturesque bay surrounded by colorful buildings and lush green hills, it feels like stepping into a postcard 📸🇮🇹. The boats and yachts add to the charm, and the whole atmosphere is peaceful and elegant. Perfect spot for a romantic walk, a nice coffee by the water ☕🛥️, or just soaking in the beauty of the Italian Riviera. Don’t forget your camera! 📷🌅 Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area 👌

A small but incredibly beautiful marina. It’s so peaceful in the early morning hours Such a perfect time to enjoy the view!

We've visited Portofino before. In Corona times. And it was busy even then. Now of course it was even busier. But it's a place worth visiting. The town itself is pretty compact and easy to walk. The main attraction and heart of it is of course the Marina with the boats, Yachts and all the colorful buildings. And the Castle sitting on top of the hill, overlooking the Marina. There are some special events sometimes. Like this time. Wine, cheese, meat. All kinds of things to taste and buy right on the Marina. Get a drink in a restaurant or Cafe to watch the world go by. Or bring some picnic with and sit down on one of the many benches around the Marina. This time we left the car in Santa Margherita, where we stayed for a few days and took the bus here and the ferry back. Way better and easier. Parking is limited and expensive. It's best to take the public transportations if possible. Portofino is a pretty town. But don't miss out on Santa Margherita, Lerici or Camogli. All worth a trip.

Beautiful location, lots of shops and restaurants. If you're just there for a little sightseeing, a few hours should do it. Worth the trip, though!

A must visit, best to travel by boat to it. Costs €11 from the other ports. The views are much better from the sea. Traveling by car is not recommend, the bus service is good and cheap but can be crowded.

Portofino maybe small but is such a pretty fishing village with so much to offer. Nice boutiques to look into and plenty of choices of bars & restaurants overlooking the water. You can stay here for the day...chill & watch the world go by or you can catch a boat that can take you to Margharita the next town or village ( however the Italians calls it 😊) to explore..either way both if these coastal towns are worth a visit when the wind takes you in this part of the world. I fully recommend to check these places

Lovely place to do a day trip or overnight, does take a bit to get into the marina but once there it is a beautiful place to explore!

We reserved a table for 10 PM the day after our arrival. My son and I were looking forward to this dinner the whole day, because the restaurant is always fully booked and works only by reservation. We expected to enjoy both the view and the food. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. First, we waited 25 minutes just for someone to take our order, and then about the same amount of time for the food to arrive. The waiter was friendly, but when the table was being prepared one of them (I don’t know if it was the same or another) moved my personal belongings around without asking me — which I find unacceptable. Then came the food. We ordered two portions for €40 each. What we received were very small portions: I was served just five prawns for €40 (I attach photos). I don’t mind paying such money, but there should be value in it. Half of what was on the plate was inedible parts that had to be thrown away. My son was served langoustines — they were already cut, but the only edible part was the tail. The claws were left untouched because no proper tools were provided. I asked for utensils, and they brought us crab crackers, which crushed the meat into pieces. No small forks or picks were given to help extract the meat from the claws, so we simply couldn’t eat it. In the end, we left hungry and very disappointed. I understand that Portofino is an expensive place, but if you charge such high prices, the service and food should match. Instead, we paid €120 and basically got nothing. For this money we could have eaten three full dinners at another restaurant, been satisfied, and even taken food home. Sorry, guys, but this is the minimum number of stars from me. If I ever come back to Portofino, I will not return to this place. This is just a warning for those planning to visit — be prepared for what you get.

Absolutely incredible experience! Every single bite was full of flavor and perfectly balanced. You can really tell the food is made with care and passion. The atmosphere was great and the service was spot on. Definitely one of those places you look forward to coming back to. Highly recommended! Best restaurant so far since we arrived from Saudi Arabia

Our first meal in Portofino and Italy this time around. Great first start. Only issue was the long wait in the late evening. We found out they have a location on both sides of the harbour or port. The other location larger. We would definitely come back.

