"Gioacchino Pontrelli's one-star Versilia seafood has anchored Forte dei Marmi since 1981; book it to impress clients who know fish."
About Ristorante Lorenzo
Ristorante Lorenzo has been the reference table of Forte dei Marmi since 1981, when Lorenzo Viani turned a daily run to the Versilia quays into a restaurant. The kitchen now carries a Michelin star, and the dining room on Via Carducci, a short walk from Piazza Garibaldi and the pier, seats its guests across linen-set rooms a few streets back from the beach.
The cooking is Tyrrhenian seafood read through classic Italian technique — line-caught fish from the boats at Viareggio, crustaceans dressed simply, and a service style built around tableside finishing. It is a grown-up room rather than a scene, which is exactly why it works for a serious dinner. For other polished options nearby, compare Lux Lucis and La Magnolia.
The Kitchen
Chef Gioacchino Pontrelli runs the kitchen and holds the Michelin star. His signature is the Versilia-style spaghetti with seafood, alongside the grand raw platter and a famous tableside-dressed mayonnaise that the dining room finishes in front of you. A pan-cooked seafood bavette — essentially a risotto-method pasta in fish stock — is the other dish regulars order without looking at the card.
Sourcing is the whole argument: the house has gone to the Viareggio and Versilia quays every morning since 1981 for the day's fish, crustaceans and molluscs. The menu shifts with what the boats land, so the kitchen runs seasonal rather than fixed.
The Room
Two stone-walled rooms hold around seventy covers, with a south-facing garden for warm evenings. The mood is quietly formal — white linen, attentive service, the tableside trolley — and conversation stays easy, which is why it suits a client dinner or a milestone better than a loud beach club.
Best for impressing clients
Book Lorenzo when you want to impress clients who can tell good fish from theatre: the tableside service and the one-star kitchen do the talking. It is equally suited to an anniversary or a proposal when you want Forte dei Marmi at its most assured.
Not for
Not for a quick beachfront lunch or a budget evening — this is a full-price, sit-down seafood dinner that rewards time and an appetite for fish.
Frequently Asked
Does Ristorante Lorenzo have a Michelin star?
Yes. Ristorante Lorenzo holds one Michelin star and has been Forte dei Marmi's benchmark seafood restaurant since it opened in 1981.
Who is the chef at Ristorante Lorenzo?
Gioacchino Pontrelli leads the kitchen and is the chef behind the Michelin star, cooking Versilia seafood through classic Italian technique.
What should I order at Lorenzo?
The Versilia-style spaghetti with seafood, the grand raw platter and the tableside-dressed mayonnaise are the signatures; the daily catch drives the rest of the menu.
How much does dinner cost at Ristorante Lorenzo?
Expect a full fine-dining spend — €€€€ — with à la carte seafood mains roughly €40–60 and raw platters higher, before wine.
Do I need to book Lorenzo?
Yes, reservations are strongly advised, especially in summer when Forte dei Marmi is busiest. The room is small and fills quickly.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Ristorante Lorenzo
Reservations via the restaurant; book well ahead in summer.
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Practical Information
AddressVia Carducci 61, Forte dei Marmi
NeighbourhoodVia Carducci, central Forte dei Marmi
CuisineTuscan Seafood
PriceÀ la carte seafood €€€€; mains ≈€40–60
Dress CodeSmart · resort-formal
Seating≈70 covers + garden
ReservationEssential, especially in summer
