Where to go as a fine-dining lover in Venice’s hinterland around Vicenza/northern Italy: 

While staying at Hotel La Barchessa di Villa Pisani near Vicenza in the Veneto region, my husband and I tried out some of best Michelin fine-dining restaurants in the area. This includes the one at our lodging, Osteria del Guà, and three more in its vicinity. The range went from an upscale pizzeria to a seafood place and a gastronomic temple (two stars Michelin). While they were quite different from each other, all showed a good performance. And they also were convincing in terms of pricing. You well notice that you are in a region (between Verona and Padua) that is not heavily touristed. Thus you do not have to break the bank in order to dine in style in Venice’s hinterland.

Before coming to more details on four of the best Michelin (starred) fine-dining spots around Vicenza in the Veneto, some lines about the northern Italy journey my husband and I undertook.

10-day road trip in the Piedmont, Veneto & Swiss southeast in style

Before traveling to the main focus of our 2025 northern Italy voyage, the Veneto around Vincenza, we stayed a few days in Stresa. We already had been to this town on Lake Maggiore in Piedmont’s north the previous year and became fond of it. So, we decided to return. When heading home after visiting these two Italian regions, we made a stopover in Switzerland’s southeast. Precisely, we spent two days in the Engadine, an alpine valley.

4 of the best Michelin (starred) fine-dining restaurants in the Vicenza countryside in Italy’s Veneto

I start with our hotel restaurant and continue with the flagship dining spot here, a two-star Michelin establishment. Then it is about a seafood place before I end with an upscale pizzeria.

1. Restaurant Osteria del Guà in Bagnolo di Lonigo

(Michelin listed)

About

Here at this restaurant, located at Hotel La Barchessa di Villa Pisani (see my post about staying here),

they attach great value to regionality. What you eat here shall bring you close to Venice and its trade routes. Its cuisine is supposed to be a tribute to the noble Pisani family who asked Andrea Palladio to create the place where the diners are at Osteria del Guà. And this is the magnificient Palladian Villa Pisani, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Precisely, the eatery is housed in the “Barchessa”, a former rural service building.

They recommend here to start your meal with antipasti in the Pisani tradition. Two different selections of Cicchetti are proposed. These are small, shareable dishes, similar to Spanish tapas, a staple of Venetian culture.

Afterwards you can make your choice either from an à la carte menu (five different sections) or opt for the tasting menu, a Journey to Veneto (5 courses for 85€).

How was it at Osteria del Guà?

You dine at Osteria del Guà either in the elegant dining room with an open fireplace or in a pleasant outdoor area under the arcades.

My husband and I were here during a heatwave, and we chose to be outdoors on two occasions. And this in the hope of the wind to bring some cooling. Of course, we tried out the Cicchetti (see above, in 6 tastings in 2 acts). And we found them mostly good. Some of this traditional fare seem a bit odd for nowadays food habits, for instance beef tongue meatball. Then we had the fish of the day and a dessert each on both days.

While we liked what we got, the food was not particularly memorable.

Oddly enough, we got much bigger portions on our second visit. And this was so despite us having exactly the same dish. A similar thing happened with the dessert (Pear & Peanut Cheesecake) which looked completely different the second time we had it. As to service, they tried hard, but it was not flawless (one server seemed quite inexperienced). Anyway, we enjoyed our time at Osteria del Guà and would come back.

2. Restaurant La Peca in Lonigo, one of the best fine-dining spots around Vicenza in the Veneto

(Michelin two stars)

About

La Peca has been a long-standing culinary institution in Lonigo, half an hour by car south of the city on Vicenza. And fortunately, it is located only a stone’s throw away from the hotel my husband and I were staying (La Barchessa di Villa Pisani, 8 minutes by car). Back in 1987, two brothers opened it. While the chef is Nicola Portinari, Pierluigi Portinari is pastry chef, sommelier and responsible for the administration. They got their first Michelin star in 1996, the second in 2008.

The setting of La Peca – which means imprint – is very nice.

The restaurant has been updated in several renovations and has a modern look. In the most recent overhaul, the terrace was transformed into a new, chic dining room

where its large picture windows allow to view attractive rolling hills.

Food wise, a varied menu is available. The tasting menus are the following ones: Vegetable at 180€, Tracce (Trace) at 195€, Imprint (Footprint) at 235€ and Day by Day (4 Omakase courses) at 130€. In addition, there is a an extensive à la carte on offer. Here a minimum of two courses (without dessert) is required (otherwise a 30€ cover item will be added). I found the pricing reasonable enough for a two-star Michelin establishment.

How was it at La Peca?

Unfortunately, we had a bad start at La Peca. When my husband and I arrived on time for our dinner reservation, we stood before closed doors, and there was no indication how to proceed. So, we waited for some minutes in the scorching heat – we were here when there was a heatwave. This gave us the occasion to scan the surroundings, which were off a bit (leaves were not removed in the entrance area, and a full ashtray stood on a garden wall). When we finally rang the doorbell, two young female staff appeared who were not terribly welcoming.

Once settled at a nice table with a view, the mood lifted rapidly, ours and the service team’s. The young Sommeliere recommended an adequately priced, appealing white wine to us that perfectly complemented our tasting menu (Tracce: 10 courses). Also one of the Portinari brothers – Pierluigi, pastry chef and head sommelier – showed up at one point of time. As to the food, we were thrilled by the high quality we found.

In particular the pasta dishes – Fake Nori Seaweed Ravioli with Seafood in Cassopipa (Venetian stew), and the Mallard (wild duck) Ravioli in Spiced Consommé –

were out of this world! You get here bold, distinct flavors that leave a lasting impression. I only was astonished to notice that there were only six guests in the main dining-room on a Friday evening in early July.