Great food. Great staff. If you eat there you will have the free transfer from Santa Margherita Ligure. Gemelli has two restaurants in Portofino. I tried booth. Top!

One of the best bites of my life. Please order the Seafood Antipasta, it will give you culinary joy. The family team is passionate about guests having incredible truly exceptional food and making memories. One of the best restaurants I've ever experienced.

An amazing dining experience right on the waters of the beautiful Portofino. The service was wonderful and friendly and the food was incredible. The seafood was incredibly fresh and the pastas were divine. During our 12 day stay in Italy, this was one of our dining highlights. It was in a perfect location. As we sat outside, several local patrons would come up to talk to the staff members and sit to eat. While Portofino is swarmed with tourists during the day, by the evening, most have gone and it is a rather quiet town. So dining here at night gave us a true sense that this was not just some tourist trap. Every local that walked by greeted the servers and many came for a meal as well. This place was fantastic. If overwhelmed by the many dining options in Portofino, look no further. And make sure you make a reservation. FYI, they have a second restaurant with the same name but with Il Molo at the end. Make sure you know which one you are booking if you want a specific one.

Amazing food good service their pastas are realy good but portions are pretty small the seabass is realy good and their cheese appatiser was realy good

Pretty good, but nothing very special. I ordered the sole and it came just with a quarter of a potatoe as a side. Wine was very reasonably priced , we had a 35 euros bottle of red and it was very good. Location is nice though.

Great experience! I got the spaghetti pomodoro and my husband got the veal, and both were great. We stopped in many places to check out lunch and this place was the most welcoming and offered the most hospitality. Their view was also exceptional. I would absolutely recommend them if you are looking for a great lunch spot in Portofino!

Very nice restaurant right by the seaside with an incredible view of Portofino! The staff was very friendly and the food came fast. It was super delicious and looked good as well. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot!

The food here is excellent! I really enjoyed the freshness of every dish — full of flavor, rich, and absolutely delicious.

Delicious and fresh pasta dishes! Amazing location and lovely service. We ordered the mussels for our appetizer, and the sauce was amazing. Loved it! You must try their pesto trofie pasta which made me look at pesto with different eyes. I am giving 4 stars for the atmosphere because we were seated at a table in the hallway and did not really experience the place the same way as people who were seated on the terrace.

We were refused of 2 restaurants on the port because no reservation. We found this one a bit at the end of the port on a more quite and lovely side. Fish and pasta and cappuccino were delicious. Good service as well.

The food was exceptional, some of the best pasta I’ve ever had. We had the pappardelle portofino and tagliatelle with prawns. Tiramisu was also delicious. Beautiful location with a lovely view. Staff were friendly and attentive. ☺️

Located at the edge of the port of portofino makes it location very unique, facing the port and the castle on the mountain and maintain it is quietness and calmness. Food was very good and really prepared with attention to the details. Staff are very professional and really nice. They speaks Arabic if it is your concerns. Best time we visited was 8:30 pm and witnessed the sunset. Try their Lobster salad and fresh ravioli. Recommended for all time and it is family friendly and accessible to the water (only 2 meter)

After three weeks of dining across Italy—and a full week spent sampling every restaurant in Portofino—Lo Stella truly shines. Their fish ravioli is hands-down the best pasta dish I’ve had on my entire trip. The delicate, handmade pasta and beautifully balanced seafood filling were elevated by a sauce that harmonized every element. Every bite was unforgettable. The ambiance at Lo Stella was charming and the service felt warm and genuine. If you make it to Portofino, this restaurant isn’t just a stop—it’s a destination. Don’t miss it!

We stopped for drinks and quick lunch after some hiking in Portofino. Surprisingly good or great. Fantastic spaghetti bolognese. Large portions. Good pricing for right at the harbour. It’s been hit and miss for the restaurants here in Portofino. But we can definitely recommend this place.

