Verona Restaurants and Dining

(Verona, Veneto, Italy)

It's not hard to find somewhere to eat out in Verona. The city is particularly proud of its tradition of humble, family-run restaurants known as 'trattorie' and 'osterie'. Equally, Verona also offers a number of more upmarket restaurants for those who prefer dining out in rather grander surroundings and expect their cuisine to be first rate.

Wherever you decide to dine, traditional Veronese cuisine can be found in plenty of eateries. For visitors who prefer their menus to have an international flavour, Verona also has a number of Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Greek and South American restaurants. It's also worth taking in at least a few cafes in Verona during your stay, as they offer a great chance to while away a summer's evening, watching the city go by whilst enjoying a bite to eat.

When to Eat / Opening Hours

As is the case in most cities, lunch is served from midday to around 14:00. Restaurants and similar dining venues re-open in the evening for dinner from around 19:00, closing at 22:30. Of course, it is possible to eat out outside of these hours, but this will usually be a quick snack in a cafe or bar.

What to Eat

The culinary tradition of Verona offers up a wealth of dishes made from ingredients grown or sourced in the Veneto region. Top of the dining list has to be 'gnocchi', made from the humble potato. Risotto and tortellini also appear on many restaurant menus. Some of the ingredients may not be to everyone's tastes, including 'pastissade de caval' or braised horse meat, or 'pearà', a local dish made from bone marrow, bread and pepper and served with 'bigoli', a spaghetti-like pasta. With Lake Garda just a short distance away from Verona, freshwater fish - including trout and pike - is also popular with Veronese chefs.

Where to Eat

There is certainly no shortage of restaurants in Verona's historic centre. A stroll around the narrow streets of this beautiful district will reveal an enviable choice of cuisines and dining venues, many of them oozing with some of the romantic atmosphere that pervades much of this part of Verona - thanks in no small part to Romeo and Juliet.

Via Mazzini is as good a place to start as any. Alternatively, head for Via San Sebastiano and Via Arche Scaligere. The oldest restaurant is Ristorante 12 Apostoli, thought to have served meals to the Veronese people for the past 250 years.

If you prefer to explore other parts of Verona, or just want to escape the crowds, then a trip out of the historic centre to the other side of the Adige River will be rewarded with some very homely trattorie. These offer a great value dining experience and are usually frequented by a more local clientele, if you're interested in finding out about the real Verona. One of the most popular locations for restaurants in this part of town is Piazza dell Isolo.

Cafes and bars in Verona may offer limited menus, but are nevertheless a great way to get to know the city and are often very entertaining. The most popular cafes can be found in the historic city centre, particularly on and around the Piazza delle Erbe. Some cafes and bars have dining terraces, which offer charming views over the River Adige.