There are special places where to go at least once in your life… they are places to see, to live, to taste.
Every city has ones. They are not simply traditional restaurants in Modena, but they are commercial activities and people that did the story of the city telling its identity through the foods that every day come out from their kitchens.
I’ve collected them in this post because I think they deserve a special mention and a particular place in my heart 😉
These are 6 traditional restaurants in Modena centre where to eat at least once in your life.
When I told you about the Historical Shops of Modena I’ve introduced you some of them highlighting their characteristics but I want now to tell you about them from gastronomic point of view.
5 traditional restaurants in Modena center
1) Ermes
Osteria da Ermes
Ermes is not a simple tavern but it is a symbol for my city: its owner, Ermes, died in 2022, was one of the “characters” of Modena.
Authenticity, genuineness and folklore remain three words that come to my mind to describe this place.
Opened only for lunch, this typical restaurant, small but precious, has often a row in front of its door. You can’t book and you have to wait that other people finish to eat. Space is so rationalized that you may find yourself sitting at the same table with other customers: a good practice to socialize! 🙂
Passatelli in brodo – Osteria da Ermes
The atmosphere is cozy and friendly and there is a daily menu, just like at home! Drinking Lambrusco, chatting and having fun the lunch break becomes special.
Calici di Lambrusco e Tagliatelle al Ragù – Osteria da Ermes
Going to Ermes does not mean just have a good Modenese lunch but it is a real experience to do!
Ermes is in:
via Ganaceto 89 – 41121 Modena MO
Tel. +39 059 867 8070
2) Aldina
Trattoria Aldina
Aldina’s restaurant is at the first floor of a pastel color house, in the center of the city, in via Albinelli, near the market. To come inside you have to ring the bell and go upstairs. Once entered you realize immediately that time has stopped. The furnitures are simple, old-fashioned, perfect for this traditional restaurant that transmits the authentic Modenese character.
Tortelloni – Trattoria Aldina
Flavors are familiar, foods are typical. You have definitely to try this place!
Aldina’s restaurant is in:
Via Luigi Albinelli, 40, 41121 Modena
Tel +39 059 236106
Opening hours: at lunch time, Friday and Saturday also in the evening. Closed on Sundays.
3) Danilo’s
Gnocco Fritto e salumi – Da Danilo
Familiar and hospitable, Danilo is a traditional restaurant located near Mazzini Square. Its history dates back about 40 years ago when the owner, Danilo, took over the business where he grew. Here you can taste foods of Modenese tradition as the homemade tortellini, tortelloni, lasagna and tagliatelle.
The choice of starters and sweets is great.
Danilo is in:
Via Coltellini, 31, 41121 Modena
Tel +39 059 225498
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday for lunch and for dinner. Closed on Sunday.
4) Enzo
Pasta fresca da Enzo
Situated near Danilo’s restaurant, also Enzo is a great classic of local traditional restaurants. Go upstairs at the first floor, once you entered, you will be immediately thrown into the real spirit of the tradition. The homemade pasta show itself and welcomes the guest. Staff is really friendly, funny and authentic as I love!
Tortellini in brodo – Da Enzo
Do you think that it’s possible to resist to these tortellini? I assure you that they were not only nice but also very good!
Enzo’s restaurant is in:
Via Coltellini, 17, 41121 Modena
Tel. + 39 059 225177
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, Sunday lunch only, closed on Monday.
5) Oreste
L’ingresso – Oreste
Before speaking of this place, a premise is necessary: at the end of September 2018 the historical Oreste that here I have described closed the activity. Despite this, I decided to keep this few lines in this article first of all because I think it is important to continue to celebrate it and to make known it for how it was for so many years, second because the restaurant have reopened with a new management in 2019, remaining a charming place where you can it traditional food that worths to be visited. I’ll tell you about the old versione and the new one 😉
THE OLD ORESTE
Oreste is a place that has always intrigued me! Even if it is an historic local of Modena, I’ve tried it only recently. Every time I crossed Piazza Roma, I observed it with a great desire to learn more about its past. So I decided to enter. My experience was interesting, even if I have to tell that Oreste isn’t the first restaurant now attended by Modenese people.
Il design degli arredi di un tempo – Oreste
Lo zampone di Oreste
As you can read on the menu, in 1932, the two brothers Cantoni, Guerrino and Alfonso, started their adventure as restaurateur. In 1944 Guerrino took over the restaurant “da Oreste” and since then everybody recognized him with this name. In 1959 the restaurant moved where we find it now and exactly in the way it’s now! The forniture is able to bring you back in ’60s.
