The Verdict
Causa Persa, also styled Causapersa and billed as an officina enogastronomica, sits on Piazza Garibaldi in the old town of Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the five Cinque Terre villages. It opened in August 2020 under chef Paolo Sanvitale and was later named by La Cucina Italiana among the best restaurants in the Cinque Terre, a region where most kitchens trade on the view rather than the cooking.
Sanvitale takes Italian classics and gives them a Monterosso accent. The signature is a plate of bottoni filled with cacio e pepe and topped with caramote shrimp crudo and the shrimp broth, alongside dishes such as mussels alla pizzaiola. It is a small, contemporary room with a rooftop bar rather than a grand dining hall, and the kitchen rather than the terrace is the point.
The Kitchen
Chef Paolo Sanvitale opened Causa Persa in August 2020 and cooks a creative Ligurian menu that reworks Italian classics. The signature plate is bottoni filled with cacio e pepe and topped with caramote shrimp crudo and the shrimp broth, with dishes such as mussels alla pizzaiola alongside. The menu is a la carte and changes with the catch and the season.
The Room
Causa Persa is a small, contemporary room on Piazza Garibaldi in Monterosso's old town, with a rooftop bar above. It is an intimate, modern space rather than a large terrace restaurant, which puts the focus on the cooking and makes it well suited to a relaxed dinner for two or a small celebration in the Cinque Terre.
Best for a Special Dinner
For a special dinner in the Cinque Terre, Causa Persa is the rare Monterosso kitchen that earns the trip on cooking, not just the view. Book ahead in season, sit in the small room on Piazza Garibaldi, and order the bottoni of cacio e pepe with caramote shrimp as the centrepiece of the meal.
Not For
Causa Persa is not for a diner chasing a sea-view terrace, a quick cheap plate of pasta or a large group. It is a small, creative kitchen on the village square, so it does not suit anyone who wants a grand panoramic dining room, a budget tourist meal, or a big party rolling in without a booking.
Reservations
Causa Persa is a small room on Piazza Garibaldi in Monterosso al Mare and fills quickly in the Cinque Terre's high season, so book ahead. The menu is a la carte, with the bottoni of cacio e pepe and caramote shrimp the dish to order. Monterosso is the only Cinque Terre village reachable by car, with a station on the coastal rail line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Causa Persa worth it?
Causa Persa is worth it as one of the few Monterosso kitchens that earns attention for its cooking rather than its view. Chef Paolo Sanvitale reworks Italian classics with care, the signature bottoni of cacio e pepe with caramote shrimp is excellent, and La Cucina Italiana has named it among the best in the Cinque Terre. It is a small, special-occasion room.
What is Causa Persa known for?
Causa Persa is known for creative Ligurian cooking on Monterosso's main square, and above all for its bottoni filled with cacio e pepe and topped with caramote shrimp crudo and the shrimp broth. Chef Paolo Sanvitale opened it in August 2020, and it has since been named by La Cucina Italiana among the best restaurants in the Cinque Terre.
Where is Causa Persa?
Causa Persa is on Piazza Garibaldi 17 in the old town of Monterosso al Mare, the largest and most accessible of the five Cinque Terre villages. Monterosso is the only one of the five reachable by car and has a station on the coastal rail line, so the restaurant is an easy walk from the train and the seafront.
Do I need a reservation at Causa Persa?
Yes, booking ahead is wise, especially in the Cinque Terre's busy summer season. Causa Persa is a small, contemporary room on Piazza Garibaldi with limited covers and a rooftop bar, so weekend evenings fill quickly. Reserve in advance to be sure of a table, and ask about the bottoni of cacio e pepe when you book.
Also in Cinque Terre
Explore the full Cinque Terre dining guide, or compare it with Ristorante Belforte, Ristorante Miky and Trattoria dal Billy. See our best Italian restaurants guide.