Balin - Sestri Levante

Great food but think it’s worth mentioning I left hungry. I never left hungry after having a 6 course tasting menu, usually that is too much. Here the portions are really tiny. So perhaps worth seeing this meal as a treat and not so much as actual dinner.

Balin is hands down the most creative and avant- guarde restaurant in Liguria. Sara’s creativity in the kitchen will blow your mind. Working with local produce with influences from all over the world, from Asia to South America. If you’re a foodie and you like good wines, make sure you stop by and order a bottle of Pazzesco with your dinner. You’ll thank me later. Bravi ragazzi!

A truly lovely dinner in an elegant beachy section of Sestri Levanti! The food was the star of the show, with an outstanding steamed fish appetizer and a fried mackerel main course decorated beautifully with vegetables that looked like embroidery. Both were flavor explosions.

We did the chef's menu and wine pairing and everything was exceptional. Service was great- explained everything to us and learned so much about the area and what is local to Sestri. Federico was the best. Would highly recommend for a nice dinner when you are in town. Perfect view of the sunset from inside as well.

Outstanding food and wine experience in Sestri Levante . A top chef knows how to match japanese and italian ingredients and traditions in absolutely exquisite recipes . Well needed wine pairings make it be the One in an otherwise so poor restaurant panorama . A little treasure absolutely to be discovered!

Such a nice place, we absolutely loved it. The service, the vibe, the music, THE FOOD, THE WINE. I’d strongly suggest to get the set menu with wine pairing. We tried some really interesting wines, our favourite was Licontro.

What an amazing and refreshing experience!! We had a tasting menu and wine pairing for two and we couldn’t be happier. Pleasant atmosphere, food prepared and presented in a modern and ambitious way, with influences from new Nordic trends. Great rich flavors and curated combinations, respecting local products and producers. You can see the menu has been thought through and designed with care. I would even dared more contrasts, given the solid base behind every dish, but I understand the context where the restaurant is located and the clientele maybe expecting more “Italian” mild flavors. Great service, listening, adapting and recommending right things, without making a big fuzz about it nor teaching any stiff lesson. Fell in love with the variety and openness of the wine list, from edgy French to mad Ligurian wines. Thanks, we couldn’t have been happier tonight.

We had an amazing experience at Balin. Everything was perfect from the moment we arrived to the very end. This is exactly what you expect when booking a fusion-style dinner. The veranda was beautifully decorated, with cozy lighting, lovely wooden tables, small lights, and plants, which made us feel comfortable right away. The food was well-balanced, using fresh local ingredients with an Italian touch and a lot of Japanese influence in many of the dishes we tried, like dashi broth, gyoza, nori flakes, and bonito sashimi. The chef’s background, with pop-ups in Seoul and Bangkok, was clearly reflected in the food. Each dish was presented beautifully, making the whole meal even more enjoyable. They offer a selection of natural wines, both local and international, all of which were delicious and paired perfectly with each course. The service was friendly, professional, and made us feel at ease throughout the evening. We highly recommend this hidden gem in Sestri Levante!