Trattoria dal Billy

If you can get in, GO GO GO! You'll be treated to an unbelievable view, delicious handmade pasta, good-natured service and a once-in-a-lifetime meal. It was one of my favorite overall (service, ambiance, food, etc.) meals in Italy. (:

We were walking along the trails in Manarola and thought stopping for lunch at Billy's would give us the best views as the restaurant sits high on the hill of the town.

It did not disappoint. We were seated at a terrace side table. As there are several tiers to this restaurant, there are many lovely views.

I chose the tagliolini pomodoro. I was trying to find something a little smaller and lighter. Husband chose the fish of the day. Imagine our surprise when they brought a huge tray of gutted, raw, whole fish to us. You pick your fish from the platter. Only way it would have been fresher is if we hooked it on a line ourselves. The experience was rather fun.

The grilled fish was excellent. Service was good. Really fun experience.

Multiple blogs I read said Trattoria dal Billy was the best restaurant in Cinque Terre. I didn't think it was amazing, but it was good. My husband wasn't as impressed though.

We had their selection of seafood starter. €20 per order with a minimum of 2 orders included 12 small plates. Some really unique and delicious combinations and preparations with seafood. Some a bit too salty or fishy for my liking.

I had their tagliolini alla Billy for my main. Nothing special, but loved the addition of pine nuts.

Trattoria dal Billy is known for its views. We had a great view of the sea, town, and vineyards of Manarola. Prices are not bad. I ordered taglierini al pomodoro and it was fine, but now I regret not having a baked potato just to see what one would taste like in Italy. I recommend people come here for the view a little more than for the food. My friend noted that she had eaten better shrimp.

We made a reservation the night before and we got a table inside at a window, but only one of us could see out the window. I recommend you make a reservation a few days in advance at least. Be sure to confirm your reservation: a couple who claimed to have made a reservation was turned away when their reservation was not found. I hope it wasn't a special occasion for them.

Our Airbnb host told us that if we had to pick one place to eat in all of Cinque Terre, this was the place to choose. Tucked away up high in Manarola (many stairs to get there!), this restaurant is known for its delicious food and beautiful view. We got there after sunset so weren't able to catch the views. There was a line when we got there. The owner was very busy with phone calls and checking in with the kitchen, but he took the time to give everyone a glass wine and an appetizer while we waited (which honestly wasn't very long for what I was expecting!). The service was great, and they were very understanding when my sister and I wanted to split an entree rather than get two (so glad we did because I wouldn't have been able to finish my own!). We got the Trofie Pesto and were pleased with how it turned out. We also got tiramisu to share, and it honestly was the best tiramisu I have ever had. I'm grateful for the recommendation and would definitely return here in the future!

Came here for dinner bc we read the food is amazing and the sunset is even more gorgeous. Unfortunately we missed the sunset. But I can only imagine how beautiful it would be with the mountains in the background.
To find this place is a mission. We used apple map. Google map. And Waze. And still got lost. So ask around. It will be a lot of steps or a very steep hill up. And a mission. But take the stairs on the right passed the church and keep going. You will find it. Eventually
Our servers were very nice. They gave us the recommendations we ordered. We didn't get any bread. Unsure if we had to request it but we didn't get any. They kind of come and go and even when you ask for something. You have to ask again. Hopefully you get it. We didn't ask for bread.
We started with the special. Tuna tartar. It was very fresh but on the bland side. Paired w pomegranates and slivers of maybe lettuce and carrot. It was ok. Just. Ok
My bf ordered the beef filet which I tried and it was delish. He didn't care for all the peppercorns but the meat was fantastic. Perfectly cooked.
My friend and I shared PASTA NERA AI FRUTTI DI MARE. The pasta was great flavors but there was a lot of shells and not a lot of meat. We had a few broken shells in our pasta so that made for quite an unpleasant and crunchy meal. I'd NOT get this again and go with maybe just shrimp pasta. Someone else had it and it looked amazing.
We also had vegetables and potatoes on the side which were tasty.
For dessert we got tiramisu (I didn't care for this one) and a lemon gelato (amazing).
This is a cute hidden place to see the sunset but if you're not coming for the sunset, don't go through the hassle of dining here.

Stumbled across this little gem of a hillside restaurant after hiking over from Riomaggiore. Beautiful setting, delicious pasta with fresh pesto, and a delicious house white wine. A definite food highlight of our trip to hike the Cinque Terre.

Lucky to get a reservation the morning of. Book early if you can. We sat up top, really outside of the restaurant but happy to be there. Earlier booking will get you a table outside, but inside the restaurant with breathtaking views.

We started with the tuna tartar and then shared the lobster pasta house special. The starter was refreshing, though a little undressed for my taste. We had high hopes for the house special lobster pasta. The dish was GIGANTIC. The picture does not do it justice as there was a lobster tail and 2 claws under all of that pasta. The lobster itself was delicious. The pasta, homemade, was a little heavy and thick, which overall made the dish feel heavy. I would not order it again on a return.

We ordered the cheese to finish. It was not particularly interesting cheese, nor a beautiful presentation. Our mistake. Service was friendly and attentive. Would I go to Billy's again? Yes. But I would book a better table earlier and try some different dishes.

Trattoria dal Billy was a solid restaurant that touts beautiful views of Cinque Terra but depends on where you get seated.

Arguably one of the most beautiful sunset spots in Cinque Terra is Manarola from Punta Bonfiglio. The way the sunsets highlights the bright beautiful colors of the village is undeniable. Therefore, prior to one of these amazing sunsets we decided to have dinner at one of the best reviewed restaurants in Manarola, Trattoria dal Billy.

It is quite a small space that basically has tiers off the side of a cliff. With the limited space, I would recommend calling ahead to make a reservation. (Having a concierge service with a credit card would be preferable!)

After having a pretty heavy lunch, we decided we would go a little light ordering three dishes to share: the tagliolini dal billy, stuffed mussels, and tiramisu.

Tagliolini dal billy - The restaurant's signature pasta dish that is a tomato based with shellfish. It was the perfect tanginess with a bit of spice from the peppers and shellfish that made for a solid pasta dish.

Stuffed Mussels - Mussels filled with a stuffing that was a little bland that pretty much got most of its flavor from the tomato broth it was cooked in. I would probably pass on these.

Tiramisu - simple but well executed. the mascarpone cream was well whipped to a fluffy texture that was just slightly sweet with just enough punch of coffee flavors to provide that needed bitterness.

The service was pretty attentive. People talk about the nice view from this restaurant but the sun does seem to hit in the direction of the restaurant so it can be distracting for awhile. I would probably instead recommend eating dinner early to catch the sunset at Punta Bonfiglio which is about a ten minute walk.

Overall, I would recommend Trattoria dal Billy as a dinner spot in Manarola but no need to book here for the views!

I really enjoyed the spaghetti with seafood. The view from the restaurant is stunning. The staff were very nice.

However, for some dishes they require ordering at least two portions. It was not very clear when they communicated this rule.