Tasting menus, Michelin stars and the chefs redefining Bologna.
Tasting menus, Michelin stars, and the kitchens redefining what fine dining means in Bologna.
I Portici in Bologna's hotel I Portici on Via Indipendenza is the 1-star Michelin room of chef Nicola Annunziata, with a tasting carte rooted.
Order: The seasonal tasting carte, the tortelli of suckling pig, the Adriatic crudo plate.
Tip: Book three weeks ahead online; the dining room runs only dinner Tuesday to Saturday, and the wine cellar leans heavy on Emilian Lambrusco.
Ahime in Bologna near Via San Vitale is the Lorenzo Vecchia natural-wine bistro, a 30-seat room with a daily fermentation carte and one of Italy's most-cited.
Order: The fermentation tasting plate, the tortelli of seasonal greens, the natural-wine pairing.
Tip: Book three weeks ahead online; the natural-wine pairings are 45 euros and the carte rewrites weekly with seasonal ingredients.
Oltre in Bologna near Mercato delle Erbe is chef Daniele Bendanti's modern-Italian fine-bistro with business partner Lorenzo Costa, a small dining hall.
Order: The seasonal tasting carte, the Bolognese ramen of tagliolino in mushroom broth, the daily fish service.
Tip: Book three weeks ahead online; the tasting carte runs 78 euros and wine pairings are 45 euros more.
Acqua Pazza in Bologna's Savena is the Michelin-guide-listed seafood room run by chef Francesco Carboni, with the daily-changing Mediterranean fish carte.
Order: The catch-of-the-day, the spaghetti allo scoglio, the seasonal raw plate.
Tip: Book a week ahead; the kitchen runs only what the morning fish brings in. Call +39 051 443422 if you want a specific fish.
Scaccomatto in Bologna's Mazzini is the Mario Ferrara fine-bistro running a sea-and-land tasting carte that crosses Adriatic seafood with the Emilian land.
Order: The seasonal tasting carte, the carbonara di mare, the slow-cooked guancia.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead online; the tasting carte is the value option at 75 euros and wine pairings 35 euros more.
Ristorante Franco Rossi in Bologna's Centro Storico is the Franco Rossi family fine-bistro running the canonical Bolognese banking-class carte.
Order: Tortellini in brodo, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Tip: Book a week ahead; the Sunday carrello dei bolliti runs only at lunch and is the order to make.
Casa Mazzucchelli in Sasso Marconi just outside Bologna is the one-Michelin-starred room run by chef Aurora Mazzucchelli and her brother Massimo.
Order: Attimi di Cucina six-course menu, the wild boar with red wine baba, the bread course.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead; the Attimi di Cucina is 70 euros and the longer Momento Contemporaneo is 90 euros for seven courses plus dessert.
Drogheria della Rosa in Bologna's Santo Stefano is the Emanuele Addone fine-bistro built into a 19th-century apothecary, running the modern Bolognese carte.
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, lasagne verdi, the stinco di maiale on Sunday.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead online; the ground-floor room with the apothecary cabinets is the seating to request.
Trattoria Battibecco in Bologna's Centro Storico is the long-running Marco Bondi fine-bistro one street back from Piazza Maggiore, running the modern.
Order: Tortellini in brodo, the sea-bass crudo, the risotto with prosciutto di Parma.
Tip: Book a week ahead by phone; the upstairs dining room is the quieter seating and the cellar leans heavy on Italian whites.
Le Stanze in Bologna's Centro Storico is the cocktail-bar-and-dining-room built into a 16th-century chapel near Via dell'Indipendenza, with a modern.
Order: The cocktail-and-snacks pairing, the tasting carte after 20:00, the seasonal tortelli.
Tip: Book the dining room a week ahead; the cocktail bar at the front is walk-in and runs until 02:00.
Editor picks in Bologna include I Portici, Ahime, Oltre, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.