Where to eat in Verona
Verona eats like the Veneto plains and the wine hills together. Risotto cooked with Amarone, slow-cooked horse stew, boiled meats with green sauce and good local wine are the dishes to find. The old osterie are the best places, and the evening aperitivo is a ritual.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The old town side streets and Veronetta for osterie.
- Order this
- Risotto all'Amarone, bollito with pearà, and a glass of Valpolicella or Soave.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 12.30pm and dinner from 7.30pm.
- Book or walk in
- Book osterie for dinner, especially at weekends and in opera season.
- Tipping
- Service is often included, with a small coperto. Round up if you like.
What to eat in Verona
- Risotto all'AmaroneRice cooked with the local Amarone wine, rich and slightly sweet.
- Bollito con pearàBoiled meats served with a peppery bread and bone-marrow sauce, a Verona classic.
- Pastissada de cavalA slow-cooked horse stew with polenta, traditional and strongly flavored.
- BigoliThick pasta, often with a duck or sardine sauce.
- GnocchiPotato dumplings with butter and sage or a meat ragù, served at the February festival and all year.
- PandoroA tall, star-shaped sweet bread that comes from Verona, sold at Christmas and in bakeries all year.
Where to eat in Verona, by neighborhood
Centro storico
Old osterie and wine bars in the lanes around Piazza delle Erbe. Avoid the main square itself.
Veronetta
Cheaper and more local, with students and small trattorie across the river.
Sottoriva
An arcaded street along the river, with osterie and wine bars that are busy in the evening.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Antica Bottega del Vino
€€€Wine bar and restaurant · Centro storico
Orderthe risotto all'Amarone and a glass of Amarone
A historic wine bar with a huge list of local wines and traditional dishes, in a cellar.
- Book
- Book for dinner.
Confirmed open: bottegavini.it
-
Trattoria al Pompiere
€€Trattoria · Centro storico
Orderthe cured meats and the pastissada
An old family trattoria with a plate of local salumi and a good wine list.
- Book
- Book for dinner.
Confirmed open: alpompiere.com
-
Osteria Sottoriva
€€Osteria · Sottoriva
Orderthe bigoli and the grilled meat
A relaxed osteria under the arcades on a quiet street, popular with local people.
- Book
- No bookings, so arrive early or share a table.
Confirmed open: touringclub.it
-
Osteria Le Vecete
€€Osteria · Centro storico
Orderthe bollito and the tagliatelle
A small, plain place that serves classic dishes at fair prices, close to Piazza delle Erbe.
- Book
- Book ahead for dinner.
Confirmed open: visitverona.it
Food markets in Verona
- Piazza delle Erbe marketFruit, vegetables, cheese and souvenirs in the old market square. Get fruit and cheese for a picnic.Monday to Saturday, from morningSource: tripadvisor.com
How Verona eats
- Meal timesLunch from 12.30pm and dinner from 7.30pm. Aperitivo at 6pm.
- TippingService is often included. Round up the bill.
- ReservationsBook osterie for dinner, and book early in opera season.
- WineOrder a glass of local wine, such as Valpolicella, Soave or Amarone.
Signs of a place to walk past
A menu with photographs on Piazza Bra.
Restaurants with no Italian customers at 8pm.
Tourist menus at a fixed price with a free drink.
Eating in Verona: questions people ask
What food is Verona known for?
Risotto all'Amarone, bollito with pearà, pastissada de caval and gnocchi. Pandoro comes from here.
Where is the best place to eat in Verona?
The old osterie in the side streets of the center and in Sottoriva are the best.
What wine is Verona known for?
Valpolicella, Amarone, Soave and Bardolino, all from the surrounding hills.
Is Verona expensive to eat in?
It is cheaper than Venice or Milan. Wine bars and osterie offer good value.