Reggio Emilia

One of the oldest hotels in all of Europe, Hotel Posta began operating as a hotel in 1515. That’s not a misprint; it has been in business for over 500 years. Just because the hotel has been in operation that long, does not mean the hotel feels dated; it’s anything but. The rooms are comfortable and the property is majestic and kept in pristine condition. The staff are all super friendly and highly trained. You can tell that hospitality is their specialty. The drinks in the bar are moderately priced and the setting is beautiful. A final perk is the partnerships they have around town; often you will get a discount for dining out because you’re staying at Hotel Posta. We highly recommended this hotel and it is in the best location in town (next to Piazza Camillo Prampolini).

The most beautiful setting to eat dinner in all of Reggio Emilia! When you approach the entrance to Caffè Arti e Mestieri, it’s rather discreet; it looks like any other entryway off the Via Emilia San Pietro. When you walk through the gates and towards the restaurant, you’re in for a surprise. Their outdoor dining area is a lush oasis of vines and greenery. Started by a Father/Son duo after an earthquake destroyed a previous restaurant, Caffè Arti e Mestieri continues today with a menu full of quality options. From traditional erbezzone to risotto to roasted guinea fowl and cauliflower, these are just some of the highlights you’ll find. Their desserts like tiramisu (a modern take) and zuppa inglese will finish off a great meal! Reservations are by phone only. If you are staying at Hotel Posta, be sure to mention that for a discount.

Located at the edge of Parco del Popolo, the restaurant boasts beautiful window seating with park views and the enormous trees and lush greenery. Enigma is the type of fine dining experience that we find unique to Italy. It’s located in a city with less than 200,000 people, yet it offers multiple tasting menus at a reasonable price. Served by staff that offer top notch service, it's a creative, thoughtful, and absolutely delicious experience from start to finish. While the menu leans towards Emilian cuisine, you will notice Chef Ciro Sieno’s Neopolitan roots throughout the meal. If you choose a tasting menu, and we strongly suggest you do, we hope you will receive the tea service at the end of the meal. It may have been the best tea we’ve ever had!

When you enter Ristorante Canossa, you will be taken back to memories from years past. The restaurant has built a successful business on what it does best; traditional Emilian cuisine. While they have a full offering of antipasti and pasta to choose from, when we come to Ristorante Canossa, we are there for the traditional boiled meats. When the cart is rolled out, ask for a mixed plate so you can try everything! Come hungry - you will receive a heaping pile of meats paired with a large tray of condiments, all for a very reasonable price. We urge you to save room for their zuppa inglese or seasonal desserts - like strawberries with mascarpone which is served in spring time. Reservations by phone only.

Macramè is located in the heart of Reggio Emilia. They have a huge footprint that allows them to provide service pretty much all day. They have a caffeteria for coffee and pastries, plenty of seating for lunch, dinner, and a bar for drinks or aperitivo. They also offer brunch (something you don’t see often in Italy)! In other words - if you have a large party, or you have a picky eater, or if you’re looking for some variety beyond what you would get in typical Emilian cuisine - Macramè is your spot! Don’t get us wrong -they also do the dishes of the region very well; you just get a wider selection here than you would elsewhere!

Lambrusheria Bolle Quadre is what we hope for when we’re looking for a local, traditional place to eat. We especially enjoy the lunch specials here - choose from a selection of main dishes and with it you get coffee, water, and coperto all included for a reasonable price. You can add on a glass of wine and/or a dessert for an additional (low) charge. This is the spot to try traditional Emilian cuisine; we like the lasagna verde, anything that has cotechino in it, the zucca, and the onions soaked in balsamic vinegar. You won’t be disappointed in this meal.

Piccola Piedigrotta is the place to go when you’re in the mood for pizza or looking for something a little more low key. Located within just a few steps of Parco del Popolo/Piazza della Vittoria, they offer both inside seating and an outdoor dining space as well. Their pizza menu is extensive; whatever you can think of, they can probably make it! They also have an extensive wine and spirits menu to complement your pizza. They have additional locations slightly outside the city center.

