Enjoy our list of Verona restaurants for the best local of food and wine – Buon appetito!
Our Verona travel is usually short and busy as our travels here usually take place during Italy’s International wine expo, Vinitaly. So, it limited my cultural exploration. But, that changed In 2017 when I connected with Virginia and Sara of Romeo and Juliet Guide.
They offer fun, interesting, and tasty tours in Verona and the surrounding areas – definitely hit them up for a Valpolicella wine tour when you visit the area.
Take advantage of a Verona tour special that also gives you a taste of the Langhe!
Book to save 5€ on a tour with Romeo and Juliet Guide; the first 12 bookings also receive a bottle of wine – from me!
My pals at Cantina Francone in Neive are shipping their Metodo Classico Valsellera rosé brut to Verona. Girl’s Gotta Drink readers, pick up your bottle during your tour.
At check-out, enter the code GIRLSGOTTADRINK2019
Book online at www.RomeoAndJulietGuide.com
My Verona travel series
My growing relationship with Romeo and Juliet Guide – as friends and now as a marketing consultant – has given me a unique opportunity to take my Verona travels deeper. That means I have more to share with you, so I will be adding to this series!
And, take advantage of the deal I worked out for y’all (see above) – go visit Verona, friends!
For more on Verona read:
- 7 Things to do in Verona, and
- Guide to Verona Travel: 48 hours or more,
- and, more are coming soon!
Traditional food in Verona
Let’s start with traditional Verona dishes. From there, see my list of the best places to eat, punctuated by Sara’s ‘best of’ picks for typical Veronese foods.
Foods of Verona: Primi
Verona produces the top rice variety of Vialone Nano. So, try some risotto dishes when you visit:
- Risotto all’Amarone: The base comes from the powerful regional Amarone della Valpolicella wine; a rich red wine made of grapes dried for three to four months before fermentation. The wine gives intense flavors and aromas of dried fruits, tobacco, and dried spices.
- Risotto al Tastasal: Sausage-based risotto with ground pork, salt, and tons of pepper.
- Risotto al Radicchio: The bitter Italian vegetable of radicchio is the base here. Onion, pancetta, and / or red wine give it a sweetness that keeps you coming back for more.
Verona Pasta:
- Bigoli: The Veneto region’s signature pasta, bigoli looks like giant, thick spaghetti. Traditionally buckwheat flour was used to make bigoli, but today its got a darker finish from wholewheat flour. Variations around the Veneto region show up in the sauce. In Verona, bigoli is topped with duck (anatra), donkey (asino), and horse (cavallo) sauces.
- Gnocchi: In Verona, you traditionally see potato dumplings it served with horse meat stew. Yes, horse is a popular food in Verona. Let’s discuss.
Horse in Verona cuisine: Horse meat is often served as bistecca di cavallo (horse steak), sfilacci (shredded and cured), and pastisada (braised). The latter variation dates back to the 5th century AD. After the great battle between Italy’s King Odoacer and Ostrogoths’ King Theodoric, thousands of fallen horses littered the land. The starving locals ate the meat.
The size and texture required some creative thinking to tenderize it. So, it was marinated in red wine with spices and vegetables, then slow-cooked. The recipe has passed through generations.
Other main courses include beef cheek, veal liver, and cod.
Polenta: In Verona, the polenta is served soft and creamy, fresh off the stove or left to cool for half a day, then cut into squares and grilled slightly.
Verona Restaurants: The Basics
Now that you some background on the main foods of Verona, let’s talk about coffee, gelato, aperitivo, and gastronomia.
L’arte del Gelato
Artisan gelato made with only organic ingredients.
Find it! Via Leoni, 3, Verona
Caffé Wallner
Sara of Romeo and Juliet Guide says it’s her favorite morning stop. The pastry chef comes from Southern Italy, so you get a mix of north and south traditions.
Sara recommends the typical pastry of Verona, Zaletto. Gluten-free travelers, rejoice! These soft biscuits are made of polenta.
