The Best Places to Eat in Italy’s Sparkling Wine Region

Last Updated on August 2, 2024 by Jo

We all know that Italian food is special but in a region where farming, biodiversity and local produce sit at the heart of daily life, the food experience is elevated even further.

Whether you’re taking a Wine Tasting Tour with us or spending a week relaxing in one of the agrituismo, dining out is of of the greatest delights in Italy’s premium Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco D.O.C.G. region; second only after tasting the sparkling wine, of course.

In this guide, I share the best places to eat in the region ranging from casual eateries to gelaterias to the finest restaurants. We have personally tried and tested them all. You can find these eateries on our map at the end of this article.


Bistro La Cantinetta

Fritto misto vegetables at Bistro La Cantinetta

If you don’t want to splurge on a dinner at La Corte (below), try Bistro La Cantinetta. Located within the same Hotel Villa Abazzia that is home to La Corte, you’ll find a simpler menu but the food still ranks for quality. Whether you’re staying at the Relais & Chateaux hotel or just passing through, this bistro is perfect for an informal dinner or a relaxed lunch on the terrace between wine tastings.


Osteria Borgoluce

deep fried mozzarella at osteria borgoluce.

Osteria Borgoluce is one of my all-time favourite osteries in the region with a prime, romantic hilltop location. Borgoluce is a sprawling farm estate that produces everything from fresh buffalo mozzarella (from their own buffalo) to Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco D.O.C.G. to fresh ham and olive oil. And their produce feature heavily on their menus (as you’d want them to). Borgoluce has several eateries in the area and although osteria are traditionally wine bars serving simple food, there is a subtle yet sophisticated elegance to the food, wine, decor and service at Osteria Borgoluce.

collage of food at osteria borgoluce - ham, asparagus and two fruit desserts.

Don’t miss the fresh mozzarella, deep fried as well as the ever-rotating seasonal specials. If you’re after simple but flavourful locally-produced food, book a table at Osteria Borgoluce.

Borgoluce also has rooms and apartments available (on a different part of the estate). See our Accommodation Guide.


Borgoluce Vineria

Borgoluce small bits - croissant with ham.

Imagine a beautiful shaded terrace with sweeping views across the Borgoluce countryside estate. Add a menu of cicchetto (tapas-like small bites), a glass of sparkling wine and you have everything you need for a long, relaxing lunch. That’s what you can expect at Borgoluce Vineria. Focused on slow food with short supply chains and serving the best of Borgoluce’s products – from buffalo mozzarella to hams, pasta and wines – this is Italian food as it should be. If all the sparkling wine is making you feel a little stuffed, I highly recommend one of the large salads. In a location where produce is king, these salads taste like salads should do – fresh and flavourful as nature intended. Bonus: the salads leave space for a little dessert.

chocolate dessert at borgoluce.

After lunch at the winery, don’t forget to stop by the shop to pick up some fresh produce, a bottle of olive oil and some wine. The Vineria and Cantina is a one-stop-shop of all things that taste divine.


Boutique Del Gelato

Prosecco DOCG gelato.

Because if you hadn’t drunk enough Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco D.O.C.G. during your time in the region, why not have it in gelato form too!? Boutique Del Gelato’s D.O.C.G. gelato is somewhat of a novelty but undoubtedly delicious and worth a try. Related: Gelato vs Ice Cream vs Sorbet – What’s the Difference?


Enoteca Veneta

Enoteca Veneta collage - front and plate of pasta.

Located on the campus of The School of Viticulture and Enology of Conegliano, the University of Padua’s very own wine school in Conegliano, Enoteca Veneta is a gourmet pizzeria, restaurant and wine bar with an elaborate and creative pizza offering as well as plenty of pasta dishes and other local specialities.

Plus, their traditional tiramisu is an absolute must for dessert (did you know tiramisu was originally from Northern Italy, created in Treviso?).

As lovely as the alfresco seating is on a sunny day, don’t forget to head inside and take a look at the restaurant’s impressive wine collection both downstairs and on the upper floor.


