The old town inside the ring of viali, from Piazza Grande and the Mercato Albinelli to Piazza della Pomposa, home to most of Modena's osterie, enoteche and cocktail bars.
Trattoria Aldina in Modena overlooks the Mercato Albinelli from a first floor room, a no reservations canteen for tagliatelle and tortellini.
OrderThe tagliatelle al ragu and the tortellini in broth, made fresh each morning.
TipLunch only and no bookings; arrive by 12:15 or expect to share the communal single table.
Trattoria Tagliatella in Modena's centro storico serves classic ragu tagliatelle and pumpkin tortelloni on Via Masone, a reliable everyday address.
OrderThe tagliatelle al ragu and the pumpkin filled tortelloni.
TipClosed Mondays; book ahead for dinner on weekends when the small dining room fills fast.
Da Danilo in Modena has run as a family trattoria since 1934, plating pumpkin tortelloni and meat ragu tagliatelle near the Ghirlandina tower.
OrderThe pumpkin tortelloni with butter and Parmigiano and the mixed boiled meats cart.
TipAsk for the bollito misto cart tableside; the kitchen finishes several dishes with the house Aceto Balsamico.
Il Fantino in Modena keeps a retro dining room on Via Donzi, serving hand rolled gnocco fritto and tortelloni with butter and sage most nights.
OrderThe gnocco fritto with cured meats and the tortelloni with butter and sage.
TipClosed Mondays; the wine list leans almost entirely on Lambrusco di Sorbara as the house pour.
Da Enzo in Modena's centro storico is a warm family trattoria near the Synagogue, serving gnocco fritto, tigelle and Emilian classics nightly.
OrderThe gnocco fritto with cured meats and the zampone with mashed potato.
TipSaturday dinner runs until midnight, later than the rest of the week; the kitchen closes on Mondays.
Zemian Piccola Osteria in Modena packs a handful of tables on Via Fonte d'Abisso, plating classic Emilian dishes for its devoted local crowd.
OrderWhatever the chef built into that day's short tasting sequence of Emilian classics.
TipSeats are few and demand is high; call weeks ahead for a weekend table.
Accademia by Italo in Modena has run as a family pizzeria since 1980, now serving pizza alongside meat and fish plates until well past midnight.
OrderA wood fired pizza and the tuna tartare from the fish side of the menu.
TipThe family renovated the dining room when the founder's son took over in 2013; kitchen runs past midnight most nights.
Hosteria Giusti in Modena hides behind the centuries-old Giusti delicatessen on Via Farini, a four or five table lunch room Adriano Morandi opened in 1989.
OrderThe tortellini in capon broth and the fried cotechino with Sorbara zabaione.
TipLunch only, Tuesday to Saturday, with a short seasonal carte; read the booking policy on the Hosteria's site and book well ahead.
Patrizia in Modena is Tommaso Zoboli's counter-driven dining room near the Ghirlandina, a Michelin Guide address whose menu changes with the seasons.
OrderThe tasting menu built around that season's theme, taken at the chef's counter.
TipOnly 14 covers, run like an omakase with storytelling at the counter; book ahead and ask for a counter seat.
Trattoria Pomposa - Al Re Gras in Modena serves Michelin Guide Emilian cooking on Piazza della Pomposa, from golden tortellini to bollito misto.
OrderThe tortellini with 24 month Parmigiano cream and the bollito misto with mostarda.
TipIn warm months ask for a table outside on Piazza della Pomposa.
Osteria Gallucci in Modena keeps a rustic room a few steps from Piazza Grande, serving local appetizers and Emilian plates until well past midnight.
OrderThe wild boar ragu and a plate of mixed local appetizers to start.
TipOpen Friday and Saturday until 02:00; the beer and wine list runs deeper than most osterie nearby.
Trattoria Ermes in Modena has cooked Emilian home food on Via Ganaceto since 1963, a small osteria now run by a new generation since early 2023.
OrderThe passatelli in broth and the scaloppine with balsamic vinegar and potatoes.
TipDinner service returned Thursday to Saturday in 2023, plus Sunday lunch; the small room still fills fast.
tRe in Pomposa is chef Luca Marchini's pizzeria on Piazza della Pomposa in Modena, with a tall airy crust and pizzas inspired by Modenese recipes.
