"Verona's first three-star kitchen, won in the room where Perbellini apprenticed. Book the chef's table to close a deal."
About Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli
Giancarlo Perbellini took his first kitchen job at 12 Apostoli in the early 1980s, a teenager working the prep benches for Giorgio Gioco in a dining room the Gioco family had run for 102 years. In 2023 he returned as its owner, moved Casa Perbellini into the frescoed vaults at Vicolo Corticella San Marco 3, and in November 2024 Michelin made it Verona's first three-star restaurant, confirmed again in the 2026 edition of the guide. The tasting costs €230. No Italian promotion this decade has carried more history with it.
The Kitchen
The dish to anchor on is the wafer al sesamo: a sesame cracker holding sea bass tartare, chive-laced goat's cheese and a stroke of licorice, created in 2002 and never off the menu since. It opens the long menus, “Io e Silvia” for current work and “Storie di Casa” for the signatures, each €230 and taken by the whole table, with “L'Essenza” as the vegetarian route. À la carte exists but barely undercuts them: two courses €220, three €240. Wine pairings run €120 for three glasses, €180 for five.
Perbellini cooks in the open. The kitchen faces the room, and the twelve-seat chef's table puts you close enough to read the pass. His cooking sits at the classical end of Italy's great kitchens, technique-first and unshowy, which is exactly why the third star landed here rather than at louder tasting-menu rooms. MasterChef Italia filmed its semifinal in this dining room in February 2026; the cameras came to him, not the reverse.
The Room
Three centuries of dining history show on the walls: frescoes, dark wood, white cloth, forty seats in total. Sound stays conversation-easy even on full nights, the light is warm and low, and tables are spaced generously enough that the negotiation one table over stays theirs. The chef's table seats twelve in front of the pass and books out first. Dress is smart; nobody will demand a jacket, but the room will make you wish you had worn one. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Best for Closing a Deal
Book this table to close a deal because the plaque does half the work: three Michelin stars, Verona's only set, and your guest will know it. Service paces a negotiation rather than a performance, the list runs deep into Amarone, and the spacing keeps terms private. It leads our best restaurants for closing a deal picks for the Veneto; if the evening is personal, the same room carries an anniversary. More options sit in the Verona dining guide, starting with Il Desco a few streets away.
Not for
Skip it for casual Verona. The room is formal, dinner runs three hours, and €230 a head is occasion money; for a weeknight, Antica Bottega del Vino pours better value.
Frequently Asked
Is Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli worth €230?
Yes, when the occasion justifies a three-hour meal. The €230 tasting sits at the lower end of what Italian three-star rooms charge, the wafer al sesamo alone explains twenty years of reputation, and the address is part of the purchase: 12 Apostoli has hosted Verona's serious dinners since the Gioco era. It is not weeknight money; the Verona dining guide lists gentler bills.
How hard is it to book Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli?
Easier than its three-star peers, for now. Reservations run through the Plateform booking system and by phone at +39 045 8780860. Weekend dinners and the twelve-seat chef's table disappear first, so book as far out as your plans allow; midweek lunch is the soft entry. The restaurant closes Sunday and Monday, which compresses demand into five days.
What is the dress code at Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli?
Smart. There is no published jacket rule, and Verona is more relaxed than Milan, but the frescoed room, white cloth and the price of the evening all argue for dressing up rather than down. Smart trousers and a collared shirt clear the bar; trainers and shorts will feel wrong the moment you walk in.
What should I order at Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli?
First-timers should take “Storie di Casa”, the signature menu, which carries the 2002 wafer al sesamo with sea bass tartare and licorice plus the dishes that won the stars. “Io e Silvia” shows the kitchen's current thinking, and “L'Essenza” is the full vegetarian route. The €180 five-glass pairing earns its price in the Amarone flights alone.
Is Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli good for a proposal?
Yes, with one caveat. The room is hushed, candle-warm and historic, and staff handle staging requests with three-star discretion, which is why it makes our proposal shortlist. The caveat is the chef's table: twelve seats facing the pass is theatre, not privacy. Propose at a dining-room table, not the counter.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli
Books via Plateform; weekend dinners and the chef's table go first.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressVicolo Corticella San Marco 3, 37121 Verona
NeighbourhoodCittà Antica
CuisineContemporary Italian
Price€230 tasting; à la carte €220–240
Dress CodeSmart
Seating40 seats + 12-seat chef's table
ReservationPlateform / +39 045 8780860
