Osteria al Duca

The Duca is a foodie institution in Verona, renowned for its outstanding traditional cuisine and reasonable prices, immensely popular with locals while at the same time a favourite stop-off for tourists visiting the nearby Juliet's House (Via Cappello, 23). In fact, legend has it that this ancient osteria is actually in the house where Romeo lived. Although you can pick a dish a la carte, it is difficult to resist the €15 two-course set menu, starting with, say, delicate bigoli (fat spaghetti) with anchovies, raisins and pine nuts, followed by vitello tonnato, paper-thin slices of cold veal with a tangy tuna and caper mayonnaise sauce.

Exposed beams and simple decor create a rustic ambience in this popular osteria (budget-friendly local restaurant). It occupies the house where the fictional Romeo is said to have lived, though you’ll be seated in what would have been the Montague family stables. The food is hearty local fare, so expect to see bigoli, fat strings of pasta piled with donkey ragù, and pastissada, a rich horse meat stew served with polenta, on the menu.

Dinner: Prebook a table, by phone or in person, at an osteria (casual tavern) like Osteria da Ugo or Osteria al Duca – or follow your instincts and pop into any authentic-looking place with a menu posted outside, or join the outdoor tables in a lane or square.

Osteria al Duca, instead, is found in a very narrow road within view of the ornate Scaligere Arches, that you will visit in our Walking Tour, just after you passed Piazza dei Signori (Via Arche Scaligere, 2). Located in a XIII century house it has been declared to be the birthplace of Romeo Montecchi. As the most ancient one a special mention goes to the sublime bigoli al torchio con ragu’ d’asino (thick spaghetti with donkey ragu’), pappardelle al ragu’ d’ anatra (pasta with duck sauce), pastisada de caval (horsemeat stew).

Located in the heart of Verona, Osteria Al Duca is a true jewel for lovers of cuisine that values ​​seasonality and sustainability. This welcoming restaurant manages to combine the Veronese culinary tradition with a modern and responsible approach, making it an unmissable point of reference for those who want to discover the authentic flavors of the city. Each dish is a celebration of fresh, local ingredients, sourced from selected producers.

Osteria al Duca is a culinary time capsule nestled in the heart of Verona, offering an authentic taste of Veronese tradition. Housed in a 13th-century building once associated with Romeo’s family, the osteria exudes rustic charm with its low wooden ceilings and walls adorned with vintage photographs. It’s no-frills, old-school Veronese dining at its most honest: simple, solid, and refreshingly unpretentious.

This traditional and cosy osteria is as close as you can get to visiting it’s next door neighbour, the Casa di Romeo, which is closed to tourists. It offers a set menu of two courses for around €25 which is popular amongst tourists and locals. Given it’s small in size, we arrived for an early dinner and got a table without a reservation.

This fantastic osteria’s outer beams and simple interiors create a rustic atmosphere – a bit historic and old, but in a fabulous way. You can find it near the house where the fictional Romeo resided. Osteria al Duca is a popular restaurant among the locals in Verona.

Proprio nel centro di Verona, a due passi dalle Arche Scaligere. Questa trattoria storica vi farà fare un salto nel passato. Si dice infatti che sia l’ osteria più antica della città e che proprio nel palazzo che la ospita sia nato e cresciuto Romeo.

The very first of the Verona Italy restaurants we suggest you visit is the Osteria Al Duca. It’s situated right in the heart of Verona and nearby Arche Scaligere. The inside of the restaurant is designed in a rustic style.