12 Apostles In Verona - A Restaurant Where History Meets Incredible Food
- Rosa Spatola
- Oct 5, 2017
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 31
There are restaurants you visit because the food is good, and then there are restaurants that become part of the experience of a destination.
12 Apostoli in Verona is definitely the latter.
If you are planning a visit to Verona and love food, history and those special places that have a story behind them, I would definitely put 12 Apostoli on your list.
And this is not simply because it has three Michelin Stars.
The restaurant has been part of Verona's history for almost three centuries, and today it combines that incredible heritage with the cuisine of one of Italy's most celebrated chefs, Giancarlo Perbellini.
It is, quite simply, a very special place.
The Story Behind the Name
One of the things I love about Italy is that even the names of restaurants can have a story.
12 Apostoli dates back to around 1750 and takes its name from a group of twelve merchants who used to meet at the inn to discuss their business.
The people of Verona began calling them the "12 Apostoli" — the Twelve Apostles — and the name remained.
What started as a meeting place and inn eventually developed into one of Verona's most famous restaurants. And when you think about it, there is something wonderfully Italian about that history.
For centuries, restaurants, trattorie and osterie have been places where people meet, talk, do business, celebrate, argue, fall in love and simply enjoy being together.
12 Apostoli has been doing exactly that for generations.
You Are Dining in a Piece of Verona's History
One of the reasons this restaurant is so fascinating is that the history doesn't stop with its name.
The restaurant occupies a historic building in the heart of Verona, and beneath it are archaeological remains dating back centuries. The cellars include Roman remains, part of an ancient Roman road and the foundations of a medieval tower.
So while you are enjoying dinner, there is quite literally a piece of ancient Verona beneath you.
I think this is what makes experiences like this so interesting when travelling around Italy.
You can read about Roman Verona in a guidebook, visit the Arena and walk around the historic centre — or you can sit down for dinner and find yourself surrounded by the physical remains of the city's past.
From Hemingway to Perbellini
Over the years, 12 Apostoli has attracted some fascinating names from the worlds of literature, journalism and the arts.
The restaurant became particularly well known under the Gioco family, who developed its reputation and turned it into a meeting place for intellectuals and cultural figures.
Among the personalities connected with its history are Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound and Gabriele D'Annunzio. The restaurant also became associated with the prestigious 12 Apostoli literary and journalism award.
So there is a wonderful thread running through its history: from the twelve merchants who originally gave it its name, to writers, artists and journalists, and now to some of Italy's most important culinary figures.
Giancarlo Perbellini: Coming Home
Today, the restaurant is known as Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli, and its chef is Veronese-born Giancarlo Perbellini.
There is something particularly fitting about Perbellini being at the helm. This is not just another famous chef taking over another famous restaurant. Perbellini has a personal connection with 12 Apostoli and with Verona itself, making the restaurant something of a return home.
His cooking is sophisticated and contemporary, but the restaurant's identity remains firmly rooted in Verona. And that is something I always look for when recommending restaurants in Italy.
For me, the best experiences are those where you don't just eat well — you feel that you are somewhere.
Three Michelin Stars
Of course, the food is the reason many people will make the journey to 12 Apostoli.
In 2024, Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli was awarded its third Michelin Star, placing it among Italy's very best restaurants. But don't expect a traditional Italian trattoria.
This is fine dining at its highest level, with Perbellini taking Italian ingredients and traditions and presenting them in an extremely contemporary way.
There are different tasting menus, allowing diners to experience the chef's philosophy through a succession of carefully created dishes. One of the experiences is "Io e Silvia", which showcases Perbellini's latest creations, while "L'Essenza" offers a vegetarian journey. There is also "Storie di Casa", which revisits some of the chef's signature dishes. And for those who really want to see what happens behind the scenes, the Chef's Table gives diners a view directly into the kitchen. Personally, I think that would be a wonderful experience for anyone who is genuinely passionate about food.
More Than Just a Michelin-Starred Restaurant
What makes 12 Apostoli stand out for me is that you aren't simply going there for a Michelin-starred meal.
You are going because of the whole experience.
You have the history.
You have the architecture.
You have the archaeological remains.
You have the stories of the people who have passed through its doors.
And then you have the food.
It is the combination of all these things that makes it feel particularly Italian.
There are plenty of excellent restaurants in Italy, but the really memorable ones are those where you leave knowing something about the place as well as having enjoyed the meal.
12 Apostoli is one of those places.
When to Visit 12 Apostoli
I would save 12 Apostoli for a special occasion. Perhaps you are celebrating an anniversary or birthday, planning a romantic weekend in Verona, or simply want to include one exceptional dining experience in your Italian holiday. It is not somewhere I would recommend if you are looking for a quick lunch or an inexpensive plate of pasta. Instead, allow yourself time.#
Spend the day exploring Verona.
Walk through Piazza delle Erbe, visit the Arena, wander through the little streets of the historic centre and stop somewhere for an aperitivo.
Then make your way to 12 Apostoli and settle in for the evening.
Because this is not fast food.
It is not even simply dinner.
It is an experience.
My Take
I have always believed that food is an important part of discovering Italy.
You can visit all the famous monuments, take photographs and tick the sights off your list, but sometimes it is the experiences around a table that you remember most. And 12 Apostoli has everything you could want from a truly memorable Italian dining experience: history, atmosphere, extraordinary food and a connection with the city itself.
So, if Verona is on your itinerary and you are looking to make one evening particularly special, I would certainly consider Casa Perbellini 12 Apostoli. After all, where else can you dine in a restaurant with almost 300 years of history, surrounded by the remains of ancient Verona, while enjoying the cuisine of a three-Michelin-starred Veronese chef?
That, to me, is what travelling in Italy is all about.
Totally Addicted To Italy tip: Don't just book the restaurant and turn up for dinner. Take the time to explore Verona beforehand and make the whole day part of the experience. Italy is at its best when you slow down and enjoy it.
