The best Italian pizzerias and restaurants Emilia-Romagna

Since 1907 this trattoria has been an institution in Piacenza. We come here for its typical, peasant, copious, simple and just delicious cuisine, but also for its incredible atmosphere, authentic and welcoming. A real old-fashioned trattoria, with its panelled walls adorned with black and white photos and its noisy and cheerful atmosphere. On the menu: cold cuts with gnocco fritto, tortelli with ricotta cheese and spinach, cooked and raw horse meat and homemade desserts. It's invigorating, it's good, and it's good value for money.

If you have a car, Ai due Platani is the restaurant not to be missed. Located six kilometres from Parma, here you can taste one of the best local cuisine in a traditional trattoria atmosphere, with red and white checkered tablecloths and panelled walls. Traditional menu, but revisited in a modern way, and exemplary products. To taste absolutely: tortelli di zucca, risotto, squab and zabaione caldo with the torta sbrisolona for dessert. Very nice selection of wines. Let the staff take care of you.

Magnificent agriturismo on the banks of the Po river and very close to the A21 motorway (exit Caorso). The covered terrace, facing the river and bordered by trees, forms the bucolic and peaceful setting of the restaurant. We come to forget that the Po has made the industrial fortune of northern Italy! After an antipasto of gnocco fritto and local delicatessen, try the "Po flavoured" pasta or dishes of freshly caught river fish. Family atmosphere. The agriturismo also has ten rooms, simple but well equipped.

A southern enclave in the heart of Bologna! In a cheerful family atmosphere, you can enjoy generous portions of pasta - with a small preference for seafood - or one of the many pizzas on the menu. Vast room animated by the hubbub of families, tourists and locals who have come to get some sun on their plates. Smiling and cheerful staff. We would almost feel like singing an O' sole mio with the limoncello offered by the house at the end of the meal! Small terrace on sunny days.

A little out of the historic centre, in the Renaissance quarter of the city, crossed by elegant avenues, the restaurant has kept the same name as a century ago: it was then an osteria with a game of petanque and its owner was called Provvidenza. Since then, the establishment, which reopened in 1974, serves both local and contemporary cuisine. It boasts of having welcomed many celebrities who came to discover the traditional dishes revisited. Small, very pleasant garden. A little expensive, though.

A family-run trattoria in the university district. Good quality cuisine with a good value for money. Wide choice of local pasta but also of good fish and seafood specialities. Taste the smooth tortellini neri all'orso tartuffo or the linguine Granseola, a real treat alla. The pizzas are very generous... Good wine list.

A five minute walk from the historic center, La Santa is the classic trattoria Bolande. The décor is simple, fast service and is known for its good tortelloni.

The Posta restaurant takes our taste buds to the other side of the Apennines, to Tuscany, and rivals many establishments in the city of Medici. A traditional cuisine perfectly executed and well balanced. The pasta and cakes are homemade, a real delight. Don't miss: the ribollita and pappa al pomodoro, the rare and juicy bistecca alla fiorentina, the pappardelle with wild boar ragout and the offal preparations(lampredotto, sweetbreads). A family address, elegant and warm, very popular with the locals.

In a XVIIth century palace, a friendly wine library, anxious to guarantee its customers quality products. The place is perfect for a snack based on local cold cuts and cheeses, accompanied by bread baked over a wood fire and a good bottle of regional wine. If culatello di Zibello and cured ham are to die for, set sail for Spain with a portion of Pata Negra: a delight! Beautiful selection of raw milk cheeses. Also some pasta, meat and fish dishes. Sale of regional products.

On the edge of the ghetto, this historic Ferrara trattoria, whose foundation dates back to 1897, has been run for twenty years by two brothers: Michele, in the dining room, and Maurizio, in the kitchen. They were keen to give the establishment a simple and authentic family atmosphere in the Ferrarese culinary tradition. The Estense pasticcio and the hand-made squash cappellacci are, together with the salama da sugo, the specialties of the place. Besides the classics, the menu also changes with the seasons. Nice summer arbor.

