Food markets are the first thing I look for when I travel to a new city. Barcelona's Boqueria, Fatih Çarşamba in Istanbul, and Borough Market in London are local food markets where I can spend months. I love talking with shop owners and eating food directly from the stalls: this is my best way to find out the real food of a city. Read which are the best food markets in Bologna.

How to explore Bologna food markets

If I say Michelin starred restaurant near Bologna your first thought will go to Massimo Bottura's Osteria Francescana.And I can say you're right because the #1 restaurant in the world is a worth-a-plane place.But it's not the only Michelin star that you should check out if you are in Bologna.It took me some time (and money) but here are other different places that have more than a star in common.

Bologna is home to one Michelin-starred restaurant, Ristorante I Portici. Located in the heart of the city on Via Indipendenza, it holds the distinction of being the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Bologna's historic center.​The first surprise is that is located inside I Portici, one of the best hotels in Bologna, a few meters from the train station.The restaurant is set in the elegant cafè ch

Turin. Former Italian capital, the city of chocolate, of the elegant cafes, with a blend of French influence and ties to Southern Italy. Full of stunning museums and exhibitions, it's usually outside the tourist radar. That makes it a hidden gem (do they still exist?), perfect for a weekend of great food. Here's my list to soak up every bit of its charm under the Mole Antonelliana.

Breakfast

I'm always suspicious of popular restaurants on TripAdvisor. I had terrible experiences in the past and, even if it's an essential tool to make our food tours in Bologna known, I don't trust it that much. That's probably the reason why it took me so long to visit Trattoria di Via Serra, the #1 restaurant in Bologna on TripAdvisor. But I have another powerful tool in Bologna: very trusted foodies

From the mountains with love

Eating gluten-free in Bologna seems like an uphill battle. Km of tagliatelle, bowls of tortellini and layers of lasagne are everywhere. Fortunately, there are restaurants that care about celiacs too, where you can get so much more than a green salad or boiled rice.

The best gluten-free restaurants in Bologna Italy