OrderThe mozzarella di bufala and nduja pizza, or one from the Modena-inspired list.
TipDine outside on Piazza della Pomposa in mild weather; the pizzeria is closed on Mondays and takes bookings through its own website.
Roots is a social enterprise restaurant on Via Francesco Selmi in Modena where migrant women trainees cook a shared menu from their home cuisines.
OrderThe €38 sharing menu, which changes three times a year around the trainees' home dishes.
TipThe dining room sits in the former San Paolo monastery complex; book ahead and expect a €2 cover on top of the €38 menu.
Osteria Francescana in Modena is Massimo Bottura's three Michelin star dining room on Via Stella, built on a tasting menu of reworked Emilian classics.
OrderThe tortellini in 36 month Parmigiano Reggiano sauce and the Jazz Duck.
TipReservation requests go only to the reservation inquiries email on the restaurant's contact page; requests sent to its other addresses are not considered.
L'Erba del Re in Modena is Luca Marchini's one Michelin star dining room on Via Castelmaraldo, a nine table restaurant built on historic Emilian recipes.
OrderThe tortellini in capon broth and the Modena style tagliatelle ragu.
TipThe tasting menu leans on historic Emilian dishes while a second carte covers the chef's newer plates; book ahead for dinner.
Hosteria Giusti in Modena hides behind the centuries-old Giusti delicatessen on Via Farini, a four or five table lunch room Adriano Morandi opened in 1989.
OrderThe tortellini in capon broth and the fried cotechino with Sorbara zabaione.
TipLunch only, Tuesday to Saturday, with a short seasonal carte; read the booking policy on the Hosteria's site and book well ahead.
Patrizia in Modena is Tommaso Zoboli's counter-driven dining room near the Ghirlandina, a Michelin Guide address whose menu changes with the seasons.
OrderThe tasting menu built around that season's theme, taken at the central chef's counter.
TipOnly 14 covers, run like an omakase with storytelling at the counter; book ahead and ask for a counter seat.
Trattoria Pomposa - Al Re Gras in Modena serves Michelin Guide Emilian cooking on Piazza della Pomposa, from golden tortellini to a classic bollito misto.
OrderThe tortellini with 24 month Parmigiano cream and the bollito misto with mostarda.
TipIn warm months ask for a table outside on Piazza della Pomposa, one of the prettiest corners of the centro storico.
Locanda in San Francesco in Modena serves classic Emilian tradition and fresh fish inside a historic palazzo hotel on Rua dei Frati Minori in centro storico.
OrderThe tortellini in Parmesan cream and the ricotta and spinach tortelloni.
TipThe hotel kitchen pairs Modenese classics with a fresh fish menu; book ahead for dinner Tuesday to Saturday.
Trattoria Aldina in Modena runs as a no reservations canteen above the Mercato Albinelli, a lunch only table for tagliatelle since the 1970s.
OrderThe tagliatelle al ragu, made with pasta hand rolled that same morning.
TipLunch only, no bookings and a shared single table; arrive before 12:15 for a seat.
Il Fantino keeps a time worn dining room on Modena's Via Donzi, a casual trattoria for gnocco fritto and tortelloni with butter and sage most days.
OrderThe gnocco fritto with a plate of cured meats to start.
TipEvenings are closed Sunday and Monday; portions run generous so pace yourself before the pasta course.
Accademia by Italo is a casual pizzeria ristorante on Modena's Via Modonella, family run since 1980, with pizza served well past midnight most nights.
OrderA wood fired pizza from the long-running family oven.
TipThe dining room was fully renovated; expect a lively crowd on weekend nights.
Al Tramezzino has sold pizza al taglio on Modena's Piazza Grande since way back in 1987, a casual counter set right beneath the Ghirlandina tower.
OrderA slice of pizza al taglio, cut fresh from the day's trays.
TipTables face Piazza Grande; ingredients are sourced daily from the Albinelli Market.
Bottega Mamma Puglia brings Apulian puccia and focaccia to Modena's Via Albinelli, a small counter facing the historic Albinelli covered market.
OrderThe puccia salentina, filled with capocollo and local cheese.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday; arrive early as the counter is small and popular.
