Hotel Mioni Pezzato

Leaving the provincial road and commercial zone behind, one enters the fabulous world of Le Calandre and the Alajmo family: soft lighting – achieved even by day – serves almost as a design element in the pared-back dining room, conceived by brothers Massimiliano and Raffaele, who also designed most of the porcelain used in service. The offering unfolds through three tasting menus: Classico, Max, and Raf, with the generous option to mix them freely or compose a meal as if ordering à la carte. Suspended between comforting flavors and whimsical touches, Max’s cuisine occasionally references itsel

Il Baretto on the outskirts of Padova is a must for anyone who loves classic, traditional fish and seafood, thanks to its menu which includes a number of typical Venetian dishes. The top-quality fish is skilfully prepared to bring out its full flavour and distinctive characteristics, providing a real treat for the tastebuds in this inland temple to the sea.

At this restaurant, the two brothers (the owners) who work together front of house come from a family of farmers whose meat features on the menu, while two other brothers, originally from Rome but settled in the Veneto for many years, are at the helm in the kitchen. The original and colourful cuisine aims to please both the eyes and the palate, with dishes showcased on tasting menus and an à la carte – the quail served with a caponata of apricots, yucca and porcini mushroom mayonnaise was particularly memorable. Housed in the Villa Lussana, with its seven Art Nouveau-style guestrooms, the rest

Situated next to the three-Michelin-starred Le Calandre (and run by the same family), Il Calandrino is an elegant and eclectic restaurant which includes a bar-cum-pasticceria that is well worth visiting at any time of day. The cuisine here ranges from creative dishes such as scallops with toasted leek cream, sea urchins and cima di rapa, to classic house favourites such as Erminio’s legendary beef tartare with toasted bread and salad greens, and Rita’s pazientina (chocolate layer cake) served with zabaglione.

Occupying old stables in the square where the town’s livestock market was once held, this restaurant boasts charming views of the Prato della Valle gardens. Also home to a bistro serving aperitif snacks and a cocktail bar for post-dinner drinks, the main restaurant is very much the focal point here, with its dark-coloured, contemporary decor and colourful, modern cuisine. In summer, don’t miss the summer terrace with its fine views.

This elegant, minimalist-style restaurant serves two tasting menus (Classici and Contemporanei – the names tell you all you need to know!) from which dishes can also be chosen à la carte style. When we ate there in late autumn, we particularly enjoyed the rabbit with saffron and porcini mushrooms prepared in the open-air kitchen. There are just a few beautifully laid tables, plus a wine list that includes a selection of labels from Italy and France.

Situated in the historic centre of Padova, this restaurant is home to owner-chef Stefano Mocellin, whose colourful, creative and personalised cuisine is influenced by his past culinary experience in cities such as Milan and Venice. From Milan, for example, he has taken the legendary “cassoeula”, to which he gives a lighter touch thanks to his use of more than one type of meat (pork and duck), while his “saor” and the sardines that he uses to stuff his plin pasta are inspired by Venice. Underlying all of this is his passion for cooking over the barbecue grill, the main focus of almost all the d