Modena cooks from the pantry of the Via Emilia and its lofts. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale, documented here since 1046, ages at least 12 years in barrels kept under the roofs of family houses, and September's Acetaie Aperte opens more than 40 of them to visitors. Tortellini in capon broth, tortelloni with ricotta and spinach, gnocco fritto made with lard and sparkling water, and crescentine from the Apennines fill the trattoria menus, with zampone and cotechino taking over at Christmas and New Year. The covered Mercato Albinelli, open since 1931 beside Piazza Grande, draws about 30,000 shoppers a week to its cheese, salumi, bread and vegetable stalls. Lambrusco, from the pale Sorbara of the plain to the Grasparossa of the Castelvetro hills, is the table wine. At the top sits Osteria Francescana, Massimo Bottura's three-star room on Via Stella, joined in the Michelin Guide by L'Erba del Re and Al Gatto Verde with a star each and by trattorie such as Pomposa and Hosteria Giusti.

Where to eat in Modena

All 21 restaurants

  1. Trattoria Aldina

    Order The tagliatelle al ragu and the tortellini in broth, made fresh each morning.

  2. Trattoria Tagliatella

    Order The tagliatelle al ragu and the pumpkin filled tortelloni.

  3. Da Danilo

    Order The pumpkin tortelloni with butter and Parmigiano and the mixed boiled meats cart.

  4. Il Fantino

    Order The gnocco fritto with cured meats and the tortelloni with butter and sage.

  5. Da Enzo

    Order The gnocco fritto with cured meats and the zampone with mashed potato.

  6. Zemian Piccola Osteria

    Order Whatever the chef built into that day's short tasting sequence of Emilian classics.

Fine dining

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Signature dishes in Modena

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Taste Parmigiano Reggiano with a local

Private Organic Parmigiano Reggiano Tour with Food Tasting

★ 4.9 (10)2 hoursfrom €90

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Map of Modena

Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Modena, pinned. Click a pin for the page.

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When to come hungry in Modena

Peak food season
September to December: the grape harvest and must cooking for balsamic, Acetaie Aperte and Festivalfilosofia in September, chestnuts from the Apennines in October, La Bonissima in Piazza Grande and zampone season in December. Late May and June bring the Vignola cherries.
Local dining hours
Lunch runs from about 12:30 to 14:30 and dinner from about 19:30 to 22:30; many trattorie and restaurants close one day a week, most often Monday, and some close for part of August.
Tipping
Most restaurants add a coperto of about €1 to €3 per person, printed on the menu, for bread and the table setting; it is not a tip. Service is rarely added separately, and leaving a tip is optional: rounding up or a few euros for good service is plenty.

Modena food, FAQ

What food is Modena known for?

Modena's signature dishes include Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena, Tortellini in brodo, Tortelloni burro e salvia, Gnocco fritto, Crescentine (tigelle). See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Modena?

TableJourney editors map Modena by district. Centro Storico, Sacca and Crocetta, San Lazzaro and Modena Est, Buon Pastore and Sant'Agnese are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Modena?

Editor picks in Modena include Osteria Francescana, L'Erba del Re, Al Gatto Verde, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Modena?

TableJourney covers 5 editor-picked food tours in Modena, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Modena have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Modena dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.