PizzALTaglio has sold pizza by the slice on Modena's Piazza Mazzini since the 1990s, a casual stop with a fine view of the Ghirlandina tower.
OrderA slice of the classic Margherita or the seasonal special.
TipOutdoor seating and takeaway both work well; open every day of the week.
La Chersenta brings Pavullo style crescentina to Modena's Via Albinelli, a casual counter for gnocco fritto beside the Albinelli covered market.
OrderThe crescentina with lardo, rosemary and grated Parmigiano.
TipClosed Sundays; the larger tigella grande is a house specialty worth trying.
Bar Schiavoni has served gourmet panini inside Modena's Mercato Albinelli since 1931, a casual counter now run by two sisters, Sara and Chiara.
OrderThe daily special panino built fresh at the counter after midday.
TipClosed Sundays; go before 15:30 when the counter closes for the day.
Taglio - Focacce e Bottega turns out gourmet focaccia sandwiches on Modena's Via del Taglio, a casual stop that stays open through the evening.
OrderLa Modenese, with pancetta, Parmigiano shavings and balsamic vinegar.
TipOpen daily and later on weekends; a handful of craft beers round out the counter.
Bertani Ristorazione runs a gastronomia counter inside Modena's Mercato Albinelli, a casual stop for ready made Emilian dishes since way back in 1994.
OrderWhatever fresh pasta or roast the counter has ready that morning.
TipClosed Sundays; go early as the best trays sell out before early afternoon.
Trattoria Pomposa - Al Re Gras serves casual Michelin Guide Emilian cooking on Modena's Piazza della Pomposa, from tortellini to bollito misto.
OrderThe tortellini with 24 month Parmigiano cream.
TipAsk for a table outside on Piazza della Pomposa in warm months.
Osteria Ruggera has served Sicilian dishes from a small family kitchen on Via Ruggera in central Modena since the late 1700s, closed on Tuesdays.
OrderOrecchiette alla norma or spaghetti alle sarde, with cassata to finish.
TipGo for the orecchiette alla norma and leave room for the homemade cassata.
Sosta Emiliana serves tigelle with sweet and savoury fillings near Piazza Grande in central Modena, a fixed-menu tigelleria that closes on Wednesdays.
OrderThe tigelle tasting plate with cured meats, squacquerone and jams.
TipThe all you can eat tigelle format is best shared between two or more people.
Osteria di Modena Rossi cooks tortellini in broth and fried gnocco opposite the Ducal Palace on Piazza Roma in central Modena, open every day of the week.
OrderTortellini in brodo followed by fried gnocco with cured meats.
TipAsk for a window table looking onto Piazza Roma and the Ducal Palace facade.
Vecchia Pirri has run its osteria, trattoria and pizzeria on Via Prampolini in Modena since 2001, serving handmade pasta, cotoletta and grilled dishes.
OrderTortellini in brodo and the Bolognese style cutlet.
TipThe dining room fills with regulars, so booking ahead is worth doing on weekends.
Caffe dell'Orologio in Modena's Piazzetta delle Ova has served coffee since a 1787 document, a Piazza Grande fixture the city registers as historic.
DrinkEspresso at the marble counter
TipThe municipal historic-shops registry lists it among Modena's oldest bars; arrive before the aperitivo crowd for a quiet espresso.
Bar Cappuccino da Angiolina works the narrow Vicolo Forni beside Modena's Mercato Albinelli, its walls lined with photos of local Modenese icons.
DrinkCappuccino, quick lunch panini
TipIt gets packed at the Albinelli lunch rush; a mid-morning coffee is calmer than the midday panino crowd.
Pasticceria Remondini has baked cakes and brioche on Modena's Largo San Giorgio since 1936, with outdoor tables for a slow sit-down morning coffee.
DrinkCappuccino and breakfast pastry
TipCustom cakes need advance ordering; the outdoor tables are the spot for a slow Sunday breakfast.
Menomoka on Corso Canalchiaro in Modena pours quality coffee by varied brewing methods, pairing marocchino and pastries with light lunch plates.
DrinkMarocchino, filter coffee
TipClosed Thursdays; the whole-grain pastries and pastrami sandwiches suit a working lunch at the counter.
Caffetteria Drogheria Giusti on Via Farini is a Modena grocer-cafe hybrid on the city's historic-shops register, pairing coffee with a deli counter.
