ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1281

$$$ Hotel Punta Mesco is a tidy, well-run little haven renting 17 quiet, modern rooms.
While none have views, 10 rooms have small terraces. For the price, it may offer the
best comfort in town (Db-€132, Tb-€178, cash discount, air-con, Wi-Fi, free loaner bikes,
free parking, Via Molinelli 35, tel. [phone], www.hotelpuntamesco.it ,
[e-mail] , Diego and Anna).
$$$ Pensione Agavi has 10 spartan, bright, hostel-like, overpriced rooms, about half
overlooking the beach near the big rock. This is not a place to party—it feels like an old
hospital with narrow hallways (D-€80, Db-€110, Tb-€145, same price with or without view,
discount for2nights ormore, nobreakfast, cash only,refrigerators, turn left out ofstation to
Fegina 30, tel. [phone], mobile [phone], [e-mail] , Hillary).
$$ Affittacamere Ristorante il Gabbiano is a charming, family-run restaurant right on
the beach, renting five quiet, air-conditioned rooms upstairs. Three rooms face the sea, with
small balconies (Db-€100, the largest can be Tb-€130, Qb-€160), while two are at the back
(Db-€90). The Gabbiano family restaurant serves as your reception (cash only, refrigerators
in rooms, Via Fegina 84, tel. [phone], [e-mail] ).
$ Le Sirene/Raggi di Sole, with nine simple rooms in two humble buildings, is about
the cheapest place in town. It's run from a hole-in-the-wall reception desk a block from the
station, just off the water. I'd request the Le Sirene building, which doesn't have train noise
and is a bit more spacious and airy than Raggi di Sole (Db-€90, third person-€45, fans, Via
Molinelli 10, mobile [phone], www.sirenerooms.com , [e-mail] , Er-
manna).
Eating in Monterosso
Restaurants
(See “Monterosso al Mare” map, here . )
Ristorante Belvedere , big and sprawling, is the place for a good-value meal indoors or out-
doors on the harborfront. Their amfora belvedere —mixed seafood stew—is huge, and can
easily be split among up to four diners (€48). Share with your group and add pasta for a fine
meal. Mussel fans will enjoy the tagliolini della casa (€8). Their antipasti misti (2-person
minimum, €15/person), a fishy treat, can nearly make an entire meal. It's energetically run
by Federico and Roberto (€9 pastas, €12 secondi, Wed-Mon 12:00-14:30 & 19:00-22:00,
usually closed Tue, on the harbor in the old town, tel. [phone]).
L'Alta Marea offers special fish ravioli, the catch of the day, and huge crocks of fresh,
steamed mussels. Young chef Marco cooks with charisma, while his wife, Anna, takes good
care of the guests. This place is quieter, buried in the old town two blocks off the beach, and
has covered tables out front for people-watching (€9 pastas and pizza, €12-15 secondi, ask