Da O Batti, Santa Margherita Ligure

Da O Batti is a respected seafood restaurant tucked into Vico del Forno in Santa Margherita Ligure, prized by locals and in-the-know visitors for very fresh fish and classic Tigullio preparations. The kitchen makes the local catch the star, opening with a crudo di mare of raw prawns, oysters and the day's shellfish, then moving through spaghetti allo scoglio and a generous fritto misto, with whole fish grilled or baked to order. The cooking is ingredient-led and confident rather than elaborate, the kind of straightforward fish cookery that lets quality produce speak, and it pairs naturally with the regional whites on the list. Santa Margherita Ligure is one of the more elegant resorts on the gulf of Tigullio, and Da O Batti offers a seafood-focused dinner that feels special without the spectacle of the grander Portofino tables nearby. Prices sit at the upper-mid level expected of fresh fish on this coast, with pasta courses around EUR 16-24 and fish mains from roughly EUR 24-38; whole fish is priced by weight, so a full seafood meal commonly runs EUR 50-70 per person before wine. The dining room is intimate and the atmosphere understated and food-focused, with no strict dress code beyond smart-casual. The wine list leans on Ligurian whites such as Vermentino and Pigato that complement the raw and grilled seafood. Being small and well regarded, the restaurant rewards booking ahead, especially for dinner and at summer weekends; it typically closes on Mondays. Santa Margherita is well connected by train and a short ferry or drive from Portofino and Camogli, making Da O Batti a convenient choice for a seafood dinner on a Riviera di Levante itinerary. For travellers wanting a focused, high-quality fish meal in an elegant resort setting, it is a dependable pick.