South and south-east of the old walls, from Via Vignolese to Casa Maria Luigia, where Franceschetta 58, Al Gatto Verde and the Malpighi balsamic museum sit.
Il Patriarca in Modena runs a seafood forward pizzeria ristorante on Strada Vignolese, open late for raw crudi and wood fired pizza nightly.
OrderThe raw seafood starter and a wood fired pizza from the late kitchen.
TipKitchen runs until midnight most nights; closed all day Tuesday.
Franceschetta 58 in Modena is Massimo Bottura's Michelin Guide bistro on Via Vignolese, pairing Emilian staples with contemporary small plates.
OrderThe tortellini in Parmigiano Reggiano cream and the aged pancetta with mostarda.
TipBook a few weeks ahead online; the short wine list gives Lambrusco a full page.
Al Gatto Verde in Modena is Jessica Rosval's one Michelin star kitchen at Casa Maria Luigia, cooking live fire dishes from the estate's own farm produce.
OrderThe Fassona Piemontese beef and the Smoked Meat Carrello, a tasting of house-smoked meats.
TipThe restaurant sits inside the Casa Maria Luigia country house in San Damaso; book well ahead for a table over the open fire.
Franceschetta 58 in Modena is Massimo Bottura's Michelin Guide bistro on Via Vignolese, pairing Emilian staples with playful contemporary small plates.
OrderThe tortellini in Parmigiano Reggiano cream and the aged pancetta with mostarda.
TipBook a few weeks ahead online; the short wine list gives Lambrusco a full page and pairs well with the tasting menus.
Pizzeria I Portici bakes pizza for dinner only on Viale Buon Pastore in southern Modena, a neighbourhood spot for takeaway or a sit down table.
OrderA classic margherita or a stuffed calzone from the wood oven.
TipDinner only, so plan an evening visit; takeaway saves the wait on busy nights.
Stracaffé on Modena's Via Morane pours espresso, pastries and a daily brunch and wine-bar menu, open Monday to Saturday until 18:00 in Buon Pastore.
DrinkEspresso and pastry brunch plate
TipIts wine-bar hours only run to 18:00, so it works best as a daytime coffee and brunch stop rather than an evening one.
Pasticceria Caffetteria Antica Napoli on Modena's Via Milano bakes Neapolitan pastries and pours espresso daily except Monday, south of the centre.
DrinkEspresso and sfogliatella
TipThe upstairs seating floor overlooks Via Emilia and gets busy for the Sunday morning pastry run.
Forno Cristini on Modena's Via Vignolese is a family bakery known for bensone, the city's oldest sweet, filled with grape-must fruit preserve.
Worth the queueBensone
TipIt also sells Parmigiano Reggiano and preserves at the counter, so a bread run doubles as a pantry stop.
Forno Ferrari bakes daily bread for the Via Alassio neighbourhood in southern Modena, one of the region's registered reduced-salt bread signatories.
Worth the queueDaily bread
TipIt is a neighbourhood counter with no seating, best for a bread or focaccia stop on the way past.
BeerBelly has brewed Belgian and Anglo-Saxon inspired ales on Viale Marcello Finzi in Modena since 2015, serving them from its own visible plant.
TipThe brewing tanks sit behind the bar in plain view; ask brewer Francesco Racaniello's team what is freshest that week.
This Campagna Amica market sets up Thursday afternoons in Modena's Parco della Resistenza on Via Morane, from March through December each year.
TipIt pauses over winter (January-February), so check the season before planning a Thursday visit.
Acetaia Malpighi's Museo Taste&Tour on Via Vignolese, in Modena's San Donnino area, offers free guided visits and tastings of balsamic vinegar every day of the year by booking.
TipBook at least 48 hours ahead by phone or email and arrive on time: the acetaia warns that groups more than 15 minutes late may lose their slot.
Tenuta del Cigno, the Malpighi family farm on Modena's southern edge, runs a tortellini master class with a Lambrusco welcome and a walk through the old balsamic lofts before the pasta.
TipBook through Acetaia Malpighi's tourism office on +39 059 467725; a class needs a minimum group, usually four to six people, before it runs.
Casa Maria Luigia, Massimo Bottura's 18th-century estate in Modena's San Damaso, hosts a Sunday brunch with live music open to non-residents.
OrderSeasonal Emilian brunch spread
TipOvernight guests get priority, so day-trip brunch reservations should be made well ahead.
Il Patriarca in Modena keeps its kitchen open until midnight most nights, a late seafood pizzeria on Strada Vignolese well past the ring road.
TryWood fired pizza and raw seafood crudi
TipClosed all day Tuesday; the pizza oven stays lit long after most centro storico kitchens close.
La Gioconda bakes thin-crust pizza and cooks fish on Via Bertoli in southern Modena, open every day of the week from midday until one in the morning.
OrderA wood fired pizza or the shrimp with tomato and pistachio.
TipThe dough also comes in rice, wholewheat, spelt or organic flour, so ask which is available that night.
Keller Ristorante Birreria is a beer hall on Strada Barchetta just outside central Modena, run by a member of the queer community, with Wednesday karaoke.
TipWednesday karaoke is the signature night; Saturdays add a magic show alongside the usual beer and pub food.
5 hours
Discover the Bolognese Hills with a guided tour of two historic wineries, including vineyard visits, wine tastings, and local delicacies amidst breathtaking scenery.
5 hours
Tour the vibrant local markets and immerse yourself in a private cooking class in a local home with a certified Italian home cook. You can learn local recipes before t...
7 hours
Experience the production of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and learn about Lambrusco wine. Visit a balsamic vinegar factory, and after enjoy a lunch to explore local cuisine.