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Food tours in Verona: what to eat and which tour to book
Verona eats like the Veneto countryside around it, and drinks like one of Italy's main wine provinces. Rice is as important as pasta: risotto all'Amarone, made with the city's famous red wine, and risotto al tastasal from the rice-growing plain at Isola della Scala. Fresh pasta means thick bigoli and the thin-skinned tortellini of nearby Valeggio sul Mincio. The old osterie still serve pastissada de caval (horse-meat stew) and boiled meats with pearà, a peppery bread-and-marrow sauce, and Verona is where pandoro, Italy's star-shaped Christmas cake, was developed. Valpolicella, Soave and Bardolino wines all come from the hills within an hour of the centre.
Use this page to decide what to order and where. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Verona
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarone risotto risotto all'Amarone | Risotto cooked with Amarone della Valpolicella, the dry red made from dried grapes, finished with butter and often Monte Veronese or Grana cheese. Deep red and rich. | Osterie and trattorias in the centro storico and Valpolicella. | roughly €14–20 a plate |
| Horse-meat stew pastissada de caval | Horse meat marinated and slowly braised in red wine with vegetables and spices, served with polenta. One of the city's oldest traditional dishes; not for everyone, but very Veronese. | Traditional osterie, especially in the old centre and Veronetta. | roughly €15–20 |
| Boiled meats with pepper sauce bollito misto con la pearà | Mixed boiled meats (beef, tongue, cotechino, chicken) with pearà, a thick sauce of breadcrumbs, beef marrow, broth and lots of black pepper. A winter dish. | Traditional trattorias, mainly from autumn to early spring. | roughly €15–22 |
| Thick pasta bigoli | Thick, rough fresh pasta, traditionally made with a press, served with duck ragù (bigoli all'anatra), sardines and onions (con le sarde) or a horse-meat ragù. | Trattorias and osterie throughout the city. | roughly €12–16 |
| Valeggio tortellini tortellini di Valeggio (nodo d'amore) | Very thin-skinned meat-filled tortellini from Valeggio sul Mincio, about 25 km south-west, served in butter and sage or in broth. Valeggio holds a famous tortellini festival in June. | Restaurants in Verona and especially in Valeggio and Borghetto sul Mincio. | roughly €12–16 |
| Pandoro | A tall, star-shaped sweet yeast cake dusted with icing sugar, developed in Verona; Domenico Melegatti patented an industrial process for it in 1894. A Christmas cake, sold year-round in some bakeries. | Bakeries and pastry shops, especially from November to January. | a slice roughly €3–5; whole cakes from about €10 (artisan ones much more) |
| Veronese wine by the glass un'ombra (Valpolicella, Soave, Bardolino) | Valpolicella Classico and Ripasso reds, Amarone for special occasions, crisp white Soave and light Bardolino from Lake Garda. 'Un'ombra' is the Veneto word for a small glass of wine. | Wine bars and osterie in the old centre; wineries in Valpolicella and Soave. | roughly €4–7 a glass for Valpolicella or Soave; Amarone €9–15+ |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Piazza delle Erbe
Verona's old Roman forum, with daily market stalls (today mostly fruit, snacks and souvenirs) and cafés around the square. Good for the setting and an aperitivo, less so for value.
Via Sottoriva and the area around Sant'Anastasia
A low arcaded street near the river with traditional osterie and wine bars, a short walk from Piazza delle Erbe but calmer.
Veronetta
The university district across the Adige river, with cheaper osterie, bars and student places, and more locals than the centre.
Piazza Bra and the Arena
The big square by the Roman Arena, lined with restaurants on the Liston terrace. Convenient before an opera night, but tourist-priced; better for a drink than dinner.
Valpolicella
The wine hills just north-west of the city, with wineries for Amarone and Valpolicella tastings and country trattorias. Reachable in about 20–40 minutes by car or tour.
Food tours in Verona compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verona: Market and Cooking Class at a Local's Home | 5 hours | from €189 per person | private | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Guided Food Tour with Wine Tasting in Verona | 2 hours | from €68 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Verona: Full Meal & Wine Tasting Walking Tour | 3 hours | from €109 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Verona: Street Food and History Tour with Local Guide | 2 hours | from €65 per person | — | First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go. | Check dates |
| Verona: street food walking tour near the historical center | 4 hours | from €79 per person | max 10 | First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go. | Check dates |
Verona: Market and Cooking Class at a Local's Home
On GetYourGuide · run by Cesarine
- Length
- 5 hours
- Price
- from €189 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 8 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Local market visit with the Cesarina Private cooking class Tastings of the 3 local recipes Beverages (water, wines and coffee) Local taxes
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- You will be contacted after booking to arrange a meeting point based on your needs and dietary requirements.
