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.
SeafoodChef Mario Ferrara€€€€€75-110Mon 19:45-23:00; Tue-Sun 12:15-14:15, 19:45-23:00Book 2 weeks ahead
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.
ItalianChef Franco Rossi€€€€€65-95Mon-Sat 12:30-14:30, 19:00-22:30; Sun closedBook 1 week ahead
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.
ItalianChef Aurora Mazzucchelli€€€€€70-90Sat-Sun 12:30-15:00; Wed-Sun 19:30-22:30; Mon-Tue closedBook 2 weeks ahead
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.