3. Restaurant Locanda dell’Arcimboldo in Coriano Veronese

(Michelin listed)

About Locanda dell’Arcimboldo

On my search for suitable fine-dining spots in our hotel’s surroundings (Villa Barchessa di Villa Pisani, 20 minutes by car) in the Veneto region, I came across the Arcimboldo Restaurant. When reviewing the information available online – which were scarce – , I thought it probably was the most Italian place of all the the ones I was looking at. And that proved to be true! They are specialised in seafood here, with a considerable selection of oysters. You eat à la carte at Locanda dell’Arcimboldo, divided into the typical four sections of starters (13 to 30€), first courses (pasta/risotto, 13 to 25€), second courses/mains (22 to 40€) and desserts (3 to 7€). And there are specialities too.

You are here in Veneto’s middle of nowhere, at least for foreign travelers’ standards. The next known city is Verona, 42 minutes by car. When entering the dining spot’s generous premises, a country house

with a large garden awaits you. In the latter, there is a recently redone, inviting outdoor area. It even features adjustable roof and walls as well as vents, which was a huge relief in the high temperatures we encountered on our visit.

How was it?

We were welcomed by the friendly host who ushered us to our table where we had a good overview of what was happening at Arcimboldo. Not long after sitting down, he presented us live lobster, for which we immediately opted.

And we did this in the form of lobster spaghetti for two (from the specialities menu). This was followed by fish (tuna and monkfish), followed by a hazelnut eclair and a millefeuille. Everything we had was immaculately prepared and tasty.

And we had fine bubbles from the top-notch champagne menu.

We noticed that we probably were the sole foreigners here. In case you want to experience a typical Italian eatery, then you are right at this remotely situated spot. Do not expect chichi but well made honest cuisine focusing on fish and Co. And this with lots of “italianità” . I also took a look of the restaurant interiors, which were large and a bit dated for my taste.

4. Restaurant I Tiglie Pizzeria in San Bonifacio

(Michelin listed)

About

This is not your usual pizzeria but a unique one! You can see that just from the fact that I Tiglie Pizzeria is listed in the Michelin Guide. Chef Simone Padoan began in his brother’s restaurant before starting his own business. He did this in San Bonifacio in 1994, near the freeway between Vicenza and Verona. Over time, his place evolved from a traditional pizzeria with some original dishes on the menu to a sophisticated one. He did lots of experimenting with dough and toppings until the “Tasting Pizza” was born. To represent his new vision of pizza, the chef also renovated the dining spot from the ground up. From 2012 on, I Tiglie Pizzeria is a place where the kitchen is the eatery’s hub, visible to the public.

You get here pizza of course, but I bet you have never experienced something comparable. There is not one sole dough, but there are variations of it: wholemeal, semi-wholemeal ecetera, sometimes flavoured with other flours and/or seeds. The base may be soft or crispy, thin or airier, depending on the filling the chef chooses to pair. For the perfect pizza, he uses a dough management to ensure its proper maturation.

The menu has different sections: The Margherita (19 to 35€, Classical only with Tomato (12 to 25€), From the Sea (25 to 46€), From the Ground/Vegetable (21.50 to 38€), Lika a Sandwich (25 to 42€) and Meats (21.50 to 45€). And you can have the pizzas in two sizes, the regular one or a smaller one (“Cicchetto” version, explication see above under Osteria del Guà). In such a way two persons can taste two to three different pizzas. And a choice of fantastic desserts (5€ – one scoop of ice-cream – to 19€) provides the perfect end to your meal.

How was it?

Dining at a Michelin listed pizzeria was a first for us. As soon as you step into the room, you are dazzled. Are we right here, my husband and I asked ourselves. This because we caught sight of a professional open kitchen first, the kind you find in high-end restaurants.

And there is also a a sales area where you can buy cookies, bread and snacks. After the initial astonishment, we were ushered in the dining room, which is contemporary yet a bit cold.

Right at the beginning – before ordering – we got a small salad with bread, which apparently was the “Coperto” (cover). My husband and I shared three small pizzas – we only ordered the third one when we were half through the first second two. And while we managed to finish all of them, it was a bit too much for the two of us. But they were so terribly good! The pizzas were totally different from each other, be it from the dough or the filling (some of the latter were baked, others not). As to which ones we had, I think we had chosen wisely: Red Shrimp Sashimi, Parmigiana and Burrata Cheese & Culatello of Zibello.

As I had read good things about the desserts, we did not leave the place without one. Unfortunately, we had to make do with one only, because we were already quite full. We opted for the “Idea di Rocher” Call it Ambrogio, which was a delightful combination of creamy and chopped hazelnut, cookie wafer and chocolate mousse. In addition, we bought various kinds of cookies to go when settling the check. One sentence to the costs of pleasure which are not insignificant, but the gourmet pizzas are worth every cent!

Looking back to my Piedmont, Veneto and southeastern Switzerland content

I mentioned it above, my husband and not only went to the Veneto (main focus, around Vicenza) but also had two stopovers en route. On the way there, we stayed in Stresa/Piedmont. On the way back we lodged in the Engadine in the Swiss Alps. A former post went into the itinerary of this trip in style. And earlier on my blog, you also found how it was staying in one of the best luxury hotels in the Veneto countryside. It is about Hotel La Barchessa di Villa Pisani in Venice’s hinterland. And in this very post, you found about where to go for the best fine-dining restaurants near Vicenza in Italy’s Veneto.

Date of stay: July 2025

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