Osteria del Marinaio, Sanremo

Osteria del Marinaio is a popular seafood osteria on Via Gaudio in Sanremo's old town, the steep medieval quarter known as La Pigna, prized for very fresh fish and well-priced raw seafood. La Pigna's tangle of narrow lanes climbing the hillside gives the osteria an atmospheric setting away from the seafront, and the kitchen rewards the climb with the day's catch, a notable crudo di mare of raw prawns and shellfish, spaghetti ai frutti di mare, and a generous fritto misto. The cooking is honest and ingredient-led, the kind of straightforward fish cookery favoured by Sanremo locals, paired with the white wines of the western Riviera. Being small and frequently full, the osteria has a buzzy, convivial feel, and its reputation for fresh seafood at fair prices keeps it busy with a local crowd. There is no dress code and the mood is relaxed. Prices are mid-range and reasonable for the quality of the fish, with pasta and antipasti courses around EUR 12-18 and seafood mains roughly EUR 15-26; whole fish is priced by weight, so a full meal generally falls in the EUR 35-50 per person bracket before wine, with the raw seafood offering particularly good value. The wine list leans on Ligurian whites such as Pigato and Vermentino that suit the crudo and seafood pasta. Because seating is limited and the place fills quickly, booking ahead is recommended, especially for dinner and at weekends; it typically closes on Mondays. Sanremo is well connected by train along the Riviera dei Fiori coast, and the old town is a short walk up from the centre. For a fresh, good-value seafood meal favoured by locals in Sanremo's atmospheric old town, Osteria del Marinaio is a reliable choice.