The 10 best meat restaurants in Verona
Ten addresses to enjoy the best meat dishes in Verona. Here are the places you should not miss
Verona: the romantic city par excellence. One of the most famous love stories of all time unfolded along its streets, yet Verona is not just Romeo and Juliet’s city. It is also the home of Amarone, the birthplace of pandoro, carnival chiacchiere and countless other delicacies, including signature meat dishes such as pearà and gran bollito. If you love meat and are planning your next food escape built around barbecues and fiorentine steaks, make a note of these 10 addresses. You will not regret it!
Porto Alegre
Corso Porta Nuova, 78
We start our carnivorous journey with a restaurant where only the street address is Veronese. PORTO ALEGRE is a Brazilian churrascaria that has won over the hearts and palates of the whole city to the rhythm of samba. The smart setting in the heart of town is a pleasant surprise, while the generous menu features prime cuts across churrasco, picanha and scamone. Brazilian staples round off the offer, from starters such as salpicao de frango and feijoada to fresh desserts that bring the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to mind, including warm pineapple with cinnamon.
Bom apetite!
Le Cantine de l’Arena
Piazzetta Scalette Rubiani, 1
Good food, good music. That is how the owners introduce themselves, having dubbed LE CANTINE DE L’ARENA Verona’s Music Brasserie: a venue that, in their own words, ‘believes in the power of music and jazz’. In plain terms? A spot where you can enjoy grilled specialities accompanied by music, from the high notes of a juicy rib of beef to the mellow tones of beef cheeks braised in Valpolicella.
With its rustic decor, the venue is ideal for casual yet refined dinners in both winter and summer, when tables are set outside just near the Arena.
Alongside the menu, remember to check the music calendar: every week the venue hosts live music nights with jazz and soul artists.
Sottoriva
Via Sottoriva, 9/a
A small spot beneath the porticoes, opposite the Chiesa di Sant’Anastasia. With barely 20 covers, this trattoria always makes you feel at home. It is warm and cosy in winter, with outdoor tables when the weather warms up. The traditional menu leaves nothing out, but if you have never tried it, do not miss the Pastissada de Caval, a rich horsemeat stew served with steaming polenta. Keep in mind that it operates strictly on a first-come, first-served basis: they take no bookings and you will often find yourself sharing a table with strangers. Get there early!
Osteria Verona Antica
Via Sottoriva, 10
Set on one of the city’s most picturesque streets, just off Piazza delle Erbe, this trattoria provides a welcome respite from the bustling city centre. The owner, Davide, will happily talk you through the monthly menu, which shifts with the seasons. A fixture, however, is the classic menu and the renowned ‘Cavallo in Osteria’: a tasting of locally produced horse meat and cured meats.
Ai Salvi
Via Lugagnano, 160
An unmissable spot for Sunday lunch with friends is AI SALVI, a farm trattoria with a double soul. Recognised since 2003 as one of Verona’s top restaurants for meat, it caters to everyone. The venue features in the national register of certified supply chains with DOC meats, thanks to its family-run farm. Here, refined meat dishes are prepared with top-quality local ingredients in a relaxed, informal setting. Two worlds—the country trattoria and fine dining—meet in ever-evolving recipes. If you cannot decide between a classic fiorentina and a fillet tartare with Cantabrian anchovies, ask the owner, a chatty breeder who will gladly share a few tricks of the trade.
Special & Mr. Martini
Via Trombetta, 39/B
This address really is as special as its name suggests. Special for meat enthusiasts, and just as appealing to motorbike fans. Yes, you read that right: SPECIAL & Mr. MARTINI is the first restaurant that unites a passion for cooking with two-wheeled motoring. The setting could hardly be more distinctive: a former petrol station where, instead of oil pumps and bolts, you will find a steakhouse with a polished menu built on first-rate produce. All that remains is to rev your engines!
The Butcher
Via Leoncino, 7A
People used to visit their trusted butcher for advice on cuts and cooking—after all, who knew better? Today, people head to THE BUTCHER. Here we place our trust in Verona’s modern butcher, whose urban-country aesthetic draws in even diners who have never heard of dry-ageing. Spread across multiple floors in the historic centre, the restaurant offers various ageing stages and specialises in high-quality organic meats. The extensive selection ranges from free-range Italian beef to sought-after international cuts such as Wagyu, Bresse chicken and Galician beef. The owners follow a ‘whole cow’ philosophy: every part of the animal is showcased, from prime cuts to offal, through cooking that highlights flavour and wins over even the most sceptical palates.
Le Colombare Cocina Argentina
Via Castello S. Felice, 7 Parco delle Colombare
It is a short step from offal to Argentine cuisine when Ricardo Jantus sets the pace. The chef and parrillero decided to bring the warmth and flavours from Buenos Aires to the Torricelle hills. The atmosphere here is second to none, set within a leafy park overlooking a swimming pool. Generous spaces make the venue ideal for large dinners, parties and celebrations, where you can share a traditional Argentine parrilla: an assortment of meats grilled directly over glowing embers. Well worth trying.
Osteria Dogana Vecia
Via Filippini, 3
One of the oldest osterias in Verona. An osteria in the truest sense: stone walls, a handwritten paper menu and a short list of dishes—almost always a hallmark of quality, and certainly so here. The menu changes daily, offering two starters, three pasta courses and three traditional mains. If you visit on a Sunday, the house speciality is bollito misto with pearà (a peppery bread sauce), which must be booked in advance. Once seated, you cannot miss a charming touch: painted on the ceiling beams are witty Venetian proverbs, such as ‘L’ultimo goto l’è quel che imbriaga’ (it is always the last glass that gets you drunk).
Doppio Malto
Viale del Lavoro, 50
Last but not least, for those who enjoy meat between two buns, DOPPIO MALTO is an easy choice. This energetic chain of burger and steak houses recently opened its doors in Verona. With tables bookable indoors and outdoors, it is ideal for a lively night out with friends or family. The menu is playful and broad, ranging from hefty burgers, ribs and grilled meats to free-range cockerels and signature dishes such as the coffee-crusted chicken thigh served with grilled courgettes, aubergines and peppers.
PS: to wash it down, you simply have to choose which of the 18 craft beers on the list to raise in a toast.
