Hikes in the forests, mountain bike and e-bike rides, foliage, but also artistic wonders, spas to get in shape and face the colder season in the best possible way, many good wines and typical products to taste on site or to buy and bring back home. There is no doubt that the Euganean Hills are a destination that has much to offer and is worth marking in your diary.
Where to eat in Abano Terme, the best restaurants
Alimentari Enoteca Marsiglio
Wine bar. There is a pleasant, convivial atmosphere in this venue in the city centre, just a few steps from the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, a popular address especially with lovers of fine drinking. People come here for a quick lunch, with a sandwich or the snack of the day; or from late afternoon onwards for an aperitif to sip a fine glass (in terms of both price and quality) to accompany sumptuous cheese and charcuterie boards, tasty morsels and various cicchetti. Marsiglio is also a shop, it will be difficult to leave empty-handed.
Alimentari Enoteca Marsiglio – via G. Matteotti, 18 – 049 811464 – alimentarimarsiglio.i
POP – Piccola Osteria Padovana
Osteria. Opened in January 2023, it was an immediate success, so much so that it is always very busy. You can come here for a rich aperitif or for a proper meal, drawing from a daily menu of tasty, flavoursome dishes: rabbit in saôr, baccalà mantecato with polenta, tagliatelle with chanterelles, fried chicken, wild boar tagliata, and guaranteed satisfaction. As for wines, owners Mauro and Andrea Olivetto, father and son, will advise you, and you will not be disappointed.
POP – Piccola Osteria Padovana – via Cornelio Augure, 3 – 049 2270333 – Facebook
Where to eat in Arquà Petrarca
La Montanella
Restaurant. The Borin family has been in the restaurant business for over 70 years, and today it is the latest generation managing the restaurant, a beautiful residence with a garden and welcoming spaces that lend themselves to various convivial situations. The food proposal is multifaceted, from the reinterpretation of ancient recipes to valid twists of traditional dishes, relying on vegetables and aromatic herbs from their own garden and a good home-produced extra virgin olive oil. Good wine list.
La Montanella – via dei Carraresi, 9 – 0429 718200 – montanella.it
Where to eat in Baone
Tre Camini
Trattoria. In a small hamlet about ten minutes from Baone, a solid outpost of typical cuisine made with love and passion. You can sit in comfortable dining rooms or at outdoor tables surrounded by greenery. Dishes feature products from the surrounding area, and bread, pasta, preserves, desserts, and biscuits are all homemade. From the menu: radicchio and apple salad with prosciutto, bigoli with guinea fowl and porcini mushrooms, pheasant steak. The wine list focuses on local productions of the Euganean Hills.
Tre Camini – frazione Calaone via Capitello, 9 – 345 5845677 – trattoriatrecamini-it
Where to eat in Este, the best restaurants
Incàlmo Ristorante dell’Hotel Beatrice
Restaurant. Michele Carretta and Riccardo Scacchetti returned from London three years ago to open, together with chefs Leonardo Zanon and Francesco Massenz, a restaurant with an original proposal, with the aim of restoring splendour to the historic Hotel Beatrice founded in 1966 by Michele's great-grandfather. The dining room is characterised by modern design and attention to detail, in the kitchen the chefs express their verve by playing with flavours, textures, colours and contrasts. The wine list is comprehensive and well thought out.
Incàlmo Ristorante dell’Hotel Beatrice – viale Rimembranze, 1 – 0429 1761472 – incalmoristorante.com
Where to eat in Galzignano Terme
Al Bigolaro
Trattoria. The undisputed stars of the food offer, as can be deduced from the name, are bigoli, a kind of fresh, thick spaghetti made of eggs and flour, extruded with the traditional press and dressed in the most varied ways, duck ragù in primis. Also on the menu is polenta, risottos and pappardelle with seasonal condiments, the very traditional stuffed pigeon, pork knuckle, Vicenza-style salt cod, game, and rabbit with herbs. Family-style atmosphere, pleasant surroundings, wines in line with the proposal.
Al Bigolaro – via Regazzoni Bassa, 19 – 049 9131464 – albigolaro.it
Where to eat in Lozzo Atestino
Tolin
Butcher shop & kitchen. In addition to being a well-stocked shop, Andrea Tolin's is a must for meat lovers in all possible versions. Ranging from raw meats such as tartare, carpaccio and tartare to fried offal (tripe, brains, sweetbreads), passing through the white meat sauce dressing for tagliatelle to elephant ear schnitzels, burgers and grilled meats. The wine list rightly emphasises reds without forgetting a few good craft beers. A pleasant outdoor seating area for the summer.
Tolin – via Chiesa, 6 – 0429 94144 – macelleriatolin.it
Where to eat in Montegrotto Terme
Hostaria dei AnZoi
Osteria. Manfredi Gioffrè, better known as Manny, is the factotum of this location, assisted by a young and motivated staff. The place is pleasant and comfortable, with tasteful furnishings, background music, outdoor tables and a lively, convivial atmosphere that puts everyone at ease. The menu is constructed on the basis of what the market offers, the dishes of the day are marked on a special blackboard. They range from Venetian recipes to others from the rest of Italy and leave room for desserts, they are worth it. The choice of wines is good.
Hostaria dei AnZoi – via Scavi, 15 – 346 6275033 – Facebook
Where to eat in Teolo
Come in Corte Aurora
Restaurant. One of Padua's favourite destinations for out-of-town day trips, Teolo also boasts an unexpected and as yet little-known gourmet destination, the Come in Corte Aurora, desired and created by the young Cortellazzo brothers, Andrea and Paolo, who, on the strength of their own farm in Cona (VE), have created a culinary proposal based above all on the many products of the family estate, transformed in a modern and innovative key. Evolving wine cellar, beautiful rooms upstairs to extend your stay.
Come in Corte Aurora – via Chiesa Teolo, 1 – 333 1566758 – comeincorteaurora.it
Where to eat in Torreglia
Antica Trattoria Ballotta
Trattoria. Considered the oldest in the area and its origins seem to go back as far as 1605, a date that rightly earned it membership of the “Locali Storici d'Italia” historic venue association. The cuisine draws heavily on tradition, with well-conceived seasonal menus. Meals start with typical cured meats with "giardiniera" pickled veggies and continues with homemade fettuccine with porcini mushrooms, baked "torresano" with soft polenta and fried sage, and espresso tiramisu. More creative dishes and good pizzas are also on the menu. Wines mostly from the territory.
Antica Trattoria Ballotta – via Romana, 57 – 049 5212970 – ballotta.it
Where to eat in Vo’
Dal Contadino
Restaurant. A beautiful establishment surrounded by greenery, with an outdoor terrace and ample space to cater for every need, from a group of friends to a get-together for two. The culinary proposal is based on selected ingredients, many from the area, elaborated with the right creative twist. These range from rabbit in porchetta with foie gras and caramelised onion, to fettuccine with duck, orange and cacao grue, from honey glazed goose leg to grilled meats. There is no shortage of fish dishes and, in season, truffles. Wine cellar up to the mark.
Dal Contadino – Via Monte Venda, 3135 – 049 9925363 – ristorantedalcontadino.com
Cover photo comes from Osteria Nova’s website - ostarianovaeste.com
by Clara Barra
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