DrinkEspresso, aperitivo wine list
TipSeating is limited and prices sit above average; it earns its keep on the balsamic vinegar and salumi counter, not just the coffee.
Mon Cafe on Corso Canalchiaro runs breakfast through dinner in central Modena, and Gambero Rosso's 2025 guide rated it among the city's best bars.
DrinkCappuccino, aperitivo cocktails
TipIt stretches into a full aperitivo and dinner room by evening, so a plain coffee is easiest before noon.
Cathedrali Pasticceria sits on Corso Duomo facing Modena's cathedral, a Gambero Rosso-rated bar pasticceria for breakfast, lunch and afternoon coffee.
DrinkEspresso with a view of the Duomo
TipOutdoor tables look straight at the cathedral facade; Monday afternoons are the one time it closes early.
Maison Livre on Via Emilia Centro runs breakfast, lunch and aperitivo under one roof, a Modena bar the Gambero Rosso guide singled out in 2025.
DrinkBreakfast pastry, aperitivo cocktails
TipIt doubles as a caterer for private events, so the daily lunch specials can sell out by early afternoon.
Parì, Caffè con Cucina, on Modena's Via Francesco Selmi serves breakfast and lunch plates, with two evening openings a week near the centre.
DrinkEspresso and avocado toast
TipIt reopens for dinner only on Wednesday and Friday evenings; the rest of the week it closes after lunch.
Pasticceria Solmi on Modena's Via Emilia Centro serves espresso and pastries from a bar downstairs and a seating floor above, most of the week.
DrinkEspresso and sfogliatella riccia
TipThe upper-floor seating area is quieter than the ground-floor bar counter for a sit-down coffee.
Antica Pasticceria San Biagio has sold torta Barozzi and bensone on Modena's Via Emilia Centro since 1900, kept in its original pink-marble shop.
Worth the queueTorta Barozzi
TipThursday and Sunday afternoons it shuts early, so plan a morning visit for the balsamic vinegar and marrons glaces.
Forno San Barnaba on Modena's Via Ruggera has baked bread since the postwar years, the cioppa modenese loaf its long-running local staple to buy.
Worth the queueCioppa modenese
TipThursday afternoons the ovens rest, so the morning batch is the one to catch before it closes early.
Panificio Gallone on Modena's Via Ganaceto is a family-run forno pasticceria near the centre, baking bread, pizza and cakes fresh to order daily.
Worth the queuePane e pizza al taglio
TipIt closes weekends, so a weekday morning is the only window for the fresh bread run.
Forno Pasticceria Bortolani Demore on Modena's Rua Muro bakes bread, pastry and fresh pasta from a historic shopfront near the old city centre.
Worth the queueFresh-baked bread and biscotti
TipThe midday break runs 14:00 to 17:30, so plan a morning or early-evening visit.
Torrefazione La Messicana has roasted coffee on Via Farini in Modena since 1958, still run by the Dallari family from a dark stone-lined shop.
BeansCentral America, espresso-grade blends
BrewsEspresso, Whole bean retail
TipThe shop is listed on Modena's official register of historic businesses; the aroma of roasting beans reaches the street.
Enoteca Ducale sells Lambrusco di Sorbara and Grasparossa from local growers on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in Modena, steps from the Palazzo Ducale.
PourLambrusco di Sorbara, Cantina della Volta
WineLambrusco di Sorbara and Grasparossa from local producers, plus Italian regional wines
FoodBottle shop, tastings by appointment
TipAsk founder Paolo Simonini for a Lambrusco pairing; tastings by appointment go deeper than the shop shelves.
Archer pours natural and grower wines on Via Cesare Battisti in Modena, a 25-seat room Marina Bersani has run since 2013 with local cured meats.
PourRotating natural wine by the glass
WineNatural and grower wines from Italy, France, Slovenia and Spain
FoodCured meats, cheese boards, small kitchen
TipThe 14 tables fill fast in the evening; call ahead or order the Archer takeaway bag of wine and delicacies.
La Lambruscheria sells and pours Lambrusco from small Modenese growers on Via Calle di Luca, near Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi in central Modena.
