Santa Margherita Food Tour: Flavours of the Ligurian Riviera
A walk through centuries of Ligurian culinary tradition, one authentic taste at a time.
The Santa Margherita food tour offers an intimate journey through the living culinary heritage of the Ligurian Riviera, from wood-fired focaccia to freshly caught red prawns. Guided by local knowledge, this 90-minute experience connects visitors directly with the artisans, markets, and family-run establishments that define the region's gastronomy.
Santa Margherita Ligure has long held a quiet but significant place in the food culture of Liguria. Its proximity to the sea and its historic trading connections have shaped a cuisine that is at once simple and deeply layered, built on olive oil, fresh pasta, herbs, and the catch of the day.
This tour moves through the town on foot, stopping at places that have been feeding locals for generations. Each location carries its own story, and your guide brings those stories to life alongside the tasting.
The itinerary is deliberately compact, covering a meaningful cross-section of Ligurian food culture without overwhelming the palate or the schedule. It is well-suited to travellers who value depth over quantity and prefer to understand what they are eating.
Tour Highlights
Visit the oldest bakery in Santa Margherita Ligure and taste freshly baked Genoese focaccia straight from the oven.
Explore a historic gastronomy shop dedicated to fresh pasta and traditional Ligurian sauces, with context on technique and regional significance.
Stop at Drogheria Seghezzo, a celebrated local institution known for its curated selection of Ligurian specialty products.
Conclude the experience at the fish market, where the prized Santa Margherita red prawns arrive fresh from local fishing boats daily.
Benefit from a guided format that combines food tasting with storytelling rooted in Ligurian culinary history and local tradition.
Walk through the authentic commercial streets of Santa Margherita Ligure, away from tourist-facing venues.
Tour Itinerary
The tour begins at the oldest bakery in Santa Margherita Ligure, where Genoese focaccia is baked fresh each morning following a recipe that has changed very little over the decades. Guests taste the focaccia warm, with an explanation of what distinguishes the Ligurian version from its regional variants.
The group moves to a long-established gastronomy shop where fresh pasta is still made by hand and traditional sauces are prepared using local ingredients. The guide explains the role of each product in the Ligurian kitchen, from trofie to pesto, drawing on the shop's own history.
Drogheria Seghezzo is one of the most respected addresses in Santa Margherita for Ligurian specialty foods, carrying products that reflect the depth and diversity of the region's culinary identity. The stop includes tastings and an introduction to the establishment's heritage and role in the local food scene.
The tour concludes at the fish market, where the Santa Margherita red prawn — a local delicacy known for its sweetness and colour — is landed fresh every day. The guide contextualises the fishing tradition of the town and the significance of this product within Ligurian coastal cuisine.
What Is Included
Included
- Expert local food guide throughout the tour
- Tasting of freshly baked Genoese focaccia
- Tasting stops at historic gastronomy and specialty shops
- Visit to Drogheria Seghezzo with product tastings
- Guided visit to the Santa Margherita fish market
Not Included
- Personal purchases at any of the visited establishments
- Meals outside the designated tasting stops
- Transportation to or from the meeting point
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on the Tour
Spaces on this guided food tour are limited to ensure a quality experience for every participant. Secure your spot in advance to avoid disappointment.
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