Ristorante Arquade

Ristorante Arquade is the fine-dining restaurant of the Hotel Villa del Quar, a Relais & Châteaux property set in a Renaissance villa amid the vineyards of Valpolicella at San Pietro in Cariano, a short drive north of Verona. The setting is a large part of the appeal: frescoed rooms, a garden terrace, and views over the rows of Corvina and Rondinella vines that produce the region's celebrated Amarone. The kitchen delivers creative Italian cuisine built on Veronese ingredients, with dishes that lean on the local larder — risotto all'Amarone finished with bone marrow, refined preparations of veal and game, lake and Adriatic fish, and seasonal vegetables from the surrounding countryside. Plating is elegant and contemporary, befitting the restaurant's Michelin recognition over the years. Dining takes place in a formal but warm room, candlelit in the evening, or on the terrace in fine weather; smart dress is in keeping with the surroundings and the mood is calm and refined. The wine programme is a highlight in the heart of Valpolicella, with an exceptional cellar of Amarone, Recioto, Valpolicella Ripasso and Soave from neighbouring estates as well as wider Italian and international selections, guided by an expert sommelier. Both à la carte and tasting menus are offered, the latter the best way to experience the kitchen's range, ideally with paired wines. As a destination restaurant within a luxury villa hotel, Arquade sits at the upper end of the price spectrum, and tables are limited, so reservations are recommended well ahead, particularly for weekends and the busy summer season. For travellers exploring the wine country around Verona, it offers a memorable union of Valpolicella terroir, refined cooking and Renaissance surroundings.