PourLambrusco by the glass, producer rotation
WineLambrusco from small Modenese producers
FoodWine shop with tastings and aperitivo
TipIt opens in the evening only, from 18:00, and stays open latest on Fridays and Saturdays, until 23:00.
Vinoteca Modena pours Italian regional wines on Viale Ciro Menotti in Modena, with house wine drawn from the barrel alongside simple plates.
PourHouse wine drawn straight from the barrel
WineItalian regional wines by the glass, house wine from the barrel
FoodSimple plates, cured meats and cheese
TipThe Tuesday to Saturday lunch service adds a midday sitting to the usual evening wine-bar hours.
Compagnia del Taglio pours a broad Italian wine list on Via Fonte d'Abisso in central Modena, pairing it with tigelle and tortellini in brodo.
PourRegional wine by the glass
WineItalian wine list with an online shop
FoodTigelle, tortellini in brodo, cured meats
TipAsk for a table by the wine shelves if you want to browse bottles; the kitchen breaks between 15:00 and 17:00, and Sunday is the closing day.
Bergonzini Giorgio 1963 has poured wine and cured Emilian meats on Via Ganaceto in Modena since 1963, with a cellar stocked for every budget.
PourNatural wine by the glass
WineAt least 30% natural wine, extensive cellar for every budget
FoodCured meats, cheese, gourmet grocery
TipThe cured ham counter is the shop's strength; ask staff to pair a slice with a glass from the natural wine list.
MOLTO keeps a deliberately short, hand-picked wine list on Via dei Gallucci in Modena, open every evening for a quieter, focused wine bar visit.
PourHand-picked wine by the glass
WineSmall, hand-picked wine list, no mass-market bottles
FoodCurated snacks
TipThe list changes often because the room is small; ask staff what they have open that night rather than naming a bottle.
Via Taglio 12 in Modena is an enoteca with an all-day kitchen, pouring nine weekly wines by the glass alongside fried gnocco and fried tortellini.
PourChampagne or Lambrusco by the glass with gnocco fritto
WineOver 300 labels, from Lambrusco to Champagne and Burgundy, with nine weekly wines by the glass
FoodGnocco fritto, fried tortellini and cheese boards
TipNo booking is needed for a glass at the counter, but reserve a table in the inner room or the outdoor area.
Stappiamo is a wine bar and restaurant on Via Sant'Eufemia in Modena, founded by three sommeliers, pairing selected wines with a full kitchen menu.
PourChampagne on the themed wine dinners
WineWines chosen by the three sommeliers who founded it, matched to the kitchen
FoodKitchen menu and themed wine-and-food evenings
TipThemed wine-and-food evenings need booking; the room also opens for lunch from Friday to Sunday.
Balzac Bistrot pours Negroni and Spritz on Piazza Grande in Modena, with charcuterie boards and outdoor tables facing the Ghirlandina bell tower.
DrinkNegroni, Spritz
FoodCharcuterie boards, tartines, aperitivo snacks
TipOutdoor tables face the lit Ghirlandina tower; the kitchen runs continuously from 12:30 for charcuterie and tartines.
Ex Spaccio delle Carceri mixes cocktails inside Modena's former prison commissary on Via Bonacorsa, pairing barrel-aged drinks with tapas nightly.
DrinkBoulevardier From the Barrel, aged in ex-balsamic barrels
FoodTapas, small plates
TipThe kitchen runs Thursday to Monday; the barrel-aged Boulevardier is the bar's signature order.
Cesare Modena mixes cocktails on Via Carteria in the rooms of Pierino Malagoli's 1934 osteria, keeping the vintage look with a modern drinks list.
DrinkClassic and vintage-inspired cocktails
FoodBar snacks, tabacchi counter by day
TipBy day it runs as a bar tabacchi; the cocktail service starts at 18:00 and runs latest Friday and Saturday.
iCocktail Cafè shakes tiki and classic cocktails on Piazza delle Acciaierie in Modena, running from lunch through aperitivo into a late dinner service.
DrinkTiki and classic cocktails
FoodPinse, bruschette, burgers
TipAperitivo runs from 18:00 on weekdays; the kitchen adds pinse and burgers alongside the cocktail list.
Mon Cafè runs breakfast through dinner on Corso Canalchiaro in Modena's historic centre, with a small evolving wine list and evening cocktails.