Enrica Miron

Scallops in shell at Enrica Miron.

Located inside the beautiful Relais Le Betulle hotel high upon a hill in Conegliano, Enrica Miron, the chef behind the restaurant name, delivered so much more than you might expect from a restaurant attached to a hotel.

Focusing on fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, the food is gourmet in both look and taste. It was (sadly) asparagus season when I visited and Enrica Miron managed to serve me an asparagus-containing dish that was delicious – something I previously thought impossible. Related: Where to stay in Conegliano


Gelaterita

Gelaterita mental gelato tubs and toppings.

A trip to Italy wouldn’t be complete without at least one gelato and there is every chance that you’ll want more than one from Gelaterita.

Rita, the wonderful lady behind Gelaterita does it right with seasonal flavours and high-quality dairy. Formerly located in Miane, Rita has taken her gelato mobile, serving it from a cute van. You need to be on top of the daily-changing locations to catch her but it’s worth the effort.

Did you know? If you want good gelato, look out for the metal tubs. All those piled high, extravagantly decorated gelato displays you see are designed to lure you in. Good gelato is kept under a lid in a metal container.


La Corte

beef and potato morsels at La Corte Follina

If you’ve got a special occasion to celebrate or you’re after Michelin guide quality food, head to La Corte in Follina. I highly recommend one of the tasting menus complete with wine pairing.

Accommodation available: La Corte is located at the Hotel Villa Abazzia, a grand hotel in central Follina. You can find out more in my accommodation guides.


Locanda da Lino

fresh pasta with smoked cheese at Locanda da lino.

Locanda da Lino is impressive from start to finish. Enter, and you’re met with a ceiling covered in copper pots – there are over 3,000 pots I’m told (I didn’t count them) – but this wasn’t nearly as impressive as the flavours I found on my plate. Stuffed with cheese and then topped with smoked and shaved cheese, I was somehow vanquished by this four-strong, wonderfully rich plate of tortellini. Proof that simple dishes are often the best.

Accommodation available: Check out my Where to stay for details of the rooms available at Locanda da Lino.


Locanda Sandi

Plate of risotto at Locanda Sandi.

If you’re looking for a wow-spot, dine at Locanda Sandi. Of course, the food is spectacular – the risotto plays favourably in my memory. But it’s the enchanting gardens, lit with candles, the ivy-covered building and meandering pathways that will win your heart long before you’ve had a chance to treat your stomach. Head over to my accommodation page to see what I mean. And on that note – accommodation is available at this beautiful Locanda.


Osteria al Castelletto

Plate of polenta and cured meat at Osteria al Castelletto.

For something different, try Osteria al Castelletto. This Osteria’s speciality is ‘spiedo’, which means cooked on the spit. You’ll realise this the second you walk in when you see and smell rotating lines of chicken blazing over a roaring fire. The Osteria is not in the prettiest location (just a restaurant on a main road) but there’s a reason this restaurant fills up fast. With apologies – the picture is of the polenta with burrata and sopressa I ate before my chicken because rotisserie chicken is a hard dish to photograph in a way that looks appealing (though I’m committed to keep trying this out).


Osteria Da Botton

Exterior of Osterai da Botton.

Osteria Da Botton is a quaint little family-run cafe in Farra di Soligo, with a lovely outdoor terrace which is great for al fresco dining and aperitivo. I stopped here for a casual lunch in between winery visits and was treated to a lovely selection of cheeses, cured meats, fresh bread, pickled vegetables and other local delights which were shared amongst the table. Osteria Da Botton was ideal for a light lunch in the sun. They also serve hot dishes such as soups and pasta if you’re after something heavier. Related: Italian Aperitivo – Everything You Need To Know.


Osteria Dai Mazzeri

cake on a plate at Osteria Dai Mazzeri .

