Madonna’s been saying ‘Italians Do It Better’ since 1986 and who are we to argue with Her Madg-esty! If you’ve spent more time this year than is strictly healthy scrolling through images of Italy’s Tuscan hills, Sicilian beaches or the romance of Rome, then Veeno in Reading may just scratch that itch. This authentic Italian wine bar, opposite Reading’s Forbury Gardens, is an absolute beaut offering simple but seriously good quality pasta, pizza and sharing boards that hit the spot for a worky lunch, family feeding frenzy or an informal date night. It’s got all the laidback feels we love plus the flavours of Italian sunshine.

Veeno is the brainchild of Nino Caruso who loved, and missed, the Italian aperitivo, the ritual of drinking, nibbling and relaxing after work. A daily ritual to share moments of happiness with friends and family. Something we Brits have come to appreciate even more in the new post lockdown landscape.

By the end of that very same year, Veeno was born: a place where everyone could enjoy great Italian wines, pasta, pizza and authentic Spuntini – platters of meats, cheeses and other appetisers imported from strictly selected Italian producers.

Veeno’s wines come from Caruso & Minini, their family vineyard back in Sicily where their great-grandfather Antonio planted the first vines in the 19th century. Since then, they have been working hard to ensure that their quality and tradition could flow from the bottles to the glass in your hand. Don’t let the modern office block put your off, inside is a characterfull bar with rustic wood panelling, industrial design details and effortless style of a man in a tailored black suit.

Also offering a click and collect menu, an online wine shop and The Trip to Sicily wine tasting experiences is one to savour as you discover five of Nino’s family produced wines from Marsala, Sicily.
All paired with wonderful food directly sourced from Italy £34.95 pp