DrinkAperitivo cocktails
FoodBreakfast, lunch, aperitivo, dinner
TipThe terrace on Corso Canalchiaro is a popular pick for aperitivo when the weather allows outdoor seating.
Saba mixes drinks named for the grape must syrup on Via Castelmaraldo in central Modena, pairing a short kitchen menu with cocktails after 19:00.
DrinkSaba-inspired mixed drinks
FoodSmall kitchen menu
TipOutdoor seating on Via Castelmaraldo fills first; the kitchen keeps a short, changing plate list alongside the cocktails.
Animo mixes precision cocktails behind a laboratory-style counter on Via dei Gallucci in Modena, in a small black and gold room built for drinking.
DrinkPrecision-built modern cocktails
FoodBar snacks
TipThe room is small and reservations are recommended on weekends when the counter seats fill early.
Zero5Nove pours aperitivo drinks on the corner of Via Selmi and Piazza Grande in Modena, in the shadow of the Duomo and the Ghirlandina tower.
DrinkAperitivo cocktails
FoodBreakfast, aperitivo
TipThe corner tables looking at the Ghirlandina are the ones to ask for at aperitivo hour.
Bar Manà has poured coffee and aperitivo drinks on Via Castellaro in central Modena since the 19th century, from breakfast through the evening.
DrinkAperitivo cocktails
FoodBreakfast, lunch, aperitivo
TipOutdoor tables on Via Castellaro are the pick for aperitivo, with wine and a cured meat board alongside the cocktails.
Juta pours cocktails and craft beer nightly on Via del Taglio in Modena from 18:00, with a weekend brunch that keeps a loyal, regular crowd coming.
DrinkCocktails, wine, craft beer
FoodBurgers, piadina, sausage, Sunday brunch
TipWeekend brunch service runs from 11:00; on weeknights the bar opens at 18:00 with outdoor seating on Via del Taglio.
MONNO Food&Drink runs a bright, queer-owned bar on Piazza San Domenico in Modena, open from morning coffee through the evening aperitivo hour.
DrinkAperitivo drinks
FoodBreakfast through aperitivo
TipThe room closes at 21:00, so plan an early aperitivo stop rather than a late-evening visit.
Caffetteria Drogheria Giusti has served coffee and aperitivo drinks on Via Farini in Modena since 1927, opposite the Palazzo Ducale on Piazza Roma.
DrinkCoffee, aperitivo cocktails, sparkling wine
FoodBreakfast, aperitivo, cured meats and cheese
TipThe counter stocks balsamic vinegar and cured meats to take home alongside the coffee and aperitivo service.
L'Archivio, Enoteca con Cucina, on Modena's Corso Duomo pours cocktails and wine with a tapas and aperitivo kitchen open late near the cathedral.
DrinkSpritz
FoodSalumi and cheese boards, tapas
TipReviewers single out the Spritz and the salumi and cheese boards; the kitchen runs until close most nights.
Lòi is a cocktail bar on Via dei Balugola in Modena, built around Italian vermouth, amari and vintage bottles, with an Americano made with house vermouth.
DrinkAmericano del Lói
FoodCheese selection and bruschetta
TipOpen Tuesday to Saturday only; ask for the collector's list of old amari and whiskies, priced around €18 to €20.
Incognito is a restaurant and cocktail bar on Piazza Grande in Modena, opened in November 2025 beside the Duomo, pairing drinks with reworked Modenese dishes.
DrinkCocktails by the house barman
FoodReworked Modenese dishes with homemade pasta, tigelle and desserts
TipThe 36-seat room stands beside the Duomo, and the kitchen keeps the same 12:00 to 24:00 hours as the bar.
Bar Schiavoni has run stand number one inside Modena's Mercato Albinelli since 1931, its sandwiches known nationally for unusual combinations.
TryPanino with cured meats
TipIt began as a Piazza Torre drinks kiosk before moving into the market; ask the counter for the day's combination.
Il Chicco d'Oro under the portico of Via Francesco Selmi has sold fresh pasta and rosticceria to Modena since 1968, unchanged in style since.
TryFresh pasta and rosticceria plates
TipThe workshop is visible from the counter, with the original 1960s equipment still turning out pasta by hand.