If you do a Verona walking tour with Romeo and Juliet Guide, this is the first stop of the morning. Great coffee — and I agree — the pastries are divine.
Find it! Via Dietro Listone, 1, Verona
La Botteghetta (gastronomia)
I found La Botteghetta during our first Verone travel day with Romeo and Juliet Guide in 2018. According to Sara and Virginia, delicatessens like La Botteghetta are few and far between in Verona. We were treated to an incredible selection of local salumi and cheeses, and a glass of Soave. For your picnic or apertivo needs, visit here.
Find it! Via Leoncino, 31, Verona
La Botteghetta in Padella
A new addition, La Bogtteghetta in Padella is just around the corner from the original deli. Here, you get the same top-quality ingredients from local farmers as you do at La Botteghetta, but already made into mouth-watering Veronese cuisine.
Stock up on the meats and cheeses at the original deli, then make your way a short 30 meters away for the hot and pre-made fare – takeaway or dine in. And, check out their Verona wine tasting options. I was lucky enough to get a private tasting experience – loved the learnings and the wines were great.
Find it! Via Don Enrico Tazzoli, 1, Verona
Hotel Milano & Spa – Terrace Bar (aperitivo)
Oh. My. God. The view. Hotel Milano sits behind the Arena with the most incredible view of the ancient structure. A great stop for drinks in Verona – aperitivo service goes from 15:00 to 21:00. Hotel guests can also indulge in the terrace jacuzzi.
I have designs on camping out here during an opera event one day…shhh!
Find it! Vicolo Tre Marchetti 11, Verona
Seconda Balena (aperitivo)
Bacco Wine Shop
I was charmed by owner Franco of Bacco Wine Bar and Baraldi Winebar (winebar see info below). His passion is wine. Good wine. Really good wine. And, lots of it. And, that means food is important, too. He does not disappoint with either.
A tasting at Bacco Wine Bar could be the highlight of your entire trip. It’s a teeny tiny little space that bubbles with character and happiness.
Set up your wine tasting there through Sara and Virginia – Franc doesn’t speak English, so make sure you get his great stories via their translation. Then, visit him often during your Verona travel – for a tiny shop, he packs in the wine!
Find it! Vicolo Santa Maria in Chiavica, 3/B, Verona
Verona Insider Dining Tip:
The locals don’t dine in the eateries surrounding the Arena (Piazza Bra). It’s just too darned expensive and crowded. They recommend heading to Piazza delle Erbe for Verona restaurants.
Verona Restaurants: Aperitivo and Dinner
Endless amazing Verona restaurants exist, so naturally, my list is not an exhaustive list.
Use it as a starter guide for some of the best Verona Restaurants based on our time in the city as well as local favorites from Sara and Virginia.
Trattoria Tre Marchetti
Absolutely our favorite Verona restaurant! During a spontaneous overnight trip to Verona, we found it near our hotel, just behind the Arena. The menu features traditional cuisine of Verona and a great wine list.
Everything we’ve had here is amazing and the ambiance is fantastic. And, clearly, we are not alone in our love of Tre Marchetti. Two years running during Vinitaly, our table was reserved for Mr. Antinori of Marchesi Antinori. Not bad.
Find it! Tre Marchetti
- Address: Vicolo 3 Marchetti, 19 / B – 37121, Verona
- Phone: +39 045 8030463
- Reservations: Recommended
Ristorante Arche
A visit to Ristorante Arche is part of a Verona walking tour with Romeo and Juliet Guide. We enjoyed delicious bigoli pasta with a traditional sauce of sardines and salted onions. And, washed it down with a lovely Valpolicella.
The historical building dates back to 1420. It changed management several times and has remained under its current – or, as they say on their site, “new” – ownership since October 8, 1879. Five generations through today have run the restaurant: Giuseppe, Edoardo Gioco, Giuseppe Gioco, Giancarlo Gioco, and now Silvia Gioco.