Cremeria Capolinea is located slightly outside the city center, but we think it’s worth the steps. That offsets the calories of the gelato, right?! While there are choices closer in, our vote for the best in town goes to Cremeria Capolinea. They use top notch ingredients and have a ton of great flavors to choose from. They also bake specialty items like panettone and columbe when the season is right. Come here for all your sweet needs!

Spatolata, a newcomer to Reggio Emilia, opened in 2023. While we definitely like their traditional flavors like bacio, stracciatella, and pistacchio, Spatolata is a place where we urge you to break out and try something new! They are known for their creativity and new flavors. Some of the ones we’ve tried recently are colomba, torta di taglitelle, and spagnola. Whether you’re looking for classics or wanting to be adventurous, visit Spatolata to get your gelato fix!

Reggio Emilia has the distinct honor of being the birthplace of the Italian national flag. Officially adopted on January 7, 1797, Museo del Tricolore (Tricolour Flag Museum) gives the history of before and after the flag adoption. Located inside Museo del Tricolore is the Sala del Tricolore (Tricolour Flag Hall), which is where the flag was officially adopted. The Tricolour Flag Hall is still used today for municipal activities. It’s free entry to the museum and the hall, but check the schedule to ensure there aren’t conflicting events.

The Museum’s Palace of Reggio Emilia is the type of museum we wish we had access to when we were growing up. If we were in grade school in Reggio Emilia, we would be in this museum every day! It houses a wealth of information that is pretty incredible and is free to the public. As you move through the museum, you’ll find a significant Archeological collection that contains hundreds of artifacts. Then there is a Natural History section that has what seems like an endless collection of marine life, land animals, plants, and birds, showing a vast diversity of living things. There are also collections on city history and a more modern interpretation of art upstairs. Palazzo dei Musei is a place you can learn something new each time you visit.

The Temple of the Blessed Virgin of Ghiara was finished in 1619, and earns our vote for the prettiest frescoes in Reggio Emilia. The outside of the church is nondescript, and if you didn’t know what you were looking for from the outside, you’d probably just pass on by. But we urge you not to do that! We think it’s worth it to go inside and spend time marveling at the beauty inside. Done in Late Renaissance style, the interior is bright with gold adornments everywhere. The religious art is striking and will leave you awestruck.

Whenever we travel, we find it difficult to eat as many vegetables as we do at home. One of the ways to get more vegetables in Reggio Emilia is to order Erbenzzone Reggiano. Typically served as a savory crusted pie, we’ve seen Erbezzone Reggiano plated in many versatile ways. It is often an option at breakfast, alongside the normal selection of brioches and other pastries. We’ve had it as an antipasto. We’ve even seen it done as inspiration for a pasta dish. We know ‘eating your greens’ isn’t everyone’s first choice, but for us, this is a great way to make sure we’re getting our vegetables!

Italian cured pork sausage cooked at a low heat for several hours. Cotechino has a rich, flavorful taste and a tender, slightly crumbly texture. It is usually simmered or boiled before being sliced and served.

Parmigiano Reggiano, also known as Parmesan cheese, is a high-quality Italian cheese that originates from the regions of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, and Mantua. It is made from cow's milk and is renowned for its distinctive flavor and granular texture. Parmigiano Reggiano is aged for a minimum of 12 months, but some varieties are aged for even longer, resulting in a more intense flavor. It is commonly grated and used as a topping for pasta, risotto, soups, and salads, or enjoyed on its own as a delicious, savory snack.

Have you ever drank sparkling red wine? If not, lambrusco is a great one to start with! Made with the grape of the same name, this is a refreshing wine that goes well with all the local specialties - gnocco fritto/torta fritta, cured meats, aged cheeses - or even just by itself! Locals drink lambrusco (and often!) to cleanse their palette and often joke that they consume as much lambrusco as they do water! Primarily grown in the Emilia-Romagna region including Modena, Parma, and Reggio Emilia, there are 11 different styles of lambrusco in this region alone. Be prepared to try different ones to find your favorite! We prefer lambrusco that is scuro (dark) and secco (dry) as opposed to the sweeter ones that are lighter in color.