Sarri

Verdict: Book It, But Plan Ahead

Getting a table at Sarri takes effort. The restaurant operates dinner-only, seven nights a week, with a single sitting from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM; that narrow window and the Michelin star it earned in 2024 mean availability fills up fast, particularly through summer when Liguria draws serious visitors from across Italy and France. If you are travelling to Imperia specifically to eat here, book as far in advance as possible. The effort is worth it: Sarri is the most technically accomplished seafood kitchen in the province, for a special-occasion dinner on the Ligurian coast, it is the clearest recommendation Pearl can make.

What Sarri Is

Sarri sits on Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo in Borgo Prino, a small settlement on the western edge of Imperia where the buildings run in a low pastel-coloured row directly facing the sea. The setting already does a lot of work. When the weather allows; and in Liguria, the climate is mild enough that outdoor dining is possible across a long season, the terrace puts you within earshot of the water. When it does not, the indoor dining room holds its own: a converted shed with contemporary furnishings that feel considered rather than compensatory.

The front of house is run by Alessandra Sarri, whose service manner is composed and attentive without tipping into formality. For a special occasion dinner, this matters. You are not being processed; the room moves at a pace that suits the occasion. The kitchen is led by chef-patron Andrea Sarri, whose approach to Ligurian seafood is grounded in ingredient sourcing. The fish comes from the Ligurian Sea; the vegetables and aromatic herbs from organic gardens. The kitchen then applies technique to that raw material rather than importing trends that do not fit the coastline.

The Michelin citation for the 2024 star references dishes like a vertical of raw preparations and a shellfish casserole from Oneglia with aromatic herbs, both of which reflect a kitchen that has a clear point of view: let the ingredient lead, add precision and structure, do not over-complicate. Among the desserts, a hazelnut crunch with salted caramel, mango compote and passion fruit sorbet is singled out specifically. These are not broad gestures toward modernity; they are carefully constructed compositions from a chef who has thought about what this coastline actually produces.

Why the 2024 Michelin Star Matters Here

Liguria is not a region with a dense concentration of starred kitchens, which makes Sarri's recognition more significant than it might appear in a city with four or five starred competitors. The 2024 star represents a formal validation of what Sarri has been doing at the €€€ price point: delivering a level of culinary precision that justifies a destination dinner without the €€€€ commitment required by Italy's more established fine dining institutions. For context, the Italian restaurants Pearl tracks at the €€€€ tier, venues like Dal Pescatore in Runate, Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence, and Le Calandre in Rubano, operate at a higher price ceiling. Sarri sits a tier below on price and delivers Michelin-verified quality. That gap is the value argument.

The star also changes the booking calculus. Pre-2024, Sarri was achievable with a week's notice. That window has almost certainly tightened. If you are planning a trip to the western Ligurian coast and want to eat here, treat it as the anchor booking and plan your itinerary around it.

Who Should Book

Sarri is well-matched to a special-occasion dinner for two: the service style, the setting, the tasting-format cooking all lend themselves to that context. It is less suited to large groups, though the data does not confirm a private dining option. For a date or celebration dinner on the Ligurian Riviera, the combination of outdoor terrace access, precise seasonal seafood, measured front-of-house service puts Sarri ahead of the casual options along the coast.

Business dinners are also viable here, the room is calm, the service professional, though the dinner-only, single-sitting format means you are committing to a full evening rather than a quick working meal.

If you are exploring the wider Imperia dining scene before or after, Osteria Didù and Kilo are worth considering at lower price points. For a full picture of what the area offers, see our full Imperia restaurants guide, as well as our Imperia hotels guide, bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide.

Practical Reference

Sarri is open seven days a week for dinner only, 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Price range is €€€. The address is Lungomare C. Colombo, 108, Borgo Prino, Imperia. No website or phone number is listed in Pearl's current data, check Google or contact via the address directly for reservations. Booking difficulty: hard, especially from spring through autumn.

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