30/11/2025
The Most Beautiful Classic Restaurant in Genoa🥂
When you’ve been searching for that one special place and finally find it.
isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a living legend. Founded in 1939 by Zeffirino Belloni on Via XX Settembre, it stands as an enduring emblem of Ligurian tradition and refined, family-run elegance.
Walking through its doors, you’re transported into an old-money atmosphere: handcrafted interiors by Federico Ferrari, warm wood, soft tones, soft echoes of history, and that unmistakable scent of freshly made pasta.
Every detail whispers heritage and taste.
The kitchen is theatre: handmade pasta, fresh seafood, the finest Ligurian ingredients, and the signature Pesto Genovese.
The pesto recipe, rooted in nearly nine decades of tradition, uses hand-picked basil from Prà, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Ligurian extra-virgin olive oil.
But Zeffirino is as much about legacy as it is about food. Over the decades, it has welcomed world-famous guests - including Frank Sinatra. Their lunch in 1984 became legendary; it inspired the “Paffutelli alla Frank,” a dish that still carries the romance of that encounter.
Even the Vatican has tasted its greatness - Zeffirino has served its pesto to three Popes (Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis) over the years.
Today, the spirit of Genoa lives beyond its historic walls. Zeffirino expanded internationally with elegant outposts in Monte-Carlo, Paris, Istanbul, Riyad and beyond — curated by renowned restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi.
Wherever you are, you can still taste a slice of Genoa’s soul.
⚜️ For me, Zeffirino is the perfect balance: Italian tradition, culinary mastery, cultural legacy and the kind of understated luxury that doesn’t shout - it enchants.
It’s not just dinner - it’s a journey through time and taste, nestled in the heart of Genoa.
If you find yourself in the city, don’t miss it.
And yes, booking ahead is a very good idea😉✨
