Osteria dei Poeti in Bologna's Centro Storico is the 16th-century buca cellar with live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, running the canonical Bolognese carte under vaulted brick.
Signature dishes: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortellini, Tigelle
Must order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the salumi tagliere, the live-music Friday-night dinner.
Tip: Book the music nights a fortnight ahead online; the kitchen runs only dinner and the live music starts at 21:00.
Address: Via dei Poeti 1/B, 40124 Bologna BO
Trattoria da Gianni in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the long-running family room on Via Clavature, running the canonical Bolognese carte and the Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Bollito misto, Cotoletta
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead for Sunday lunch; the Quadrilatero is loud after 19:30 and the lunch service is the calmer seating.
Trattoria da Pietro in Bologna's Centro Storico is the long-running family room near Via Indipendenza, running the canonical Bolognese carte and a small daily-changing seasonal sheet.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Cotoletta alla bolognese, Tortelloni
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the seasonal carte.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead by phone; the dining room is intimate and the chef speaks fluent English for the international crowd.
Trattoria Mariposa in Bologna's Bolognina is the family-run room running the canonical Bolognese carte for the post-industrial quarter, with a strong neighbourhood lunch trade.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortelloni, Bollito misto
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the tortelloni di ricotta, the Saturday bollito misto.
Tip: Book three days ahead by phone; the Bolognina quarter is a 10-minute walk from the central station and the lunch carte is the value play.
Osteria Barberini in Bologna's Santo Stefano is the modern Bolognese osteria on a quiet vicolo, running a hand-rolled-pasta carte and a daily fish service from the Adriatic.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Crudo of beef, Daily fish
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the crudo of Chianina, the daily fish.
Tip: Book a week ahead online; the dining room runs only dinner Tuesday to Saturday and the cellar is run by the chef personally.
Trattoria del Rosso in Bologna's University quarter is the canonical 1899-founded student trattoria, a no-reservations room serving the Bolognese pasta canon at value-lunch prices.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Cotoletta, Bollito misto
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the Saturday bollito.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive by 12:00 for lunch or after 21:30 for dinner. Cash preferred but card now accepted.
Trattoria da Gianni in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the long-running family room on Via Clavature, running the canonical Bolognese carte and the Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Bollito misto, Cotoletta
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead for Sunday lunch; the Quadrilatero is loud after 19:30 and the lunch service is the calmer seating.
Osteria Numero Sette in Bologna's Santo Stefano is the small-room family osteria on Via dei Bibiena, running the canonical Bolognese carte for the quiet residential lunch trade.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortelloni, Lasagne verdi
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the tortelloni burro e salvia, the lasagne verdi.
Tip: Book three days ahead by phone; the room seats 24 and the kitchen runs the same carte at both meals.