Diecigusti scoops artisan gelato near Modena's old centre, using Piedmont hazelnuts, Bronte pistachios and reduced-sugar natural recipes daily.
TryArtisan gelato
TipIt also bakes its own focaccia and takes Glovo orders, so it works for a snack beyond just gelato.
Gelateria K2 has scooped gelato under the arcades of Corso Canalgrande in Modena since 1969, its original 1971 shop sign still hanging outside.
TryArtisan gelato
TipThe recipes and equipment date to its founding, so classic flavours outshine the seasonal specials.
Bloom on Modena's Piazza Mazzini scoops gelato from classic tradition to seasonal fruit, plus semifreddo cakes and viennoiserie pastries daily.
TryArtisan gelato and semifreddo
TipIt runs a loyalty app and monthly themed events, worth checking before a family visit.
PizzALTaglio sells pizza by the slice to eat standing up or take away on Modena's Piazza Mazzini, open from mid-morning until late in the evening.
TryPizza by the slice
TipThere is no seating inside, so slices are best eaten standing in the square or on the move.
Gioelia Cremeria, formerly Emilia Cremeria, scoops gelato on Modena's central Piazza Mazzini, open from midday until midnight every day of the week.
TryArtisan gelato
TipIt sits a few doors from Bloom, so a side-by-side taste test is easy on the same square.
Gelateria Pomposa on Modena's Via del Voltone stays open until midnight most nights, a late-evening gelato stop near the Piazza della Pomposa.
TryArtisan gelato
TipIt closes only on Mondays, making it a reliable late-night stop after a Sunday dinner nearby.
Mercato Albinelli, Modena's 1931 covered market, gathers meat, cheese and produce stalls around a fountain named a national monument in 1990.
TipSaturdays run non-stop from 07:00 to 19:00; the sit-down restaurants inside keep separate lunch and dinner hours.
Modena's Monday market fills Parco Novi Sad from 08:00 to 14:00 every week, run by Consorzio il Mercato, with food stalls among clothes and household goods.
TipEnter from Viale Berengario; the same consortium adds extra markets on the third Sunday of the month, listed in its online calendar.
Coldiretti's Sunday farmers market fills Largo San Francesco in Modena with local fruit, cheese and Lambrusco direct from regional farm growers.
TipIt runs year-round every Sunday morning, a short walk from the cathedral and Piazza Grande.
Secret Food Tours Modena walks the old town from the Pavarotti monument to Mercato Albinelli and Piazza Grande, tasting pastries, three aged balsamics, four Parmigiano ages and a pasta dish.
TipTours start Monday to Saturday at 10:30 with at most 12 people; look for the guide's orange umbrella by the Pavarotti monument.
Modena Food Lab on Viale Muratori teaches the Modenese sfoglia by rolling pin, then tortellini, tortelloni and tagliatelle, tasted with a glass of Lambrusco, plus a calendar of evening courses.
TipPrivate tortellini classes are arranged at least 24 hours ahead, with mornings and weekends preferred; the dated group pasta courses often sell out early.
Il Tortellante, the Modena workshop where young people with autism make fresh pasta by hand, including tortellini for Bottura's restaurants, opens sessions for visitors to fold alongside them.
TipThe April 2026 volunteer-day session was booked by email or WhatsApp; the Bottega on Via Borelli sells the tortellini Tuesday to Saturday.
La Chersenta sells Pavullo style crescentina and gnocco fritto from a counter on Modena's Via Albinelli, cheap eating by the covered market.
TryCrescentina montanara with lardo and Parmigiano
TipClosed Sundays; the larger tigella grande, rare in the city centre, is worth trying here.
Al Tramezzino has cut budget pizza al taglio on Modena's Piazza Grande since 1987, a cheap counter set right beneath the Ghirlandina bell tower.
TryPizza al taglio by weight
TipTakeaway or a few outdoor stools; ingredients come fresh each morning from the Albinelli Market.
Bottega Mamma Puglia serves cheap Apulian puccia from a small Modena counter on Via Albinelli, facing the historic Mercato Albinelli market.
TryPuccia salentina and focaccia pugliese
TipClosed Sunday and Monday; the focaccia with stracciatella is a favourite among regulars.
PizzALTaglio has cut budget pizza by the slice on Modena's Piazza Mazzini since the 1990s, a cheap stop with a view of the Ghirlandina tower.
