Eat in Senigallia

Breakfast & Brunch

Pandefrà is definitely my favorite bakery in town (and beyond). They have a small store located in Senigallia's suburbs, which hides a 100 square meters laboratory. Pandefrà is the supplier of the best bars and restaurants in the area, including the starred restaurant "Uliassi". But it's not just about bread, their sweet leavened products are amazing. My favorites are undoubtedly the cardamom knots, cinnamon rolls and croissants. Their maritozzo have also been cited by Corriere as one of the best in Italy. Very high quality products that remind me of Scandinavian bakeries ... but we are "only" in Senigallia!

Paolo Brunelli Combo is a modern pastry shop located in Marzocca (Senigallia). Paolo Brunelli is well-known for his ice cream which has been named one of the best in Italy. Unfortunately, the ice cream shop in the city center is open only in summer season. However, their pastry shop is open all year round. Here you can enjoy a delicious breakfast with high quality ingredients and excellent service. I tried their maritozzo paired with a good cappuccino. The presentation of their desserts is very accurate and I really appreciated it.

Cabot Cove is a Surf Shop Cafè located along the Misa river (near the historic center of Senigallia). Cabot is for everybody. Here you can have breakfast, lunch or aperitivo and you will always find vegan and gluten free proposals. They also have a book sharing corner from which you can borrow some good books or browse them while eating something. A hipster café, with original food proposals and beautiful details, such as the world map outside and surfboards inside.

Here I had a Vegan rice bowl with chickpeas, avocado, corn, baked pumpkin and beetroot. Among the proposals of the day, they also had bagels (with meat, fish or vegetarians), wraps and toasts. I'll probably come back for a nice breakfast.

Caffè Doria is one of the historic bars in Senigallia center. At caffè Doria you won't find smoothie bowls or avocado toasts, here they only serve the classic Italian breakfast. They have high quality croissants filled with various type of creams and jams. They also offer original hot drinks: cappuccino with zabaione, latte macchiato with hazelnut or pistachio cream, and so on. Classic but tasty.

Pizza

Cavò - lieviti e distillati, between innovation and tradition. At Cavò you can eat a traditional or gourmet pizza. Always based on zero-miles and high quality products and flours. Excellent wine, Champagne and original drinks offer.

When I visited them, I tried two gourmet pizzas paired with a Cremant de Bourgogne:

• Aniko with lettuce, cream cheese, parmesan and tuna

• Arianova with smoked salmon, teriaki sauce, provola, lettuce, lemon zest and sesame seeds

Mezzometro is considered the best pizzeria in Senigallia. They offer very original pizzas with unconventional ingredients. There is a great deal of research and you can notice it while reading the menu. The pizzas are based on natural yeasts and topped with the best ingredients. I tried the Kiss me alici (with buffalo mozzarella, anchovies from Cetara, candied lemon, Sichuan pepper and mint) and the Ci Cerca Trova (with cicerchia, prawns cooked in saffron, buffalo mozzarella and aromatic pendulums). Both very good.

Scalo Zero Village is a recently opened bathhouse. The style is very minimal, characterized by the predominant white color. Here you can enjoy pizza, piadine, salads and poke bowls. A note of merit certainly goes to the delicious pizza. Far better than some eaten in many pizzerias. The toppings are few but perfect for everyone, with meat, fish and vegetables proposals. I recommend it for an unpretentious lunch or an apericena by the sea.

La Picca is a wine shop located in Senigallia's Foro Annonario. In addition to a lot of good wine you can enjoy excellent pizzas. I loved the padellino pizza (dough made by Pandefrà). But also the stirata romana was good, even if was very thin. I recommend the Padellino Tonno; with smoked tuna, tomatos' pesto, stracciatella, oil and basil. Prices are very low, great place for aperitivo or dinner.

Informal lunch and dinner

Fish | Ham Burger & Fry is located in Piazza Simoncelli, in Senigallia downtown. As you can understand from the name, they are specialized in meat and fish burgers. But they also offer poke bowls, salads and fried food. Their burgers are considered "gourmet", for the choice of original and high quality ingredients. I tried the Mafalda fish burger made with tuna tartare, stracciatella, pesto, tomato and caper oil. Yummy, full of different flavors that blend perfectly with each other. I also appreciated the possibility of being able to pair it with a glass of local wine.

La Locanda del Collegio is a restaurant specialized in Marche region typical cuisine (mostly based on meat). The restaurant is located in the center of Senigallia, the service is courteous and kind. Not eating meat, I opted for a vegetarian dish: cappellacci stuffed with ricotta and walnuts, Porcini, cherry tomatoes and basil. Rich and well balanced. Their desserts are also really good.

Special occasions

Nana piccolo bistrò is a restaurant characterized by an Italian-Spanish fusion cuisine. It’s located in Senigallia's main street, providing an internal space and a very nice outdoor area. What will strike you about this restaurant are certainly the technique of chef Michele Gilebbi and the kindness of the waiter service. The meal begins with some vermouth olives and, if the evening is cold, a meat base soup. The menu offers both meat and fish plates. The wine list is very extensive and the waitresses will be able to recommend the wine that's right for you. I tried the salmon with crunchy vegetables and the pulpo a la plancha. Then, I continued with one of the highlights, the burnt rice with lobster. Everything was cooked perfectly, with strong flavors and original combinations. Undoubtedly, one of the best restaurants in the city.

Sepia by Niko is located in in front of the Rocca Roveresca, one of the most important monuments of Senigallia. Very nice inside and with a small outdoor area next to the "lions fountain". Professional and kind service. The rest is done by Niko's cuisine full of Mediterranean scents, colors and flavors, always based on fresh fish and seasonal vegetables. We started with raw amberjack, raisins and dehydrated capers, in bitter almond milk (made by them). Delicate flavors, sweet and salty in contrast. Without a doubt, my favorite dish of the dinner. After we continued with monkfish, vignarola, lime and honey. And for dessert a super tasty "Cannolo Siciliano". You will certainly not leave the table hungry, the dishes are well seasoned and the portions large.

Acquapazza is a restaurant located in front of the sea. With its wide spaces and its large outdoor swimming pool is the perfect place for parties and events. The atmosphere is very nice at sunset/evening, with all the lights reflecting in the pool. An elegant and romantic restaurant, but not only. The cuisine is also worthy. I tried their "cold appetizer" which consists of 9 mini-portions of various raw and cooked fish. Perfect for anyone who wants to try many different dishes. Among the small tastings my favorites were the tuna bresaola with tzatziki and the crusted tuna. Finally I tried a stout beer dessert with a caramel tuille, which was also very good.

Raggiazzurro is a restaurant on the Senigallia seafront. Very similar in style and cuisine to the Acquapazza restaurant. Here you will find reinvented traditional dishes. The mixed appetizer is very good, with many original proposals and combinations. Also, I recommend you to try the tagliolini with cuttlefish ink, red crustacean sauce, stracciatella and shrimp tartare.