I Portici Restaurant in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna

Following a fantastic food and Ferrari tour of Emilia-Romagna, I turned my attention to dinner at I Portici Restaurant in Bologna. I Portici is a Michelin-starred restaurant part of the luxury I Portici Hotel Bologna.

It's in the Eden Theater, a former cafe chantant (French-style cafe where live music is performed) near Montagnola Park, a short walk from the train station and Piazza Maggiore.

I Portici Restaurant in the former Eden Theater.

The old theater, complete with Art Nouveau ceiling frescoes, has been fully renovated. The dining room feels spacious, elegant, and bright. The stage features a piano and harp, though neither was played during my visit.

The talented chef Gianluca Renzi is in charge of the kitchen at I Portici Restaurant. He has continued to uphold his predecessors' one Michelin star rating.

Tasting Menu

I Portici Restaurant offers an a la carte menu plus three tasting menus:

Wandering through Emilia, five courses, $97 (€85)
Into the Blue (seafood focus), five courses, $105 (€92)
2019, seven courses, $128 (€112)

While I only ordered still water, The Michelin Guide 2019 states the restaurant has an "excellent wine list."

These photos are from the 5-course Wandering through Emilia tasting menu I had on October 23, 2018. Not pictured: the freshly baked tomato and black olive bread.

Prosciutto and fried dough at I Portici Restaurant — Prosciutto on fried bread with Persimmon ice cream

Egg pasta stuffed with 36-month old Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, beans, endive, and "cruschi" peppers — 3. Egg pasta stuffed with 36-month-old Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, beans, endive, and "cruschi" peppers

Mora Romagnola piglet, millefeuil of potatoes and "friarielli" broccoli — 4. Mora Romagnola piglet, millefeuille of potatoes and "friarielli" broccoli

Pre-dessert with fruits and vegetables, topped with melon foam

Interpretations of ice cream, sorbet, and fruit at I Portici Restaurant — 5. Interpretations of ice cream, sorbet, and fruit

This was my favorite course of the meal. It is a beautiful presentation, colorful, inventive, and fun to eat. Everything on the plate was edible, even though some of it looked like it could be made of plastic.

Japanese green tea and black licorice at I Portici Restaurant in Bologna, Italy — Japanese green tea and black licorice

As I was wrapping up dinner a little after 10 pm, I didn't want to finish with espresso, as Italians like to do. The Japanese green tea I ordered was a subtler way to end the meal, and the offering of black licorice was a nice touch.

My dinner cost $116 (€102), including bread, a tasting menu, bottled water, and tea. Beyond the theater-style ambiance and delicious food, the service was top-notch, making it easy to recommend I Portici Restaurant to anyone visiting or living in Bologna.

Visit I Portici Restaurant

Address: I Portici Hotel Bologna, Via dell'Indipendenza 69, 40121 Bologna, Italy
Dress: None mentioned, but this is a fine dining experience.
Reservations: Recommend. Visit the website.

A Taste of Bologna: I Portici Restaurant’s Exquisite Cuisine

Tasting Menu

Visit I Portici Restaurant

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