ItalianChef Marco Bondi€€€€€55-90Mon-Sat 20:00-22:00; Sun closedBook 1 week ahead
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.
Cocktail barChef Andrea Massai€€€€€55-85Tue-Sun 11:00-01:00; Mon closedBook 1 week ahead
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.
ItalianChef Nicola Annunziata€€€€€95-150Tue-Sat 19:15-21:30; Fri-Sat 12:15-14:15Book 3 weeks ahead
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.
French bistroChef Lorenzo Vecchia€€€€€65-110Mon 19:30-22:15; Tue-Sat 12:30-14:15, 19:30-22:15; Sun closedBook 3 weeks ahead
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.
ItalianChef Daniele Bendanti€€€€€78-120Tue-Sat 19:00-23:00Book 3 weeks ahead
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.
SeafoodChef Francesco Carboni€€€€€55-80Tue 19:30-22:00; Wed 12:30-14:30, 19:30-22:30; Thu 12:30-14:00, 19:30-22:00; Fri 12:30-14:00, 20:00-22:30; Sat 12:30-14:00, 19:30-22:30; Sun 12:30-14:00; Mon closedBook 1 week ahead
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.