Verona might be the city of star-crossed lovers and gaggles of tourists but the attractive city still manages to boast restaurants of the highest level with well known chefs and an overall gastronomic offering to appeal to most budgets, without ever compromising quality.
Vinitaly is an accomplice in its success, which has attracted thousands of enogatronomists and-connoisseurs to the city from around the world, for decades, without fail, every spring.
We discover where to eat well in in some of the best restaurants in Verona and its province, ranging from gourmet restaurants to gourmet pizzerias, including a couple of real institutions in the center.
While it's not an exhaustive list of course - some of the Michelin starred restaurants in the region are missing - it does offer an invaluable small guide to find out where to eat well in the center and a little further from Verona.
Best Restaurants in Verona: The Gourmet Restaurants
Amistà 33 (Corrubbio di Negarine)
Set inside the particular locatio of Byblos Art Hotel you'll probably be overwhelmed by the contemporary works of art when you arrive: enter and stand in front of the golden Kate Moss by Marc Quinn flanked by a painting by Damien Hirst. The crowning glory is the Amistà 33 food, by chef Marco Perez, creative and colorful, just like the villa.
Amistà 33
Via Cedrare 78, Corrubbio di Negarine (VR)
Il Desco
This Michelin starred restaurant can be found in the centre of Verona, not far from the promises of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Il Desco combines two generations: Elia (father) and Matteo (son) Rizzo offering haute cuisine. The address was born as an inn and soon turned into a creative restaurant that features some great products and as well as many vegetarian dishes.
Il Desco
Via Dietro San Sebastiano, 5/7, Verona
l'Artigliere (Isola della Scala)
Heading outside of Verona, to Isola della Scala, the trip is worth it, especially if you stay in one of the three rooms of L'Artigliere, address of the chef Davide Botta, which stands in a 17th-century mill. A must try is the seasonal risotto, but we also recommend you let yourself be surprised by the inspiration of some of the chef's dishes.
L'Artigliere
Via Boschi, 5, 37063 Isola della Scala VR
Foto: Aromi Creativi
Antica Bodega del Vino
Looking for a safe bet in Verona centre? Then try the Antica Bottega del Vino, one of the oldest and most highly connected hangouts in the city. Once a meeting place for writers and poets, journalists and painters, it still retains a welcoming atmosphere. It's the perfect address for wine connoisseurs, but the cuisine also deserves a special mention.
Antica Bottega del Vino
Via Scudo di Francia 3, Verona
Ristorante Arche (Verona)
A Verona institution, both for its history and for its central position, just a stone's throw from the most famous balcony of lovers in the world. Since 1879 tradition has been cooked with great ingredients at Arche where fresh fish is always central to the menu. An excellent dinner without too much fuss, in an elegant setting and a large wine list complete the picture. During Vinitaly it's always open.
Ristorante Arche
via Arche Scaligere 6, Verona
Gourmet Pizzas in Verona
I Tigli
If you've heard of gourmet pizza but still not quite sure what it means, then don't miss the opportunity to eat in the province of Verona at I Tigli. The haute cuisine pizzas combine bases made from mother yeast, wholegrain grains and complex cooking.
I Tigli
via Camporosolo 11, San Bonifacio - Verona Foto: Aromi Creativi
Saporè
If you're an expert you may know that the province of Verona is one of the nerve centers of gourmet pizza, that is pizzas that goes well with haute cuisine and long leavening. After I Tigli we also recommend Saporè, always in the province of Verona, if you want a complete experience, and Saporè Stand Up if you are in a hurry but don't want to give up the famous pizza crunch by Renato Bosco, owner and great pizza maker plan conquering the city.
Saporè
Via Ponte, 55a, San Martino Buon Albergo
Saporè Stand Up
Via della Costa, Verona
Where to Eat a Hamburger in Verona
Amburgheria by Pietre
The formula is always the same, guaranteed quality and happy burger eating: artisanal bread, seasonal ingredients and Lessinia meat. What distinguishes chef Andrea Nonis' venue is the simplicity of the space and the low prices, in sharp contrast with the hipster ambitions of most of the other burger joints. While there are creative experiments to be found in the burger fillings, they aren't overdone: vegetable tortillas and Tropea onion or soy sprouts and curry sauce, to name but two. There's also a wide selection of Italian meats and cheeses.
Amburgheria by stones
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 13
Buns Gourmet Burgers
The name should make you doubt it: but here the burger bun, is paramount, if not fundamental. Made every day by a baker from Verona, it becomes the perfect burger wrapping - crunchy yet sufficiently soft - for stuffing with meat (from the almost zero km farms of Lessinia), vegetarians or vegans are also looked after with interesting combinations like "meatball" of chickpeas, spicy chicory, chopped taggiasca olives "or" bocconcini di seitan, fried artichoke, radicchio and champignon cream."
Buns Gourmet Burgers
Via Interrato Acqua Morta 8/A
bunsgourmetburgers.tumblr.com