Restaurant in Genoa, Italy
Genoa's starred table. Book early.
Genoa's only Michelin-starred modern cuisine address at the €€€ tier, San Giorgio pairs Ligurian-accented cooking under head chef Guillermo Busceni with an internationally awarded wine list. With a 4.8 Google rating across 1,100-plus reviews, it is the city's most credentialled special occasion restaurant — but book three to four weeks out minimum; tables are hard to secure.
San Giorgio holds a 4.8 on Google across more than 1,100 reviews, a Michelin star earned in 2024, and a Star Wine List award for 2026. For a single address to carry all three in a city where dining credibility is hard-won, that combination tells you something concrete: this is not a restaurant coasting on local reputation. It is the reference point for serious dining in Genoa, and the booking difficulty that follows reflects exactly that.
The address — Viale Brigata Bisagno, a short walk from Brignole, Genoa's second major train station , places San Giorgio just outside the tourist circuit of the old port. The room reads classic and composed: this is an elegant dining environment in the Ligurian tradition, managed by the Scala family, whose presence over time has given the restaurant the kind of settled confidence that newer openings rarely achieve. Paid parking is available nearby, which matters if you are arriving by car for a special occasion dinner rather than navigating the city's tight centro storico. Visually, you are in a formal room that signals occasion without being stiff , the kind of place where a business dinner or a significant anniversary feels appropriately framed.
The recent appointment of Guillermo Busceni as head chef is the most operationally relevant change at San Giorgio right now. Busceni is not a newcomer to the kitchen , he served as second in command for an extended period before stepping up , which means the transition carries continuity rather than disruption. The culinary line stays Mediterranean, with a strong Ligurian accent: aromatic, direct, and ingredient-led rather than concept-driven. The approach combines modern technique with a genuine interest in reviving older preparations. The menu includes dishes such as Meat-Stuffed Lettuce in Capon Broth, a reference to Genoese cucina povera traditions, alongside newer creations like Pearls of Genoa , gnocchi with pesto , which signal the kitchen's willingness to reinterpret the city's most recognisable flavours without simply serving them straight. For a special occasion, that balance matters: you get something that reads as place-specific and considered, not generic fine dining that could have been produced anywhere.
At the €€€ price tier, San Giorgio sits at the level where service quality becomes the deciding factor in whether the spend feels justified. The Scala family's longstanding management is the clearest signal here: family-run fine dining in Italy at this level typically means ownership is present and invested in outcomes in a way that large hospitality groups are not. The 1,100-plus Google reviews at 4.8 average suggest consistent delivery over a substantial number of covers , not a handful of exceptional nights. That consistency is what you are paying for at €€€. If you are comparing spend, [The Cook](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/the-cook-genoa-restaurant) prices at €€€€ and operates in the same modern cuisine category; San Giorgio's star-level cooking at one price tier lower is a meaningful value argument for occasion dining in Genoa.
The Star Wine List award for 2026 is not a minor credential. San Giorgio carries a dedicated volume focused on Italian and French sparkling wines , a specific editorial choice that reflects depth of curation rather than a generic cellar. For a celebratory dinner, that focus on sparkling wines is practically useful: if you are marking an occasion, the list is built for it. The wine programme here is one of the strongest in the city at any price point, and pairing a tasting meal with guidance from a properly curated list changes the experience meaningfully.
San Giorgio is closed Monday and Sunday. Tuesday through Saturday it runs two services: lunch from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and dinner from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Given the Michelin star and the volume of Google reviews, booking difficulty is rated hard , plan a minimum of three to four weeks ahead for dinner, more for Friday and Saturday. Lunch on a Tuesday or Wednesday is your leading chance of a shorter lead time, and at a Michelin-starred address the lunch service often represents the better value proposition within the same kitchen. Book directly; no booking platform or method is confirmed in available data, so contact the restaurant to confirm their current reservation process.
Price tier: €€€. Michelin 1 Star (2024). Star Wine List (2026). Google: 4.8 / 1,118 reviews. Open Tuesday–Saturday, lunch 12:30–14:30, dinner 19:30–22:00. Closed Monday and Sunday. Located near Brignole station with paid parking nearby. Booking difficulty: hard , reserve well in advance.
