Honestly, I don't get impressed too often when visiting a restaurant. The interiors and experience can impress me - sure. But the food? Not often at all, truthfully. But, this lunch at the newly opened Darì in Verona - well, this was in a league of its own.

📍 Vicolo Cieco S. Pietro Incarnario, 5, Verona

Hidden away in an alleyway not many tourists will wander, you'll find a little discrete sign that says Darì. What you cannot see from the outside, are the stunning rooms & breathtaking courtyard inside. My mum & dad had been there before, when the restaurant had another name and that's how we knew all about this little gem.

I have no idea for how long we ended up sitting there in the end, but it must have been hours. It was too nice not to. People came, ate, and went on with their lives - all while we sat there and chatted, enjoyed our food and drank our wine. It was nice to have all the time in the world and not even worry about checking our watches once. One of those rare moments, you know.

We started off with some soup (complimentary of the chef - grazie!), and ordered warm burrata (so good it wasn't even funny), mortadella and a few other bits. Later for the first course I had the most amazing ravioli with a little fried basil leaf on top - funny thing to focus on perhaps, a little leaf, but it truly was the icing on the cake (read: ravioli). I was so full after this I didn't eat a secondi, but moved right on to dessert. I ate the passion fruit pannacotta and man, did I chose well. A great end to a very lovely lunch, indeed.

I'm not recommending this place, I am bold enough to say; going here isn't an option if you're in Verona - it's mandatory.

You can thank me later.

I have been lucky enough to visit some of the most stunning places in the world, but in my book nothing (and I do mean nothing) really does beat Italy. It's partly because I lived there for a while and mostly due to the people, history and beauty it has.

I just got back from spending time in Verona and Valpoliciella and the holiday blues are real. Having spent the last few days eating pasta and strolling around wine fields, being back in the city feels very... mundane, to say the least. But that's what makes life beautiful though - the variety of it all.

Some of the highlights were definitely attending the opera on opening night and accidentally sitting a few metres away from the Italian president (surreal moment, for sure!), seeing the most amazing views over the city and let's not forget a rather memorable lunch - but more on that in another post. In the meantime, enjoy!

Breathtaking views on top of the Verona Castel San Pietro. You can walk up there or go in a "gondola" up the hill. I recommend going up with the gondola and to walk down the hill back to the city.

Juliet's balcony! Not the real one, but you know - still worth walking by