The medieval market grid east of Piazza Maggiore, with Tamburini, Atti, Paolo Atti and the salumeria-and-sfoglina spine of Via Pescherie Vecchie and Via Drapperie.
Da Cesari in Bologna's Centro Storico is the four-generation Carati family trattoria, operating since 1955, a steady room for the canonical Bolognese carte.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Cotoletta alla bolognese, Tortellini in brodo
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, cotoletta alla bolognese, friggione on the side.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead by phone; the family carte does not change and the wine cellar is run by Massimiliano Carati personally.
Al Pappagallo in Bologna on Piazza della Mercanzia is the 1919-founded fine-bistro running the Bolognese banking-class carte; Fellini and Pavarotti both ate here.
Signature: Tortellini in brodo, Tagliatelle al ragu, Cotoletta alla bolognese
Order: Tortellini in brodo, lasagne verdi, the cotoletta alla bolognese with prosciutto.
Tip: Book a week ahead; the ground-floor dining room is the one to ask for, with the original 1919 fittings.
Sfoglia Rina in Bologna's Centro Storico is the 1963-founded sfoglina counter run by the Faccioli family, with hand-rolled pasta sold by weight and a dine-in carte.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortelloni di ricotta, Lasagne verdi
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, tortelloni burro e salvia, the Wednesday-only lasagne verdi.
Tip: The dine-in room takes walk-ins until 14:00; for take-away pasta, the queue thins after 11:30.
Marco Fadiga Bistrot in Bologna's Centro Storico is the chef Marco Fadiga's fine-bistro, a 28-seat room with a daily-changing Emilian and Adriatic carte.
Signature: Tasting menu, Risotto with rabbit, Seafood tortelli
Order: The seasonal tasting carte, the rabbit-and-saffron risotto, the salted anchovy tortelli.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead online; the tasting carte is 85 euros and the wine pairings are the strength of the room.
Ristorante Franco Rossi in Bologna's Centro Storico is the family fine-bistro running the Bolognese banking-class carte with a celebrated Sunday carrello dei bolliti.
Signature: Tortellini in brodo, Tagliatelle al ragu, Carrello dei bolliti
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.
Ristorante Da Vito in Bologna's San Donato is the family room blending the Bolognese pasta tradition with Adriatic-fish service, on a 40-seat dining room.
Signature: Tortelli with truffle, Sea bass in salt crust, Fritto misto
Order: The truffle tortelli in season, the fritto misto, the sea bass in salt crust.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead; the Friday-night seafood carte is the most-booked seating and the cellar is heavy on Trebbiano di Romagna.
Trattoria da Me in Bologna's San Felice is the Elisa Rusconi family room running the Bolognese pasta canon on a 35-seat porticoed dining hall, with Sunday bollito.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortellini in brodo, Bollito misto
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, tortellini in brodo, the Sunday bollito misto.
Tip: Book a week ahead by phone; the lunch service is the easier seating and the Sunday bollito sells out by 13:00.
Antica Trattoria della Gigina in Bologna's Bolognina is the long-running family room with the canonical Sunday-lunch carte and the carrello dei bolliti at lunch on Wednesday and Sunday.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortellini in brodo, Lasagne verdi
Order: Tortellini in brodo, tagliatelle al ragu, the Sunday bollito misto.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead for Sunday lunch; the carrello dei bolliti is the order to make and sells out by 13:30.
Trattoria Fantoni on Via del Pratello in Bologna is the long-running neighbourhood trattoria with the porticoed pavement seating and the canonical Bolognese carte for the lunchtime trade.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Cotoletta alla bolognese, Tortelloni
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the tortelloni di ricotta.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead by phone; the Pratello passeggiata is loud after 19:30 and the lunch service is the easier seating.
Trattoria Leonida in Bologna's Centro Storico is the long-running family trattoria one street back from Piazza Re Enzo, running the canonical Bolognese carte for the lunchtime trade.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Cotoletta alla bolognese, Bollito
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the Saturday bollito misto.
Tip: Book three days ahead by phone; the dining room runs only the canonical Bolognese carte and the lunch service is the most-booked.
Osteria Buca Manzoli in Bologna's Centro Storico is the long-running buca (cellar) osteria with stone walls, hand-rolled pasta and the canonical Bolognese carte at weekday lunch.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Sfoglia pasta carte, Bollito
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, tortelloni di ricotta, the Saturday bollito.
Tip: Book three days ahead by phone; the buca dining room is intimate and the dinner service is calmer than lunch.
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: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortellini, Tigelle
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.
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.
Ristorante Da Vito in Bologna's San Donato is the long-running family room blending the Bolognese pasta tradition with Adriatic-fish service, with a 40-seat dining room and family carte.
Signature: Truffle tortelli, Fritto misto, Sea bass
Order: The truffle tortelli in season, the fritto misto, the sea bass in salt crust.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead; the Friday-night seafood carte is the most-booked seating and the cellar is heavy on Trebbiano di Romagna.