TryPizza al taglio by weight
TipOpen every day of the week; the coffee and pizza combo deal suits a quick lunch.
Bertani Ristorazione sells cheap ready made Emilian dishes from a counter inside Modena's Mercato Albinelli, family run since way back in 1994.
TryReady made Emilian counter dishes
TipClosed Sundays; go before early afternoon as the best trays sell out fast at the counter.
Bar Schiavoni has sold cheap gourmet panini inside Modena's Mercato Albinelli since 1931, a counter now run by two sisters, Sara and Chiara.
TryGourmet panino from the counter
TipClosed Sundays; go before 15:30 when the counter shuts for the day.
Taglio - Focacce e Bottega bakes cheap gourmet focaccia sandwiches on Modena's Via del Taglio, staying open through the evening most nights.
TryGourmet focaccia sandwich
TipOpen daily and later on weekends; a short craft beer list pairs well with the focaccia.
Chiosco 75 fries gnocco and rolls Romagna piadina on Viale Ciro Menotti in central Modena, a kiosk counter open for lunch and dinner all week.
OrderPiadina romagnola with squacquerone, or gnocco fritto with salumi.
TipThe aperitivo romagnolo pairs piadina with cured meats for an early evening snack.
L'Or-Ma Crescenteria fills tigelle and crescentine on Via dei Gallucci in central Modena, a budget counter open for lunch and dinner every evening.
OrderCrescentine filled with squacquerone and cured meats.
TipA handful of stools line the counter, so many diners take their crescentine to go.
KEIK All Day Kitchen brought brunch to Modena in 2013 and still serves it daily, with vegan and gluten-free options on Via Canalino near the centre.
OrderPancakes with eggs and bacon, red velvet cupcake
TipIt serves brunch dishes all day, not just mornings, so a late-afternoon pancake stop works too.
Il Filatoio, a Modena social club near Parco XXII Aprile, opens its Sunday brunch from 09:30, reservation only, alongside fairy-tale festival events.
OrderWeekend breakfast plate and filter coffee
TipEntry is for ARCI card holders only and the Sunday brunch is booked ahead by phone; lunch after it is a fixed four-course menu.
Brunch Republic brought English-style brunch to Modena's Largo di Porta Bologna, serving pancakes, avocado toast and eggs Benedict every day of the week.
OrderPancakes, avocado toast or eggs Benedict, with vegan options available.
TipWeekday service starts at 07:00, an hour earlier than the 08:00 weekend opening, with vegan options marked on the menu.
Juta on Via del Taglio in central Modena runs its Juta Brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00, in a bar that stays open well past midnight.
OrderThe weekend Juta brunch plate with eggs, pastries and coffee
TipWeekday hours start only at 18:00, so the weekend late-morning brunch is the one daytime sitting.
Balzac Bistrot serves breakfast and brunch on Piazza Grande in Modena, with French pastries, erbazzone and cappuccino at tables facing the Ghirlandina.
OrderErbazzone and a pain au chocolat with a cappuccino at the outdoor tables.
TipBreakfast starts at 08:00 on weekdays and 09:00 at weekends; the site calls the Sunday brunch especially popular, so arrive early for an outdoor table.
Accademia by Italo in Modena runs its pizza oven well past midnight most nights, a family run late kitchen on Via Modonella open since 1980.
TryWood fired pizza and grilled meat or fish
TipClosed Mondays; weekend nights run the latest, often past half past midnight.
Al Cenacolo cooks handmade pasta and grilled meat on tree-lined Viale Tassoni in Modena, an elegant kitchen serving past midnight most nights.
OrderHandmade pasta paired with a bottle from the wine list.
TipThe wine list runs deep, so ask staff to pair a bottle with the tasting courses.
Snoopy has run Modena's longest-standing disco from Piazza della Cittadella since 1969, opening Saturday nights through the winter season only.
TipThe club only opens on Saturdays through the colder months, and the crowd skews toward university-age regulars.
MONNO Food&Drink is Modena's queer-owned bar on Piazza San Domenico, run for the LGBTQIA+ community from breakfast through the evening aperitivo.
TipThe room closes at 21:00, so treat it as an early-evening stop before heading elsewhere for the night.
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.
