We arrived in Modena just before lunch and checked into Salotto delle Arti, a beautifully restored boutique hotel in the heart of the city. With its art-filled interiors, warm hospitality, and perfect location, it instantly felt like the right place to pause and reset before a day full of food and discovery.

Before the day’s big event — our dinner reservation at Francescana — we spent the afternoon exploring Modena’s rich and surprisingly compact food scene, all within walking distance from our hotel.

First stop: Bar Tiffany, a local spot made famous by Somebody Feed Phil, known for its light, crisp pillows of gnocco fritto. Served warm with slices of prosciutto, it was the kind of snack that makes you pause mid-bite — simple and perfect.

From there, we wandered to Mercato Albinelli, Modena’s historic covered market. Even just walking through was a joy — stalls overflowing with fresh pasta, wheels of Parmigiano, wild mushrooms, and seasonal produce. The energy here felt local and lived-in — no frills, just real food and real people.

We sampled Parmigiano Reggiano — nutty, salty, aged to perfection — and followed it with a stop at La Consorteria 1966, a small shop specializing in traditional balsamic vinegar. We tasted a few aged varieties straight from the spoon — sweet, rich, and unlike anything we’d ever poured from a bottle. It was one of those travel moments you can’t capture in a photo, but you’ll never forget the taste.

And then, unexpectedly, we stumbled into the Modena Chocolate Festival — rows of stalls set up throughout the piazzas, the air filled with the smell of melted cocoa and roasted nuts. We hadn’t planned for it, but it became one of the sweetest surprises of the day. We tried artisan truffles, warm drinking chocolate, and bought a few bars to take home. It was festive, local, and full of joy.

Dinner at Francescana at Casa Maria Luigia

By early evening, we headed out of the city center and made the 15-minute drive into the countryside to arrive at Francescana at Casa Maria Luigia — the country estate restaurant from world-renowned chef Massimo Bottura. The setting felt both luxurious and warm — modern design nestled in old stone, surrounded by gardens and art.

The meal? Hard to put into words.

Each course felt like a conversation — between tradition and reinvention, art and emotion. Bottura’s storytelling through food was clear in every bite: playful, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in the land around us. It wasn’t just a dinner; it was an experience.