Osteria Dai Mazzeri sits inside a building dating back to 1704 which was once Follina’s town hall. The restaurant is run by two local brothers and the original stone walls are now covered in a collection of beautiful artwork collected by the family. During the winter you can sit inside by the warming fireplace, while during summer months you can dine al fresco on the charming veranda, just next to the walls of Follina’s Romanesque Abbey.

Osteria Dai Mazzeri prides itself on its traditional homemade Venetian cuisine using ingredients from local farmers in the region. Every course in this lovely little spot was delicious, from antipasti to dessert (don’t miss dessert!), so make sure you turn up hungry! And make sure to try a few glasses from the restaurant’s equally impressive wine collection.


Osteria Senz’Oste

Honesty till at Osteria Senz'Oste.

Update 2024: Things change. And sadly popularity can cause a place to change for the worse. Osteria Senz’Oste is no longer the charming honesty-policy tavern it once was. It’s become more commercial, there is a cashier, and there are reports of higher prices and lower quality. Our tour customers (and drivers) generally report a disappointing experience. I’ll leave it on the list for now but do check up-to-date reviews before you visit. Alternatively, we have a few secret hilltop locations where you can taste Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco D.O.C.G., accompanied by local bread, cured meat and cheese if you book a tour with us.

Pretty much every article you read about the sparkling wine region of Italy is going to have some mention of Osteria Senz’Oste and quite rightly so. Why? This is one unique ‘dining establishment’. Firstly, there are only patrons, no staff. Osteria Senz’Oste is a self-service tavern that operates on an honesty policy basis.

You’re only going to find basics here: bread, meat, cheese, water and, of course, sparkling wine, but they are the perfect ingredients for an al fresco picnic with some shockingly good views. If you’re on a budget or you’re short on time (Italian meals are not known for their speed), this is a brilliant stop.

Bonus: You’re just over the road from the popular Col Vetoraz Vineyard and just down the hill from the vending machine (yes, that’s a thing).


Pasticceria Ducale

Cake selection behind counter at Pasticceria Ducale.

A girl’s got to eat breakfast (boys too, of course) and Pasticceria Ducale was one of my favourite morning hang-out spots in the region. I could have spent a day cruising through the myriad Italian pastries and consuming a truckload of caffeine but there was wine tasting to do.

Related: How To Eat Italian Breakfast Like A Local | Best Italian Pastries To Try


PER

Where to eat in the Prosecco Region PER

Want to do some cheese tasting? Head to PER. Part deli, part restaurant, part creamery, you really can have it all at PER. I opted for a cheese-tasting lunch rather than ordering from the menu and my inner-cheese addict couldn’t have been happier. All washed down with a glass of sparkling wine, I don’t think casually informative lunches get more tasty than this. I managed to get a cheeky look in the cheese room – this, I believe, is what cheese dreams are made of.

Related: Parmesan Cheese and Its Italian Alternatives


Pizzeria Barbato

Margherita pizza at Pizzeria Barbato

You know you’re going to get good pizza when an Italian person takes you there and this is a restaurant I dined at with the wonderful Oriana and one of the drivers I work with. There are all sorts of notions that you can’t get good pizza out of Naples but this pizzeria was every bit as good as the pizzas I tasted when I visited Naples. The restaurant had a ‘market’ feel with plenty of fresh produce handing around and adding to the aroma. You can watch the pizza chef at work and apart from anything else, it made a nice change from the multiple-course menus I’d been feasting on all week.

Tip: This Pizzeria is in Follina in case you use that town as your base.


Ristorante Calizia

Risotto with flowers ristorante calizia.

Ristorante Calizia holds a special place in my heart because it has stepped into the shoes of my much beloved Locanda Marinelli, which closed a few years ago. Rebranded and reinvented, the two impressively young chefs who were trained in the Marinelli restaurant are serving up food just as wonderful as their teachers served. The risotto was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented too. Plate after plate the food looked almost too good to eat. Almost. Tip: Don’t miss the truffle fries.

