Osteria La Fontanina

Osteria La Fontanina sits across the Adige from the centro storico, tucked into the Portichetti Fontanelle — a cobbled courtyard at the base of the hill leading up to Castel San Pietro. The restaurant has been operating in the same location since 1963, and the Cristini family has owned it since 1986. The summer courtyard, strung with fig-leaf lights under a canopy of wisteria, is one of the most photographed al-fresco rooms in Italy.

The cooking is classical Veronese with gentle modern touches. Signatures include risotto all'Amarone with slow-cooked beef cheek, bigoli with duck ragù, and a bollito misto in winter with seven meats and three traditional sauces. The à la carte is extensive; the five-course tasting (€95) rotates seasonally and is the best introduction.

The wine list leans heavily into Valpolicella and is particularly strong in Ripasso and Valpolicella Classico — the lesser-known lighter expressions that can be better matches for the food than the flagship Amarone. The sommelier team is unusually generous with tastes and will open two or three bottles to find the right pairing for a dish.

For proposals, the courtyard at twilight (about 21:00 in June–August) is one of the most visually arresting small settings in northern Italy. Request the fountain-side table in advance.

Osteria La Fontanina is Verona's most romantic first-date restaurant. The courtyard setting — especially in summer, under the wisteria with the castle hill rising behind — creates atmospheric momentum from the first moment. The cooking is warm and recognisable, not intellectually demanding. The wine list is generous at every price point. The walk back across the Ponte Pietra into the centro storico is one of the most scenic evening strolls in the Veneto. For a first evening in Verona together, this is the definitive room.