Da Felice

Verdict

If you are visiting the Ligurian Riviera and want a serious fish-forward meal without a €€€€ invoice, book here. The short tasting menu is where the kitchen earns its Bib Gourmand twice over — Michelin's own designation for exceptional cooking at a moderate price. For a special occasion dinner that does not require a splurge budget, this is the right call in Chiavari.

About Da Felice

Da Felice has been in business for many years at Corso Valparaiso, 136 in Chiavari — a long-running presence on a stretch of the Ligurian coast where restaurants come and go with the tourist seasons. Longevity here is evidence of something: a consistent kitchen, a local following, a format that works. The open-view kitchen at the rear of the dining room means you can watch the cooks at work, which matters when the menu is built around daily fish-market sourcing. What you are eating reflects what was good at the market that morning, a practical commitment to freshness that shapes the entire menu.

The cuisine is Ligurian, specifically fish-forward. The kitchen works the catch in several directions: carpaccio preparations for clean, direct flavour; fried dishes that call on the Ligurian coastal tradition of light, precise frying; and oven-baked preparations that draw out sweeter, more concentrated notes from the fish. These are not fusion detours or creative reinterpretations, they are traditional methods applied to whatever the market delivered. For a diner who wants to understand what Ligurian coastal cooking actually tastes like without the restaurant adding layers of concept, the approach here is more honest than theatrical.

The tasting menu is the format Michelin singled out for value, it is the right way to experience Da Felice on a first visit or a special occasion. A short tasting menu in this price tier is a practical proposition: you see the kitchen's range without committing to a multi-hour progression, the price-per-course ratio at €€ is considerably more favourable than anything at the €€€€ end of the Italian restaurant spectrum. If you prefer to order à la carte, the fish market sourcing means the selection changes, so arriving with a fixed idea of what you want is not the right approach. Trust the daily menu.

Outdoor space is a practical consideration worth noting. A fresh, cool terrace adds a second seating dimension, in Chiavari's warmer months it is the more appealing option for a long lunch or an early evening dinner. Request it when you book if the season is right. The dining room itself, with its open kitchen, is the better option in cooler months or if you want proximity to the cooking.

Chef Erin Shambura leads the kitchen. The Bib Gourmand in consecutive years is the most concrete evidence of consistent execution, Michelin does not retain that designation without ongoing scrutiny of value and quality together. That two-year track record matters more than any single review.

For context on where Da Felice sits in the Ligurian dining picture: Vescovado in Noli and Bagatto in Loano are the closest regional comparisons for traditional Ligurian cooking at a similar price point, both worth considering if you are travelling the coast. Within Chiavari itself, Duo offers a contemporary alternative and Lord Nelson covers the seafood angle from a different angle. See our full Chiavari restaurants guide for the complete picture.

If you are building a wider itinerary around serious Italian dining, Da Felice sits in a very different register from the €€€€ destinations elsewhere in Italy, Osteria Francescana in Modena, Piazza Duomo in Alba, or Quattro Passi in Marina del Cantone, but it delivers a more grounded, market-led experience that those rooms are not trying to provide. The comparison is not competitive; they are different propositions. Da Felice is the meal you book when you want to eat what Chiavari actually cooks, at a price that makes sense.

Ratings & Recognition

• Michelin Bib Gourmand, 2025
• Michelin Bib Gourmand, 2024

Booking

Booking difficulty is easy. Da Felice does not carry the reservation pressure of a starred room, walk-in availability is realistic outside peak summer weeks. That said, securing a table in advance is still worthwhile for weekend evenings and in July and August when the Ligurian coast fills up. If you want the outdoor terrace specifically, request it at the time of booking. No phone or booking URL is currently listed in our data, check directly via the restaurant's address at Corso Valparaiso, 136, Chiavari.

Quick reference: Da Felice, Corso Valparaiso 136, Chiavari | €€ | Michelin Bib Gourmand 2024–2025 | Easy to book | Fish-forward Ligurian tasting menu

Plan Your Visit

Da Felice is in central Chiavari, accessible on foot from the town centre. For accommodation, hotels, bars, other experiences nearby, see our guides: Chiavari hotels, Chiavari bars, Chiavari wineries, and Chiavari experiences.