The eastern bourgeois quarter beyond Porta San Vitale, with residential trattorias, Forno Brisa's first shop and the new-wave bakery-and-cafe scene of Via Mazzini.
Scaccomatto in Bologna's Mazzini is the Mario Ferrara fine-bistro running a sea-and-land carte that crosses Adriatic seafood with the Emilian land tradition.
Signature: Tasting menu, Risotto with raw seafood, Sea-bass with Lambrusco reduction
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 the wine pairings are a strength.
Osteria Broccaindosso in Bologna's Mazzini is the long-running neighbourhood osteria with a fixed-price set carte and pasta still hand-rolled daily on site.
Signature: Tortellini in brodo, Tagliatelle al ragu, Gnocco fritto
Order: The fixed-price set carte at 25 euros, tortellini in brodo, the salumi board.
Tip: Book by phone two days ahead; the 25-euro set carte runs at lunch only and is the value play.
The Aemilia Hotel rooftop runs from the seventh floor of the Savhotel on Via Zaccherini Alvisi, a wide terrace with a lounge corner and a panorama that takes.
Tip: The hotel sits a 10 minute walk east of the centre; the terrace is quieter than the central hotels and the cocktail list runs cheaper. Sunset over San Luca is the time slot.
Red Club runs the busiest gay floor in Bologna from a Zona Roveri warehouse east of the centre, with a main commercial room, a darker side floor and a summer.
Tip: Zona Roveri sits well outside the centre with no late transit; budget for a cab back. ANDDOS card at the door, bring cash for the membership fee.