Oreste’s prestige was immediately great. It had famous clients as for example Enzo Ferrari or the great singers of Opera and the King of Belgium to who Oreste even dedicated a dish, named “Fettuccine da Oreste”.
Oreste’s cooking knowledge has unchanged over the years: a family tradition, handed from generation to generation, is at the basis of the preparation of its dishes, that are strictly traditional as for example the Zampone prepared from raw, immersed in water all the night and cooked slow for over 4 hours.
Oreste is in:
Piazza Roma, 31, 41121 Modena
Tel. + 39 059 243324
Opening hours: from Monday to Friday lunch and dinner, closed on Saturday and opened on Sunday only for lunch.
THE NEW ORESTE
The new Oreste is a place that has enchanted me. I loved his historical version, but its “new look” impressed me a lot.
Its renovation was made respecting its unique character. The style and tradition have been maintained both in the beautiful selected vintage furniture and in the menu that alternate traditional dishes with some newer proposals.
The magical tradition of the boiled meat cart remains! I recommend a dinner, especially for those who saw it as it was 🙂
I like to think about these traditional restaurants in Modena as a great heritage for the entire city. These are places to take care of and enjoy as long as we can.
Do you agree? 🙂
Stefania
14 Comments
Buongiorno Stefania,
Sono un assistente di volo per una compagnia americana. Porto 11 amici a Emilio-Romagna per la mia cinquantesimo. Vorrei andare a Giusti per pranzo la Domenica (3 Marzo), pero’ e’ chiuso. Sono contenta di trovare il suo blog con diversi opzioni. Puo’ consigliarmi di un0 di questi incredibile ristorante!
Buongiorno Gina, grazie mille del commento! Ho verificato rispetto alle aperture domenicali e potrei consigliarle, tra questi, il Ristorante da Enzo, il Ristorante Danilo e da Omer. Aldina e Ermes sono chiusi la domenica e Oreste ha chiuso definitivamente, purtroppo. Probabilmente non hanno la storia centenario dell’Hosteria Giusti, dove vi suggerisco di trovare modo di andare prima o poi, ma sono tutti ristoranti dove si mangia bene, in modo semplice e tradizionale. Sono luoghi autentici. Consiglio la prenotazione per 11 persone. Un caro saluto.
Thank you!!
Thank you so much! I did have a meal in Ermes, met the man himself, his wife and friends. It was beautiful, a quick lunch turned into a 5 hours affair of Italian songs, lots of Lambrusco, diluting the Lambrusco so Ermes wife would allow, and youngsters and their festa do laurea. It was more than I can bargain for as a solo traveler in Italy. And I went to the cafes you recommended for breakfast, drinking spots as well. I am so glad I found this blog and genuine advise from a local, instead of the food of tourist taste.
Grazie !
I’m so pleased that you write me this comment! It’s my aim give suggestions that make traveler feel at home in my city 🙂 Thanks you so much!
I recently visited Modena on a day trip from Bologna. I loved it, and used your site to research places to visit beforehand – so helpful, thank you. We lunched in Ristorante da Enzo and thought it was a beautiful bite of old Italy. The staff were very attentive and the food was superb. I’m now trying to write about it (and other things) and am trying to remember the Italian name of the tortelloni dish my daughter had. It was with a gorgonzola sauce and there was sage in it too. Absolutely delicious. Could you tell me how I could say/write that in Italian? I regret that my Italian is not good .. many thanks. And I will be sure to link to your blog when I’m ready to publish. Grazie mille.
Hi Becky, thanks for you comment! I’m very pleased that you appreciate Modena and my suggestions 🙂 I think that you mean “Tortelloni di ricotta e spinaci con burro e salvia” that are Tortelloni stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach and served with butter and sage. Very typical dish 🙂 Let me know when you will publish.
We are a belgian family that will visit Modena this summer. I’m glad I found your blog to help me plan our visit and to already enjoy the Modena-vibe!!
Since our daughter is sitting in a wheelchair, I was wondering which of the suggested restaurants is accessible? Thanks in advance!
Hi Sandra, I’m very glad that you are already enjoying Modena-vibe! As far as your question is concerned, I think that in summer the problem of accessibility is reduced thanks to the season and the possibility that restaurants have to put tables outside. So, in general, you would have a lot of choice just walking in the center of the city and select the best option for you. Speaking about the restaurants mentioned in my article I can say that Danilo, Oreste and Omer’s are situated at the ground floor (Danilo and Oreste have also a dehor) instead Aldina and Enzo are at the first floor of historical houses and I’m quite sure they don’t have a lift. I hope that my answer it could be useful 🙂 Have a wonderful staying!