This is a wonderful family-run restaurant for generations. My family and I have been coming here since I was born, and it was every time perfect! Here's a photo of the sea bream I ate last night, it was simply awesome.

Delightful restaurant in Portofino. Perfect for dinner and lunch. A great selection of meals for dinner. The fish ravioli was spectacular. Service was prompt, professional and had great characters. The location is perfect, with a great view of the harbour.

We love this place a lot - really nice homemade kitchen with some fancy touches. Wine selection is great - they have wines from small houses which are not so hyped. We took half of the menu and loved everything.

Italian Rivera > Portofino, Italy. Given that I consider Portofino my home away from home, the family consented to dine in this exceptional ancient fishing village. We chose “Ristorante Stella,” an established Ligurian restaurant specializing in seafood, pasta, and desserts, which features a harbor-view terrace perfect for sunset. The family selected the following menu items: Seasonal Mixed Salad, Italian bread with butter, Spaghetti with clams, Homemade pasta with Bolognese, and Grilled Scampi. The selection of drinks consisted of bottled water, a Godfather cocktail (with bourbon & vodka), Le Volte dell’Ornellaia Toscana red wine, and champagne. Both the menu and the service exceeded expectations.

Food - we ordered lasagna pesto, seafood pasta da fried seafood. Lasagna was not the dish you imagine when you order lasagna - it was just five sheets with pesto sauce, seafood pasta was okay, fried seafood was very mediocre. Overall prices were very high and food was not nearly as good. Service - we ordered fried seafood for the starter and they forgot to bring it. They brought it only after the main course and after we reminded them several times. Make a note that you will need to pay some kind of cutlery fee in the amount of 4 euros per person. Highly overpriced place.

The food is full of fresh seefood. Tuna tartar and the octopus omg! Soo good Dopio Marco il piu bello service. Grazie marco per tutto. The ambience is amazing of course right in the main plaza of portofino

Fabulous mandini pesto.. Great service. The food was very good. We loved the gnocchi and the prosciutto melone. The service was fast and friendly. Lovely place by the water.

OMG! We toured over 10 Italian cities, but unquestionably, this became our favorite restaurant. The food is more than divine; truly, the flavors are from another dimension. I wish to taste such delicious fish again someday. The service is more than good, and the waitstaff make you feel at home - welcome, cared for, and well-fed

The flat noodles with pesto dish was delicious! It’s Portofino so the prices are high and the portions are small but the food and atmosphere were great!

One of the best restaurant i ever was. The flat noodles with pesto (their type of lasagne) is very delicious. The panna cotta was also superb. Very friendly service.

5 stars for 5 star service and some of the most delicious food I have ever eaten in Italy. The squid salad was world class. Looks like a family owned restaurant. Service was very very good and welcoming. Was worth every euro.

Puni Portofino is a remarkable dining destination that truly shines in every aspect. The food is nothing short of excellent, offering a delightful blend of flavors and beautifully presented dishes that highlight the best of local cuisine. Each bite is a testament to the chef's skill and creativity. The service is equally impressive, with a friendly and attentive staff that goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. They are knowledgeable about the menu and always ready to offer recommendations. The location is simply perfect, situated in a stunning area that provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Dining here feels like a special occasion, whether you're enjoying a romantic dinner or a meal with friends. Overall, Puni Portofino is a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in delicious food, exceptional service, and a captivating view. It’s an experience that leaves a lasting impression!

The food was good and the atmosphere as well as the service. Quite expensive though and also 14 euro pp for the service which was a bit unexpected

The restaurant has great food and great service!!! The place looks great but the only problem is it’s too packed up, I mean the tables are TOO close to each other.

The best pasta I have ever eaten (Portofino pasta), in the most beautiful location. We were there on a day of monsoonal rain and the staff looked after us to well. Despite the weather we had the most fantastic day. Thank you to the staff.

