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City dining guide

Best restaurants in Cervia

11 guide-listed restaurants — Michelin, Bib Gourmand, Black Pearl, Must-Eat List, World's 50 Best and more. Reference quality signals; never ranked by commission, no in-app checkout.

Michelin-starred 2

La Buca

★ Michelin€€€Seafood, Contemporary

Choose a table on the outdoor summer terrace (right over the water!) at this restaurant in order to best appreciate its location overlooking the picturesque canal port and its period houses. The indoor dining room is also attractive, with its open-view kitchen and modern and elegant feel, while the menu focuses almost exclusively on fish, often served with vegetables, some of which are organic. Enjoy a wide selection of raw antipasti to start (some simple in their preparation, while others are more elaborate), then choose from an array of beautifully presented, modern dishes, such as stuffed m

TripAdvisor review sample · 4.4/5 · 101 reviews

La Buca in Cesenatico specializes in contemporary seafood. Reviews highlight high-quality ingredients and skilled preparation, particularly for the 'Dinner in the Dark' menu, set within a minimalist yet harmonious ambiance. Service is generally praised as professional and discreet. However, negative feedback points to inconsistent experiences, including slow communication, bland flavors, and occasional kitchen errors like ingredient substitution. Some guests also question the value proposition. While many find the experience exceptional, others report disappointment. It suits diners seeking unique culinary concepts, though potential visitors should be aware of possible service inconsistencies.

Suitable for diners seeking unique conceptual meals, but verify service details in advance.

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Ancòra

★ Michelin€€€Modern Cuisine, Italian Contemporary

A new adventure for skilful chef Agostino Iacobucci (his original restaurant of the same name is in Castel Maggiore), housed within a villa that food-enthusiasts will remember as the former home of the two-Michelin-star Magnolia. In this elegant and welcoming setting, resident chef Marco Garattoni demonstrates the precise culinary techniques acquired during his many years working in top-quality restaurants. His dishes are contemporary, always colourful, beautifully presented, pleasing and attractive, even mouthwatering at times, and mostly based on fish, with the addition of a few vegetarian a

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Bib Gourmand 2

Osteria Bartolini

Bib Gourmand€€Seafood, Seasonal Cuisine

Fish and seafood take centre stage at this restaurant facing the beach and its moored boats, with a menu that showcases classic specialities from the Adriatic, including fried options and daily specials in line with what’s available at Cesenatico fish market. The restaurant does not take reservations.

TripAdvisor review sample · 3.6/5 · 80 reviews

Located in Cervia, Osteria Bartolini specializes in seafood and seasonal cuisine. Food quality receives mixed reviews; many praise the freshness of local fish, crispy fried items, and generous portions, while others criticize greasiness and poor preparation. Service is inconsistent, with some highlighting attentive staff and others reporting indifference, forgotten orders, and slow pacing. The seaside ambiance is highly rated in summer, though less visible in winter. Value perceptions vary significantly, with some finding it affordable and others feeling the cost does not match the experience. Overall, it offers a traditional dining setting with notable variability in execution.

Suitable for travelers seeking traditional seaside seafood experiences who are tolerant of variable service details.

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Osteria Bartolini

Bib Gourmand€€Seafood

The sister restaurant of the Bologna and Milano Marittima restaurants of the same name, this osteria serves fresh fish with an excellent choice of delicious and generously portioned dishes. As the restaurant doesn’t take bookings, make sure you get here early in high season or during busy periods.

TripAdvisor review sample · 3.7/5 · 80 reviews

Located on the Cesenatico canal, Osteria Bartolini specializes in seafood and fried dishes. Food quality receives mixed reviews; while some praise the amber mackerel carpaccio, fried fish, and risotto, others report issues with fish freshness, cold pasta, and poorly prepared fried items. Service is generally described as friendly and fast, though complaints exist regarding indifferent staff and lack of attention. The atmosphere benefits from its canal-side setting, offering a charming yet compact dining space. Value perception varies significantly, with some finding prices fair and others citing concerns over portion sizes and billing practices. This historic venue offers a notable experience but with inconsistent execution across different visits.

Suitable for travelers seeking canal views and traditional fried seafood who can tolerate inconsistent service.

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Other guide picks 7

Locanda dei Salinari

€€Seafood, Cuisine from Romagna

In the old village of Salinari, a young enterprising chef runs this simple restaurant. His creative cuisine is prepared with the best regional produce of Romagna.

TripAdvisor review sample · 4.4/5 · 80 reviews

Located in Cervia’s salt pan village, Locanda dei Salinari specializes in Romagna seafood. Reviews highlight fresh, creative dishes like capelletti and grilled squid, served in an elegant, well-maintained setting with generally professional and friendly service. However, some guests noted inconsistencies, including delayed service, lukewarm food, small portions, or execution errors with pre-ordered menus. Occasional disturbances from nearby tables also impacted the experience. While the culinary quality and ambiance are consistently praised, service reliability varies. This restaurant suits travelers seeking authentic regional flavors in a refined environment, provided they prioritize food quality over strict punctuality.

Suitable for diners prioritizing fresh ingredients and ambiance over strict service consistency.

