Our family
Passion & Tradition
The biginnings...
After getting married in 1967, during their honeymoon in Spain Carlo and Gabriella decide that, if they were ever going to open a new restaurant, , they would call it “El Pescador” in honour of a Spanish eatery that had particularly impressed them.
In 1969 they take over what would become Ristorante El Pescador: their dream had begun.
The years from 1965 and 1970 were hectic: Gabriella managed El Pescador, while Carlo was taking care of Kon Tiki.
El Pescador
In 1970, after selling the latter, they made a bold move and, with huge efforts and sacrifices, they bought the building of Ristorante Carmagnini. However, after this tough kick-off, they started to reap the benefits. Ristorante Carmagnini was added to the Michelin Guide and 5 years later, in 1976, achieved its first star.
Being unable to take as much care of Ristorante El Pescador as they wished to, they chose to outsource the by then very well established Carmagnini, so they could run their beloved El Pescador with their heart and soul.
It didn’t take long for the business to become synonym with quality, attention for detail and unique hospitality, which turned it into a beacon for Sestri Levante’s beau monde. The resturant, a true icon in the local dining industry, attracted celebrities from the movie, theatre, sports and political spheres. In a time when nouvelle cuisine had set an innovation- and impress-at-all-costs-oriented trend, Carlo and Gabriella opted for tradition instead, by drawing inspiration from the Baia delle Favole and Liguria itself, a land at the same time poor in produce but rich in flavours. Very high-quality raw materials created a powerful combination of locally sourced products and genuine dishes.
Inside the restaurant, everything was thoroughly designed, to make sure the culinary route of excellence started from the very moment guests sit down at their tables.
Always Looking Ahead
After the end of the El Pescador adventure, the two restaurateurs’ mind naturally went back to the building they bought in 1970, the one with Ristorante Carmagnini. Carlo and Gabriella began to consider how to open new horizons for their family, that in the meanwhile had grown. Their plans materialised in 2021, when they opened VistAmare Luxury Retreat, 5 wonderful and tastefully decorated apartments overlooking Baia delle Favole, perfectly poised to offer the same warm reception that had become the family’s trademark since their tenure at El Pescador.
This new venture can be regarded as yet another present by Carlo and Gabriella for their hometown: VistaAmare aims at establishing itself as the symbol of high-quality hospitality, whose mainstays are attention, respect and a lot of passion.
