Palmaria Restaurant became the first gluten-free restaurant in Portovenere, the gateway to Cinque Terre.
In 2017, the sea-view fine-dining restaurant in Portovenere joined the Official National Guide by the Italian Society for Celiac Disease (Associazione Italiana Celiachia AIC). At the time, it became the thirteenth officially recognized gluten-free restaurant in La Spezia Province.
Palmaria Restaurant has been listed in the 2025 “Alimentazione Fuori Casa” (Eating Out) program by AIC, which includes:
- Training for restaurant staff on celiac disease and gluten-free food handling.
- Guidelines to ensure safe preparation and service of gluten-free dishes.
The Italian Society for Celiac Disease does thorough checks to ensure that restaurants receive the gluten-free certification and are listed in the national guide.
Travelers who have celiac disease face many trials and tribulations in maintaining a gluten-free diet, especially when they must give over control of food preparation to someone else.
Finding a gluten-free hotel or restaurant in Portovenere can make your Italian food experience and vacation much more enjoyable!
A creative and inspiring menu with gluten-free dishes
Palmaria is the restaurant of Grand Hotel Portovenere. It is open to hotel guests and the general public, offering unforgettable views of the local harbor and Palmaria Island.
The young team of talented chefs propose a cuisine with a Mediterranean flair. Their culinary creations combine elements and ingredients from different Italian regions and provide a selection of dishes typical of La Spezia. Some of these are also available in the gluten-free version.
In the 2025 menu, examples of gluten-free dishes include:
Starters
- Grilled rock octopus with friggitelli peppers and burrata foam with anchovy essence
- Daily seafood crudo selection
- Tasting trio of the day’s tartares
- Oysters from the Gulf of Poets
- Fassona beef tartare with sweet pepper emulsion, garlic mayo, and pickled Tropea onion
- Grilled squid on a chickpea and pecan velouté
First courses
- Lobster risotto with Taggiasca olive charcoal
- Sea urchin linguine with seafood and Ligurian pesto caviar
- Guitar-string spaghetti with fermented garlic cream and tuna tartare
- Roasted pepper risotto with goat yogurt emulsion
- Traditional fish soup (boneless)
*All pastas, sauces, and condiments are gluten-free.
Main courses
- Ligurian-style cod fillet
- Amberjack steak with celeriac mousse and bouillabaisse reduction
- Catch of the day
Desserts
- Seasonal fruit compote
- Selection of local cheeses
- Assorted artisanal ice creams and sorbets
Dishes may vary depending on seasonal menu changes and ingredient availability.
You will also find vegetarian dishes at Palmaria Restaurant, which sits just next to the ferryboats that depart for or arrive from Cinque Terre.
Undecided on what to drink? The maître will help you choose the best wine pairing for your meal!
Book your table at Palmaria Restaurant by contacting palmaria@portoveneregrand.com or +39 0187.790570
Address: Palmaria Restaurant, Via G.Garibaldi, 5, 19025 Portovenere (SP) – Italy
Visit the official website of Palmaria Restaurant Portovenere.
