The southeast quarter around the seven-church basilica and Strada Maggiore, home to All'Osteria Bottega, Trattoria di Via Serra-adjacent picks and the bourgeois lunch trade.
Ahime in Bologna near Via San Vitale is the Lorenzo Vecchia and Filippo Pennestri room, a 30-seat natural-wine bistro rooted in fermentation and Emilian produce.
Signature: Tortelli di erbette, Trippa with parmesan crust, Daily fermented vegetables
Order: The tortelli di erbette, the fermentation tasting plate, the trippa with parmesan crust.
Tip: Book three weeks ahead online; the natural-wine cellar is the city's most-cited and the carte rewrites weekly.
Drogheria della Rosa in Bologna's Santo Stefano is the Emanuele Addone fine-bistro built into a 19th-century apothecary, running the modern Bolognese carte.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Lasagne verdi, Stinco di maiale
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, lasagne verdi, the stinco di maiale on Sunday.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead online; the ground-floor room with the apothecary cabinets is the seating to request.
Oltre in Bologna's Santo Stefano is the Lorenzo Costa modern-Italian room with a 28-seat hall and a tasting carte rooted in Emilian produce and natural wines.
Signature: Tortelloni with butter, Ravioli di parmigiano, Tasting menu
Order: The seasonal tasting carte, the ravioli di parmigiano, the daily fish service.
Tip: Book three weeks ahead online; the tasting carte runs 78 euros and the wine pairings are 45 euros more.
Osteria Barberini in Bologna's Santo Stefano is the modern Bolognese osteria on a quiet vicolo, running a hand-rolled-pasta carte and a daily fish service from the Adriatic.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Crudo of beef, Daily fish
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the crudo of Chianina, the daily fish.
Tip: Book a week ahead online; the dining room runs only dinner Tuesday to Saturday and the cellar is run by the chef personally.
Osteria Numero Sette in Bologna's Santo Stefano is the small-room family osteria on Via dei Bibiena, running the canonical Bolognese carte for the quiet residential lunch trade.
Signature: Tagliatelle al ragu, Tortelloni, Lasagne verdi
Order: Tagliatelle al ragu, the tortelloni burro e salvia, the lasagne verdi.
Tip: Book three days ahead by phone; the room seats 24 and the kitchen runs the same carte at both meals.