Nove

Should You Book Nove?

If you're deciding between Nove at Villa della Pergola and a comparable fine-dining experience on the Ligurian coast, Nove wins on setting by a considerable margin. The terrace above Alassio, perched at the end of a narrow switchback road, offers a sea panorama that most €€€€ restaurants in this price tier simply cannot match. Add a Michelin star earned in 2025, a chef trained under Heinz Beck, vegetables grown on the villa's own biodynamic farm, this is the clearest recommendation in the Alassio dining scene for a special-occasion dinner. Book it.

The Space

Nove sits within Villa della Pergola, a historic residence surrounded by a botanical park that is visitable separately by appointment. The restaurant's defining feature is its balcony terrace, which opens over the sea after the final hairpin turns of the approach road. Spatially, the experience is one of elevation and enclosure: the villa gardens buffer any noise from the town below, the terrace itself frames a horizon view that shifts with the evening light. If the weather is cooperative, request an outdoor table without hesitation. The indoor dining room is part of the same historic structure, but the terrace is the reason to be here. For a thorough read on what else Alassio has to offer, see our full Alassio restaurants guide, our full Alassio hotels guide, and our full Alassio bars guide.

The Food and Drinks Program

Chef Antonio Romano trained with Heinz Beck, one of Italy's most technically disciplined fine-dining operators, the influence shows in the structure of the menu at Nove. The cooking is modern, built around Ligurian produce, leans heavily on the villa's own kitchen garden, L'Orto Rampante, its biodynamic farm. The Naturalia menu, a pure plant tasting course, is a direct product of that garden relationship: it changes with what the kitchen has available rather than following a fixed seasonal rotation, which means repeat visits are genuinely worthwhile.

For guests returning after a first visit, the practical question is whether to commit to a tasting menu or explore the à la carte. Michelin's published notes flag the glazed veal sweetbreads with paprika, artichokes, black chickpea hummus, lime from the garden as a standout dish. The Naturalia vegetable menu is the more distinctive choice at this address, given how directly it reflects the property's biodynamic production. If plant-forward fine dining is what you want, this is the stronger argument for Nove over comparable €€€€ options in the region.

On the drinks side, Nove operates within the broader hospitality context of Villa della Pergola, which means the wine program draws on Italian regional depth appropriate to the setting. The Ligurian coast produces Vermentino and Pigato that pair naturally with the kitchen's vegetable-forward approach. For guests who want to extend the evening with a digestif or aperitivo, Alassio's bar scene is accessible just below the villa, though the terrace at Nove itself is the better setting for a pre-dinner drink if you've timed your arrival well. The cocktail program is not the primary draw here: the wine list and the setting do most of the work, that is the right call for a venue of this type.

Booking and Logistics

Nove is open for dinner only, six days a week (closed Tuesday), from 7 PM to 9:30 PM. The approach involves a narrow road with hairpin bends, which Michelin's own notes flag explicitly: factor in extra time if you're driving. The villa also operates as a hotel, so overnight guests have an advantage in terms of access and table timing. Booking difficulty is rated easy relative to other Michelin-starred venues in Italy, but that can change during peak summer months on the Ligurian Riviera. Book two to three weeks out for a weekend dinner in July and August; shoulder season gives you more flexibility.

For seafood-focused alternatives nearby, Lamberti in Alassio is worth knowing. For a broader Ligurian comparison, Vescovado in Noli and Bagatto in Loano both offer regional cooking at a different price point. If you're planning the full Ligurian wine and food circuit, our Alassio wineries guide and experiences guide cover the surrounding area.

Practical Details

Pearl's Verdict

Nove earns its Michelin star and justifies the €€€€ price tier for anyone prioritising setting, technically grounded cooking, a menu with genuine provenance credentials. The biodynamic garden connection is not a marketing claim here: it shapes what you actually eat. For guests who have visited once and are considering a return, the Naturalia plant menu offers a meaningfully different experience from a standard tasting order. If you want the leading combination of view, kitchen quality, sense of place on the Ligurian Riviera at this price level, Nove is the right booking.

For further context on Italy's leading creative fine-dining circuit, see Osteria Francescana in Modena, Piazza Duomo in Alba, Quattro Passi in Marina del Cantone, Reale in Castel di Sangro, and Uliassi in Senigallia.