Ca' di Frae, Sestri Levante

Ca' di Frae is a charming osteria on Viale Roma in Sestri Levante, in business since 1939, serving both seafood and meat dishes rooted in Ligurian tradition in a warm, characterful setting. Sestri Levante is one of the most appealing resorts on the Riviera di Levante, set on a narrow isthmus between the Baia delle Favole (Bay of Fables) and the storied Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence), and Ca' di Frae makes a dependable, atmospheric stop in the lively town centre. The kitchen ranges across the regional canon: trofie al pesto and pansoti con salsa di noci among the pastas, the day's catch and fresh fish on the seafood side, and seasonal specialties that change with the market, giving the menu more breadth than the seafood-only tables nearby. The cooking is honest and traditional, the welcome friendly, and the long history lends the room a lived-in, genuine character. Prices are mid-range and fair, with pasta courses around EUR 11-16 and main courses roughly EUR 15-24; whole fish is priced by weight, so a full meal generally falls in the EUR 32-45 per person bracket before wine. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, with no dress code, suited to an unhurried lunch or dinner. The wine list is regionally minded, with Ligurian whites such as Vermentino and Pigato to accompany the pesto and seafood, and reds for the meat dishes. Being a popular, well-established osteria, it rewards booking ahead, especially for dinner and at weekends through the summer; it typically closes one day a week. Sestri Levante is well connected by train on the main coastal line and is an easy base for the Tigullio and the Cinque Terre. For travellers wanting genuine, varied Ligurian cooking in an atmospheric, long-running osteria, Ca' di Frae is a solid choice.