Located in Piazza Grande in the heart of the historic centre, this sign is frequented at all hours of the day. The large lunch buffet attracts people for the quality and variety of its dishes; ideal for tasting some local specialities (cold cuts, tortelloni, pizzas, desserts, etc.). At aperitivo time, you sip your drink accompanied by good things to nibble on the large terrace facing the cathedral's chevet. Sunday brunch is gargantuan. A sure value, to satisfy all desires at any time.

This address is an institution in the city. It is renowned for its wide selection of wines, with around 400 labels telling the story of Romagna's winemaking excellence. It is also known as the "balcony of the Romagna": from its terrace, the view embraces a vast expanse of hills and plains, with the sea on the horizon. Finally, the address is appreciated for its typical Romagna cuisine, prepared with raw materials from local producers and with vegetables from the restaurant's own garden.

Located in an old building in the city centre, this family-run restaurant offers excellent local cuisine based on the quality and seasonality of the raw materials. Giancarlo, the father, works in the kitchen with his wife who takes care of the fresh pasta. The two sons, in the dining room, take care of their guests, but also of the wine cellar which has about 400 labels. On the menu, traditional dishes such as tortelli piacentini, and some more innovative creations such as tuna tataki or duck with garum revisited.

With its garden chairs and white plastic tables under the big canvas, or its wooden benches outside, the place doesn't look like much. However, the sign has a very good reputation among the locals who meet there to taste one of the excellent fish fries on the menu. The atmosphere is friendly and good-natured, the staff is smiling and cordial. There is also risotto and fish cooked over a wood fire, to be accompanied by an unpretentious little white wine. Very busy place, sometimes a little waiting.

This trattoria is a family story that began in 1974, when the parents opened the establishment, and continues today thanks to the children who have taken over. Lost in the Apennines, the restaurant offers traditional dishes from Romagna and the mountains: fresh homemade pasta, invigorating soups, game dishes, porcini and chanterelle mushrooms, cheeses and cold meats accompanied by piadine. The restaurant is part of the farmhouse L'Antico Frutto, which offers seven beautiful rooms for a quiet stay in nature.

Magnificent pizzeria with minimalist decoration and bright blue and white walls evoking the colours of a Moroccan city. Pizza's really good there. The dough, made from organic yeast and flours, is left to rise for at least 24 hours, making it light and digestible. It is garnished with the best ingredients of the peninsula: mozzarella di bufala from Caserta, anchovies from Cetara, mora romagnola sausages (Emilia Romagna pig breed), seasonal vegetables... There is also an organic food store.

In the historic centre of Rimini, this small restaurant with its elegant and intimate atmosphere is a newcomer among the Michelin-starred restaurants: chef Mariano received his first star in 2019. The menu changes every month and offers two menus, one fish-based and one meat-based, as well as a tasting menu and some à la carte dishes. A refined and original cuisine, mixing flavours and textures, minimalist and refined plates. Prices are still low enough for a star, enjoy!

A highly recommended gourmet stopover at the gates of Parma! In the country house that once belonged to the musician Nicolo Paganini, the two chefs Davide and Makoto combine their talents to create a cuisine that is both inventive and respectful of the raw materials and seasonality of the products. The plates are an explosion of colours and flavours, everything is done to flatter the senses. To accompany the meal, ask for a wine from the vast selection of vintages offered by the house.

This trattoria is part of the history of Bologna. Since its founding in the late 1950s, very little has changed. Rustic decoration, friendly atmosphere, red and white checked tablecloths, rigorously traditional cuisine, both simple and tasty, served in generous proportions. On the menu, mainly pasta (excellent tagliatelle al ragù) and meat. A meeting place for singers in Bologna, we often meet people who spend their evenings playing guitar behind a glass of good red wine.