You’ll have to plan ahead if you want to secure a table at Calizia which is small and intimate enough to feel like you’re dining in a family home. Speaking of which, the restaurant is located in an old house, and also has a small number of beautiful, modern yet cosy rooms if you want to go from dinner to bed in a few steps. Find out more in my guide to Where to Stay.


Ristorante da Gigetto

Strawberry dessert at Gigetto.

High-end cuisine with a broad menu, if you’re looking for variety and quality or are celebrating something special, try Gigetto. They served me some of the best pasta I’ve eaten and just look at that dessert – it speaks for itself. There is a tasting menu available at a very reasonable price. The food is seasonal, beautifully presented and if you’re lucky, ask if you can have a look around what must be one of the best-stocked cellars in all of Italy.


Roda Mata

Plate of cicchetti at Roda Mata.

Roda Mata is the latest offering from the Borgoluce estate and it’s every bits as good as their other eateries. Positioned as a cycling cafe, located at the top of a hill in the Collalto area, Roda Mata is the perfect stop on your bike trip through the region. Or, like me, you can hop out of a car in the middle of your wine tasting tour to sample the casual but delicious food on offer.

Choose from a range of cicchetti (Italian tapas) for a quick bite or fill up on one of their freshly cooked and protein-packed frittatas. There is also a good selection of antipasti, pasta and desserts. My advice: turn up hungry.

With a cute terrace that offers stunning panoramas, Roda Mata is one to add to your itinerary whether you’re cycling in the region, wine tasting, or both.


Salis Ristorante Enoteca

Green pasta spiral with flowers at Salis ristorante Valdobbiadene.

The first time I dined at Salis Ristorante was during a tasting event so I dined on a buffet of antipasti, risotto, fresh berries and cherries. The view over the Valdobbiadene vineyards was superb and I spent the whole time making a mental note to return to experience a sit-down meal at my leisure. Which I did, and it more than lived up to my expectations.

The menu is packed with seasonal and organic produce which offer a powerful foundation for the flavours that come out of the kitchen. But more than that, the dishes are elegant, creative and a delight to behold when they arrive at the table. Salis is a place to languish over a long lunch with well-paired wines or indulge in the evening’s tasting menu. Perhaps most impressive of all is the chef, Chiara, who runs such a high-quality restaurant at such a young age.

And I’m pleased to say that we are now offering cooking lessons for our customers with Chiara as our expert chef.

New Tour for 2024
Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco D.O.C.G. Tasting
+ Cooking Lesson

Full day-day tour
Visit two Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco D.O.C.G. wineries
Learn how to make fresh pasta and tiramisu with one of the region’s top chefs
Hosted at Riva Granda with a hilltop location surrounded by vineyards
Contact us for details
(Online booking coming soon)

Board of Prosecco cheese at Salis.

Torrefazione Spinetta

Coffee and bright coloured sweets at Torrefazione Spinetta

Right in the heart of Valdobbiadene, Torrefazione Spinetta is supposedly the smallest coffee roaster in Italy with just 25 square meters of space. Opened in 1956 by the Baratto family, the tiny roasters still handcrafts its secret blends to this day, producing some of the most amazing coffee in the region which is sold to loyal customers at more than affordable prices.

You can visit Torrefazione Spinetta which does have a very compact shop front (you can probably fit around 4 people inside at a push) to see their roasting machine, try a cup of their acclaimed home-roasted coffee (I can confirm it is delicious) or buy a bag to go, as well as some lovely local cakes and chocolates.


Wine Bar Centrale

Wine Bar Centrale Capuccino cups

There’s no way I’d have swung into this ‘wine bar’ for cappuccino unless I’d been taken by a local. But I’m glad I did. The cappuccino was thick and strong – almost as thick and strong as the hoard of locals getting their morning fix; a testament to the ‘wine bar’s’ popularity as a breakfast spot.

You can add any of these restaurants to your personalised itinerary when you visit the region with one of our drivers. Book here and find out more here.

You can find all of the eateries mentioned in this list on our map of the Region.


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