Find it! Ristorante Arche
- Address: Via Arche Scaligere, 6, Verona
- Phone: +39 045 8007415
- Reservations: Recommended
Baraldi Winebar
Easily one of my new favorite places in the whole of Italy. Virginia of Romeo and Juliet Guide took me here one evening on a recent trip. We met with the owner and his son to brainstorm wine events to bring together Valpolicella and Barolo wines. Stay tuned for more information.
In total, the family has three location – the wine bar, also serving tasty food and wine to drink onsite or for takeaway as well as two enotecas / wine shops in the center of Verona. All locations are charming with a warm, welcoming feel, and handpicked wines from all over the world. Find Champagne here!
Find it! Baraldi Winebar
- Address: Stradone Porra Palio, 50, Verona
- Phone: +39 045 566393
Scapin
Our amazing dinner experience here was hosted by a wine producer during Vinitaly 2015 – perfect wine and food. They brought salted butter for the bread — even the Italians were fighting for it. And, the cellar has an ancient Roman wall.
Pick up goodies to take home from the front-of-house gastronomia.
Find it! Scapin
- Address: Via Diaz 20-22, Verona
- Phone: +39 045 800 3552
- Reservations: Recommended
After hours. Thanks to our gracious host, @lapria.winery. #vinitaly2015 #workhardplayhard #geometric
Antica Bottega del Vino
A favorite places for a glass of wine, and not just for us. It definitely gets a best Verona restaurant label. During Vinitaly and just about any weekend it is standing-room-only.
Find a great wine-by-the-glass selection, unique flights as well as lunch and dinner of traditional food of Verona. Sara of Romeo and Juliet Guide says they have the best risotto with Amarone in town.
Find it! Bottega del Vino
- Address: Via Scudo di Francia, 3, Verona
- Phone: +39 045 8004535
- Reservations: Recommended
Best Verona restaurants: What a local says
I am slowly working my way through Sara’s best Verona cuisine recommendations. If you get to some before me, let me know what you think!
Antica Trattoria Pero d’Oro
- Address: Via Ponte Pignolo, 25, Verona
- Phone: +39 045 594645
- Sara Says: Traditional fare – the best bigoli in town!x
Hosteria La Vecchia Fontanina
- Address: Piazzetta Chiavica, 5 Verona
- Phone: +39045 457 6162
- Sara Says: Traditional fare – best Pastissada de Caval (Veronese dialect for horse meat with polenta).
- Open for lunch and dinner
Caffé Dante Bistrot
- Address: Piazza dei Signori, 2, Verona
- Phone:+ 39 045 800 0083
- Sara Says: Caffé Dante is a great alternative if the idea of horse meat makes you queasy (sorry – it does me!). Try local prosciutto, soppressa, and salame nostrano here.
- Open for lunch and dinner
Re Teodorico
Find it! Re Teodorico
- Address: Piazzale Castel San Pietro 1, Verona
- Phone:+39 045 834 9903
- Sara Says: Great typical food of Verona and gourmet pizza with an amazing panoramic view of Verona from the terrace.
- Reservations recommended
- Open for lunch and dinner
And, there you have it – the Insider’s Guide to Verona Restaurants!
A huge thanks to Sara and Virginia of Romeo and Juliet Guide for the tips on the best Verona restaurants. On their full-day walking tour, experience some of these locations as well as traditional food in Verona.
Don’t forget to check out 7 Things to do in Verona for some ideas on activities while there as well as A Verona Travel Guide: 48 hours or more! for the fundamentals of visiting the city (when to go, where to stay, where to park, and more).
If you have some favorite Verona restaurants we should add to this list, please drop a note to let us know!
Check out our other Restaurant Guides:
Hi,
We were in Verona last year and had really good meals in a little place called Macafame. Have you tried it?
https://www.facebook.com/macafame/
Ciao, Simon! Thanks for reading! We’ll check it out the next time we’re there! Val