A restaurant set up in an old 19th century cinema, it's not common! Here, the tables have invaded the whole room, right up to the stage in front of the screen and, in fine weather, they overflow onto the terrace. Here you can enjoy excellent Romagna cuisine: passatelli, of course, but also homemade pasta and platters of quality charcuterie and cheeses (note that the piadine served as an accompaniment is not free!). The establishment sometimes organizes screenings, shows, concerts and parties with DJs.

This prétention bistro is ideal for a quick meal without having to try to taste Comacchio specialities. Enjoy the fritto fritto (fried fish). Here, there is a local beer produced in Much in Birrificio FM. Terrace on the water in summer.

Excellent wood fire pizza in this pizzeria-restaurant of the historic centre, still very busy. The map also offers several dishes from the local tradition.

An address to discover, located in the ancient Conoscenti palace, where the delicate harmony of the place achieves the best marriage between the history of the walls and modern creativity, in a hushed atmosphere in the image of elegant Parisian bistros. Its bar-cocktail corner at the entrance is the best example. A concept of cuisine that stands out thanks to the mastery of its chef who has been able to give, through his recipes, his personal vision of an innovative, balanced and elegantly presented cuisine... A culinary experience that you will never forget.

A neighborhood trattoria frequented by locals, whose two halls and the terrace under the porticoes are regularly full, is a good sign. Here you can enjoy an excellent regional cuisine, made with quality products prepared with skill and respect for tradition. The menu offers the classics of Bolognese gastronomy and reserves some beautiful discoveries such as the baccalà ravioli, cherry tomatoes and capers or the stinco di maiale (pork shank) candied in the oven with its small vegetables.

This place is not located in the historical center, but it is worth a visit! It's an address known by all the Bolognese and one of the most convivial meeting places of the city, where to spend a lively evening. A really original idea: the traditional London bus has been transformed into a restaurant, pizzeria, pub... a real chophouse with an irresistible charm. Meat is the highlight, as are the burgers and pizzas, and the fresh homemade pasta. And to accompany it all, a selection of draft beers worthy of the best English pubs!

We like its small terrace for a lunch break and its large warm room with its grey exposed beams. The checkered tablecloths remind us that the menu is traditional. The assortments of cold cuts and cheeses are particularly well assembled. One of the piatini 's specialties to try as an appetizer, the Gesseto carpaccio: salted beef in carpaccio with a parmesan fondue and sunflower seeds. We loved the soup of the day and the bolognese to eat on bread.

First of all, we appreciate the setting, both modern and warm, with the lines of the benches matching those of the ceiling beams, with the cubic lampshades providing diffuse light. As for the cuisine, it juggles between Ferrarese tradition, Venetian digressions (baccalà mantecato served on polenta toast) and creative notes. Try for example the gnocchi with smoked swordfish, almond cream and coffee jelly. The restaurant, which is popular with local customers, also offers very good value for money.

This family restaurant maintains its local traditions of good food. Don't be surprised by the decoration of antique furniture, chandeliers and photos of a singer, the wife of the chef in his youth. The very elegant setting lends itself to a romantic dinner. On the menu, we loved the assortment of Parma ham (Culatello PDO, the best) and parmesan, followed by Filomena pasta, prepared with four flours, almonds, cherry tomatoes, Parma ham, smoked ricotta and oregano. For dessert the semifreddo was divine. Good wines selected by hand.

This restaurant, located in the historic heart of Modena, near the main square next to the Duomo, is very popular with tourists and locals alike, both in summer and winter. Two cozy rooms - one is more dedicated to groups - are decorated with Parma hams hanging from the ceiling, bottles of red wine (with its name "golden grape", we suspected), and green plants. The Emilian cuisine offered is composed mainly of homemade pasta served in cassolettes. The tiramisu is to die for, as well as the other desserts on display.