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Terrazza Bartolini

€€€seafood

Following its reopening in 2020, this seafront restaurant overlooking the beach and small harbour now offers its guests a choice between its indoor dining room or the panoramic terrace in fine weather (if you prefer the latter, it’s best to book ahead due to its popularity). The cuisine here focuses entirely on simple, unfussy fish dishes, with raw options and cooked dishes which make much use of the local Cervia salt. Daily, market-fresh specials are announced at your table.

TripAdvisor review sample · 3.7/5 · 80 reviews

Terrazza Bartolini in Cervia specializes in seafood, holding an average TripAdvisor rating of 3.7/5 from 80 reviews. Positive feedback highlights high food quality, particularly fresh fish and well-executed dishes, alongside an extensive wine list and elegant terrace ambiance with sea views. However, negative reviews cite inconsistent service, including rude staff, poor pacing, and unresponsive management. Some guests questioned the freshness of certain items and found the value lacking relative to expectations. While the atmosphere and culinary potential are praised, service reliability and perceived value remain significant points of contention among diners.

Suitable for diners prioritizing seafood quality and terrace views who can tolerate service inconsistencies.

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SaleGrosso

€€Seafood, Mediterranean Cuisine

One of the town’s authentic favourites, this fish restaurant has a pleasant, light - coloured decor inspired by the sea. The eclectic cuisine includes tapas and raw fish dishes.

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Salsedine367

€€Seafood, Contemporary

Meals are served outdoors at this beach restaurant, which is also a private beach club. Here, the cuisine focuses on imaginative and personalised dishes that stand out for their excellent ingredients, among other things! The “blind” tasting menu is based around the chef’s inspiration, while the varied à la carte offers dishes with generous portions.

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Maré

€€€Seafood, Modern Cuisine

An unexpected gourmet restaurant in a typical private beach club on the Romagna coast, with a dining room that opens on to the beach with its long line of beach umbrellas. The dishes here are carefully prepared and occasionally creative, and all of good quality. We particularly recommend the monfettini (fresh egg pasta) mantecati with cuttlefish, clams, mantis shrimp and ink, which looks like a risotto and is absolutely delicious. The restaurant also boasts a good wine list with an excellent choice of champagnes.

TripAdvisor review sample · 3.1/5 · 80 reviews

Maré offers a stunning seaside setting in Cesenatico with elegant decor, yet reviews are polarized. Positive feedback highlights friendly staff, refined atmosphere, and generally fresh seafood. However, significant criticisms point to inconsistent food quality, slow service, and poor value. Diners reported issues such as overly marinated carpaccio masking the fish flavor, mixed fry containing excessive polenta, and unattended tables. While the panoramic views are praised, the culinary execution and service attentiveness often fail to meet expectations, leading some to feel the experience does not justify the cost despite the attractive location.

Suitable for diners prioritizing scenic views and ambiance, but those seeking consistent food quality and attentive service should proceed with caution.

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Osteria Erbaluce

€€Grills, Regional Cuisine

Just steps from the Leonardo-designed canal harbor, this spot takes a bold stance: it serves only meat, with a strong focus on the grill. Quality ingredients, fresh pastas, and classic house-made spoon desserts. An excellent wine list, especially strong on reds, rounds out the offering. The dining room is bright and all white; the cool, tranquil outdoor terrace is very welcoming, ideal in the warmer months. At the helm is a young couple driven by passion and professionalism.

TripAdvisor review sample · 4.5/5 · 59 reviews

Located near Cesenatico's historic canal, Osteria Erbaluce specializes in grills and regional cuisine. Reviews highlight high-quality ingredients, particularly meats, pumpkin dumplings, and cured meat platters, with a seafood tasting menu also recommended. Service is generally friendly and professional, set in a modern yet warm atmosphere. However, perceptions of value are divided; while some find prices justified by quality, others criticize them as excessive, especially regarding specific items like truffles. It is a destination for those prioritizing culinary excellence over budget constraints.

Suitable for diners seeking high-quality regional cuisine who are less concerned with budget.

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Veranda

€€Seafood

Alberto Faccani, the chef at the Magnolia restaurant in the hills inland from Cesenatico, oversees the cuisine at this restaurant, which occupies an elegant veranda on the town’s main avenue – a busy promenade in summer. Fish takes centre stage here, in unfussy dishes that faithfully reflect the maritime traditions of the Adriatic. The menu, alongside daily specials announced at your table, features dishes that include raw fish and seafood, gratins, seafood salads, pasta and risotto, while the main courses feature a selection of grilled, baked and fried fish.

TripAdvisor review sample · 4.4/5 · 61 reviews

Located on Cesenatico's main street, Veranda offers a bright, formal, and glamorous atmosphere. Reviews highlight fresh seafood, high-quality ingredients, and a versatile kitchen accommodating plant-based diets, complemented by an excellent wine list. Service is generally friendly and efficient, though some guests report slow pacing or inattentive staff. Negative feedback focuses on excessive noise, food quality failing to meet expectations, and poor value, with extreme complaints citing unpleasant odors. While many praise the refined environment and culinary skill, others find the experience inconsistent due to noise levels and service delays.

Suitable for diners seeking refined seafood and an elegant setting; visit during off-peak hours for better service and ambiance.

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