If San Giorgio confirms that Ligurian fine dining is your focus, Genoa's broader restaurant scene is worth exploring via our full Genoa restaurants guide. For hotels and bars when planning an overnight stay, see our Genoa hotels guide and Genoa bars guide. Elsewhere in Genoa, Il Marin handles seafood at the same price tier, and Hostaria Ducale, Santa Teresa, and 20Tre offer different angles on the city's dining. For Italy's wider starred circuit, Osteria Francescana in Modena, Dal Pescatore in Runate, Uliassi in Senigallia, Quattro Passi in Marina del Cantone, Reale in Castel di Sangro, and Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico each represent the country's top tier. Further afield, Frantzén in Stockholm and Maison Lameloise in Chagny are the European comparisons worth knowing for modern cuisine at this level. Also worth noting for Genoa planning: the Genoa wineries guide and Genoa experiences guide round out the picture.
Yes, with the right framing. A Michelin star plus a 4.8 Google rating across 1,100-plus reviews at the €€€ tier is a strong value case for Genoa. The comparable modern cuisine address in the city, The Cook, sits at €€€€. You are getting starred cooking and an internationally awarded wine list at a price point below the city's leading spend level. For a special occasion dinner where you want credentialled quality and a room that matches the occasion, the price is justified.
Three to four weeks minimum for dinner, and longer for Friday or Saturday evenings. The Michelin star and high review volume place this firmly in the hard-to-book category. Lunch midweek , Tuesday through Thursday , gives you the leading chance of a shorter lead time. Do not attempt a walk-in for dinner; the covers will not be there.
Lunch is the practical choice if booking is your constraint , midweek lunch slots open up faster and often represent better value at starred kitchens, where the same kitchen produces both services. Dinner is the right call for a formal celebration or date where the full evening pace matters. The kitchen runs the same Mediterranean-Ligurian menu across both services based on available data, so the quality case does not favour one over the other.
Viable, but not the obvious first choice for solo. The room is formal and the price tier is €€€, which can feel weighted for a single cover. If you are in Genoa alone and want the starred experience, a midweek lunch is the lower-friction option. For a solo dinner with more counter energy, check whether Il Marin suits your format better.
No confirmed group booking or private dining data is available. Given the formal room and family management, larger groups are likely accommodated, but you should contact the restaurant directly to confirm capacity and any minimum spend requirements before assuming availability. For groups of six or more, lead time requirements will almost certainly exceed the standard three-to-four week window.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Giorgio | Modern Cuisine | €€€ | Hard |
| Il Marin | Italian Seafood, Seafood | €€€ | Unknown |
| Rosmarino | Ligurian | €€ | Unknown |
| La Pineta | Traditional Cuisine | €€ | Unknown |
| The Cook | Modern Cuisine | €€€€ | Unknown |
| Le Cicale in Città | Seafood | €€€ | Unknown |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Yes, and the Michelin star format suits solo diners who want serious food without the noise of a group table. At €€€, you're committing real money, but the Scala family's reputation for attentive, classic service means solo guests are not an afterthought. The Brignole location also makes arrival and departure straightforward — ample paid parking nearby and direct train access.
San Giorgio is an elegant, classic room rather than a large-format group venue, so parties of 4-6 are the practical ceiling for a comfortable experience at this tier. For larger groups, check the venue's official channels to ask about private arrangements — the Scala family's longstanding local presence suggests some flexibility, but this is not a space designed around big tables. Groups focused primarily on the wine list will find the internationally awarded cellar, including a dedicated sparkling wine volume, a genuine talking point.
Book at least 3-4 weeks ahead for dinner, longer if you're targeting a Friday or Saturday service. San Giorgio holds a Michelin star and a 4.8 Google rating across more than 1,100 reviews — that combination means demand is consistent, not seasonal. Lunch Tuesday through Friday is the best fallback if your preferred dinner slot is gone.
Dinner is the stronger format here. The kitchen runs a Mediterranean line with modern techniques and a Ligurian backbone, and the fuller evening service gives that approach more room to land — particularly the wine pairing, where the Star Wine List-awarded cellar is the main differentiator. Lunch from 12:30 PM is a sound option for value and availability, but the experience is narrower.
At €€€ with a Michelin star earned in 2024 and a Star Wine List award for 2026, San Giorgio is priced where the credentials and the spend align. Head chef Guillermo Busceni has been in the kitchen long enough that this is not a speculative bet on a new appointment. If you want Ligurian fine dining in Genoa and a serious wine list, this is the correct booking. If you want a looser, cheaper dinner, look at Rosmarino instead.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