A friendly address, the appointment for a pleasant moment in a warm atmosphere. Well known in Parma, it offers traditional local cuisine with well-balanced and well-presented dishes. The kitchen brigade perfectly interprets the marriage between tradition, innovation and transformation of recipes for the greatest pleasure of good forks. At the heart of this success, the raw materials of the soil, their freshness and their elaboration. All this is accompanied by a beautiful wine list. A very lively place.

A place of irresistible romanticism and charm where history seems to have stopped in the Middle Ages. The restaurant, which is part of the Gropparello Castle, has perfectly adapted its cuisine to the historical context, proposing a traditional local cuisine in order to make the best use of the fresh and seasonal food of the place. The result is delicious, authentic and well-balanced dishes; a tribute to the tradition and culinary excellence of this region, where the friendly atmosphere undoubtedly contributes to the appreciation of the cuisine.

An address with tradition and innovation! An existence that goes back to more than a century. Today, the kitchen is run by the owner Marco Dallabona, a renowned chef who has been able to add the right innovation and originality to traditional local cuisine to obtain dishes that are generous in their flavors, elegant in their presentation and balanced in their composition. The friendly welcome of the staff in this warm and elegant old house makes it a place not to be missed.

This national brand has several addresses in the region, and is a must in Parma, right in the historic center. Super original, it has a decoration of bicycles and books hanging on the walls, green plants and colored neon lights for a slightly crazy acidic universe. On the menu, there is an original choice of pizza doughs: classic, multi-cereal, or black, in lighter and more digestible vegetable carbon. The composition of the pizzas is either classic or "pop", they are rather daring in the assemblies, but always with a lot of taste, we love it!

This discreet address is a landmark for fine gourmets. Here, traditional recipes are subtly reinterpreted, with particular attention paid to seasonal products and a constant search for harmony of tastes. Everything is rigorously homemade, fresh pasta, bread and desserts. The plates are elegantly erected, the cooking of the meats is mastered and we rediscover the flavours of yesteryear. Possibility to get certain dishes in reduced portions, this allows you to taste more!

Here is an address as we like it, warm and where the meal keeps all its promises. How could it be otherwise with a proprietor whose philosophy is that to be a good restaurateur, you have to love food and love wine! He is passionate about his job and his land. He offers an à la carte menu with all the flavours of Romagna and the excellence of his products, with a selection of wines that allows you to discover some of the region's finest vintages. Fresh home-made pasta, meat of Romagna breeds of pork or beef, local cheeses.

Under the arcades of the medieval via Sant'Eufemia, this pleasant place is always full! Delicious cakes for breakfast or snack, daily specials, salads and homemade pasta for lunch, generous platters of cold meats and cheeses at any time of the day, homemade beers and local and national wines, the establishment welcomes gourmets, epicureans and strollers of all kinds, from morning to evening. A very busy place, a cordial atmosphere. Aperitivo between 19h and 20h, with good little snacks to accompany your drink.

The historic pizzeria of Naples has opened a branch in Bologna to the delight of lovers of this culinary heritage of Neapolitan tables. Here you can enjoy a fine and elastic margherita or marinara with a bloated crust, in the purest Parthenopoean tradition. Unless you opt for pizza fritta, a disc of dough topped with cheese and salami, closed in a half-moon and deep-fried. A real treat!

Here, you will not be served a pizza, but a pinsa, which differs from its cousin by its dough composed of a mixture of three flours, which makes it particularly digestible. Alongside the classic side dishes (margherita, marinara), you can indulge in a gourmet pinsa, with parmesan cheese, mortadella and a drizzle of balsamic. And if there are several of us, why not order an assortment to share? An economical and unpretentious address in a relaxed setting, facing the Palazzo Ducale.

This characteristic address tells the story of the flavors of Bolognese cuisine through its recipes and the many traditional dishes offered. It highlights the quality of the raw materials used, the pride of the owner, who buys exclusively from small local producers. The photographic exhibition of his suppliers on the walls is a testimony to this. The result is a well-balanced cuisine of character, with intense aromas. Once you know this address, you'll want to go back!