Guided Food Tour with Wine Tasting in Verona
On GetYourGuide · run by Slow Travel
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €68 per person
- Rating
- 4.4 ★ from 257 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Bruschetteria Redoro
Verona: Full Meal & Wine Tasting Walking Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Do Eat Better Experience
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €109 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 70 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- English-speaking local guide Enjoy the following possible tastings across 4+ stops: cicchetti, bigoli, polenta, risino or gelato Water and alcoholic local beverages (3 glasses of local wines) Any additional food or dr…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Meet your guide by the Porta Borsari, under the sign with the Porta Borsari's name
Verona: Street Food and History Tour with Local Guide
On GetYourGuide · run by Food Raphael Tours and Events
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €65 per person
- Rating
- 4.2 ★ from 18 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- 2.5-hour guided walking tour Local food tastings Artisan gelato Espresso coffee Vegetarian options Local expert guide Entry to monuments or museums Extra food and drinks not listed Gratuities Accessibility for wheelc…
- Suits
- First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go.
- Starts
- P.za Brà, Verona VR, Italy
Verona: street food walking tour near the historical center
On GetYourGuide · run by CittàdiLazise
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €79 per person
- Rating
- 4.4 ★ from 3 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Local tour leader 3 local tastings in 3 local shops/restaurants
- Suits
- First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go.
- Starts
- The meeting point is Piazza Bra - under the clock on the side of the International Pharmacy
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Verona has little street food in the strict sense. The nearest things are cicchetti-style snacks with wine at bars, panini with cured meats, pizza by the slice and gelato. An aperitivo with a Spritz or a glass of wine usually comes with small snacks.
Sit-down meals
Most eating is sit-down in osterie and trattorias. Lunch is from about 12:30 and dinner from about 19:30; kitchens often close between meals. A coperto (cover charge) of a few euros per person is common and legal if on the menu. Book ahead on opera nights in summer, when restaurants near the Arena are full.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes in Verona usually teach fresh pasta — tortellini, bigoli or gnocchi — and sometimes risotto or tiramisù, followed by the meal with local wine. Some are held in Valpolicella wineries or farmhouses; check location and transport.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €30–40 (café breakfast, panino or pizza lunch, simple trattoria dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €60–85 (two sit-down meals with local wine) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €130+ (a fine-dining dinner with Amarone, or a winery lunch in Valpolicella) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Fairly easy. Risotto, pasta with vegetable sauces, pumpkin dishes, cheese and polenta are common. Check that risotto is not made with meat broth and that cheese like Grana Padano (animal rennet) is acceptable to you. Traditional osterie are meat-heavy.
Halal: Limited. Halal food is mostly found in kebab shops and a few Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants, including around Veronetta and near the station. Traditional Veronese dishes use pork, horse and beef that are not halal.
Gluten-free: Good. Italy has strong coeliac awareness, and risotto and polenta are naturally gluten-free (check stock and thickeners). Many restaurants offer gluten-free pasta; look for the Italian Coeliac Association (AIC) logo. Fresh pasta, tortellini and pandoro contain wheat.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Terrace restaurants on Piazza Bra and around Piazza delle Erbe charging high prices for average food, with menus in many languages and pictures. Have a drink there for the view, then eat in Via Sottoriva, Veronetta or the side streets.
- Surprise extras on the bill: coperto, bread, bottled water and a 'service' charge. Check the menu for coperto and service before ordering; ask for tap water if you prefer ('acqua del rubinetto').
- 'Amarone' risotto or wine by the glass that is actually a cheaper Valpolicella or Ripasso at Amarone prices. Ask which wine is used or poured, and order Amarone by the glass only in wine bars that show the bottle.
Top tours & activities in Verona
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Verona?
Tipping is not expected in Italy. Most restaurants charge a coperto (cover) of roughly €2–4 per person, which is shown on the menu. Rounding up or leaving small change for good service is common; 10% is generous. On a food tour, a small tip for the guide is appreciated but optional.
What is the traditional food of Verona?
Risotto (especially with Amarone), bigoli with duck or sardines, pastissada de caval (horse-meat stew) with polenta, bollito misto with pearà sauce, gnocchi, and tortellini from nearby Valeggio. For sweets, pandoro, which was developed in Verona. Most traditional dishes are heavier and more common in the colder months.
Do I need to book restaurants on opera nights?
Yes. During the Arena opera festival in summer, restaurants near Piazza Bra fill up before and after performances, which finish late. Book a table in advance, or eat early (around 18:30) and choose a place within walking distance. Some restaurants offer a short pre-opera menu.
Can I visit wineries from Verona?
Yes. Valpolicella, the home of Amarone, starts about 20 km north-west of the city, and Soave about 25 km east. Most wineries offer tastings by appointment, so book ahead, especially at weekends. Public transport is limited, so a tour, taxi or car with a designated driver is the practical option.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, about €30–40 covers a café breakfast, a pizza or panino lunch and a simple trattoria dinner. A comfortable day with two sit-down meals and a glass of local wine is roughly €60–85 per person. Restaurants on Piazza Bra and Amarone wines push the bill up quickly.
Is Piazza delle Erbe a real food market?
It is still a daily market square, but most stalls today sell fruit, snacks, drinks and souvenirs to visitors rather than serve local shoppers. Go for the architecture and an aperitivo. For produce and real neighbourhood shopping, use the weekly district markets (mercati rionali) or the shops in Veronetta; check current days and hours.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.