Aloof and obnoxious We were squeezed into a corner at a table with barely enough room for our legs. We were repeatedly asked to reposition ourselves because the waiter didn’t like how we were sitting. We asked for margaritas and were met with a condescending lecture about how this is a restaurant, not a bar. But then were told we could order a negroni - and to be fair it was one of the best we’ve had. We asked for a glass of wine. With no real acknowledgment, the waiter brought over a random glass without even asking what kind. When we asked what was vegan, he said “the pesto.” We explained that cheese isn’t vegan, and he replied, “It’s Parmesan, sir” … like that made it okay. The food was fine, but not for this price - and def not with the staff’s attitude. In short: an intensely rude experience with average food and unexpectedly great drinks

Came with high hopes, since I always use Lonely Planet advices and in the end it just destroyed my experience for Portofino. In Lonely Planet it says (medium price - €€) 'harboourside location is the one you've come for and the owners treat everyone like they're a visiting celeb' and since I love seafood wanted to have something, but apparantly menu prices are totally different what we have on their website. And I could not leave because I was asked whether I want a water (which i said yes) before they give a menu to me. Since I saw prices are super high (it's even not medium), I decided to go for a spaghetti, which in general has not to be that expensive but of course it's harbour area it's 18 euro (in the website it says 15). Since I was not interested in any started my waiter told me that they have daily special, which of course I understand it as any other restaurant and told them would like to try octopus salad with zucchini (it's called antipasto). Can any Italian tell me who pay 28 euro (really am so annoyed) - 28 euro for a starter? If it is not a tourist trap then what it is? They say octopus is expensive in general, well in Genoa I got a huge grilled Octopus for 15 euro. It's not my first day in Italy, so to have a water, Fanta, salad and spaghetti in total they asked me 65 euro? 65 - it's not a joke. For this money I could eat fully in any other restaurant. And for service fee they charge 6 euro, which is everywhere maximum 2.5. What pisses me off that their attitude saying oh, if you cannot pay it's ok we will not charge you. It is not about the payment, it is the way how you treat people. It is not OK, it is just not... And the owner says don't pay for salad, but waiter still makes best out of it, we can reduce the price for half. Again in my culture it's super rude and I am super disappointed what I experienced. But I learnt my lesson, no more trusting guidebooks and no more waters before seeing menu! Thank you for this amazing experience! P.S. For comparison - the first photo is taken in Genoa - grilled octopus, the second one antipasto - octopus salad. Oh and I totally forgot I checked the prices of antipasto and maximum, maximum restaurants ask 12 euro for antipasti. So I feel super ribbed off!

People complaining about the prices at Puny must think they’re in a beach shack somewhere in rural Italy—not in Portofino, one of the poshest places in the country. This isn’t your local pizzeria in a tiny village—it’s Puny, the iconic spot right on the harbor. Expecting a €10 pasta here is like walking into Chanel and asking for a discount on a handbag. I also assume those people haven’t been to places like St. Tropez, St. Moritz, Ibiza, or Mykonos—where prices are often MUCH higher. For where you are and what you get, I think it’s more than fair. The food? Classic Ligurian and seriously delicious. The staff? Super sharp and genuinely kind—we had a gluten-intolerant child with us, and they handled it with incredible care and attention. The owner is out-going and entertaining, and then there’s my favorite: Renato! So kind, and impressively fluent in many languages. I’ve personally seen Madonna, Diane von Fürstenberg and Jeff Bezos here. I have friends who stop with their boats in Portofino only to have lunch at Puny. This place is basically where celebrities and foodies casually enjoy their “Pappardelle Portofino.” If you want the real Portofino experience—amazing food, top-tier people-watching, and a taste of glam—Puny is the place. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, casual dinner… this isn’t your spot. Simple as that. PS: If I could only give one advice: a few more healthy and interesting vegetarian options would be wonderful and very much appreciated!