Discover Ferrara · Zeno’s tips
The places I love.
Ferrara and around: restaurants, shops, artisans, bars. Places I know and go to, not a list of addresses. The minutes shown are the walking time from the hotel.
Zeno Govoni
Owner & hotel manager
Eating in Ferrara.
Il Molo
8 min on foot
Frank, the manager, is a real character: his passion for beer turned Il Molo into a landmark for quality and sour beers — so much so that he created “Acido Acida”, the sour-beer festival. He serves no food, like a real English pub: if you want crisps, you ask for them and pay.
Via Contrari 36 · 320 2174940
Osteria Il Frantoio
14 min on footVegetarianVeganThirty years open
In 1993 Luca turned an Este salt warehouse into an osteria: well-made dishes, simple but with top-quality ingredients. He’ll tell you about the dishes and guide your wine choice. I have a soft spot for the bruschetta, cappellacci with ragù, pumpkin flan and Iberian pork.
Via Baluardi 51 · 0532 761698 · 335 7118561
Il Sorpasso
14 min on footVegetarianVegan
Beatrice in the dining room and Saro in the kitchen are a fantastic couple, the heart of Il Sorpasso. Enjoyable cooking, rich in vegetables and unusual salads. I love the fried anchovy meatballs, the swordfish skewer, the lemon or olive salad and their ricotta.
Via Saraceno 118 · 0532 790289
La Cantinetta
13 min on footSandwich barThirty years open
I love historic places where you still breathe the atmosphere of the past and find the house specialty that made them famous. Every now and then I must go back for the legendary “pano Bordon” and their trio of crostini.
Corso Porta Po 61 · 0532 202439
Pizzeria da Giuseppe
10 min on foot
A historic spot. I like a quick bite at the counter: a margherita served on greaseproof paper, cut to eat with your hands. Don’t miss the “ceci”, or farinata, crispy on top and soft inside: spectacular with pepper and a draught beer.
Via Carlo Mayr 71 · 0532 761701
Localino
5 min on foot
Zamp, as we call him, is totally crazy: he tells it like it is and with Michele brings Localino to life. His cutlet is incredible, a giant “petroniana” to share among three. In a hurry? Skip it: for Zamp, eating well takes all the time it needs.
Piazza Torquato Tasso 4 · 335 8174981
Retrobottega
3 min on foot
The name comes from it being the back room of the Travagli butcher shop, where Jack’s dad and brother work — and Jack runs the place. He loves natural wines and you can taste them here. When you hear a bell ring, the hot “bombette” are out: fantastic little sandwiches.
Piazza Municipale 17/a · 0532 1860115
Maracaibo
7 min on foot
At Maracaibo you always feel good: they’re friendly, the place is cozy and warm, prices are fair, cocktails well-made and the location is perfect. Before or after dinner, I’d definitely stop by.
Via Contrari 13 · 346 6274851
The Lab
4 min on foot
If you want a great burger in a modern venue full of young people, The Lab is the place. But not only burgers: other very tempting dishes and an incredible wine list you’d never expect.
Via Guglielmo degli Adelardi 9/a · 0532 203421
Pizzeria Orsucci Armando
14 min on foot
A historic pizzeria. It’s pure luck to grab one of the very few tables: my tip is to go at 7.00 pm or 10.30 pm. Orsucci offers only four things: margherita with or without mozzarella, ceci, and in winter a fantastic castagnaccio. Pan pizzas on greaseproof paper, eaten by hand.
Via Saraceno 116 · 0532 760000
Quel Fantastico Giovedì
13 min on footVegetarianVeganGluten freeThirty years open
With Mara it’s always a sure thing: a place loved by locals, with consistent quality. I always want to go back for the risotto with lobster, curry and scallops. Ask for a generous portion.
Via Castelnuovo 9 · 0532 760570 · 328 1646231
Makorè
7 min on foot
If you want a serious dinner without sacrificing pleasure, this is a place where fish is a serious matter: born in symbiosis with the adjacent fishmonger, refined and modern seafood cooking. Open kitchen with the team at work; tasting menus or à la carte.
Via Palestro 12 · 0532 092068
La Provvidenza
17 min on footVegetarianGluten freeThirty years open
If you want a typical Ferrarese menu in a warm, historic setting — with Andy Warhol works on the walls — then La Provvidenza is exactly what you were looking for.
Via Ercole I d’Este 92 · 0532 205187 · 389 7681544
Aroma Bistrò
12 min on foot
A new, beautiful, modern place, with tapas for aperitivo too, on one of the food & beverage nightlife streets. Fish-focused.
Via Saraceno 19 · 0532 500653
Le Due Comari
4 min on footVegetarianGluten free
A reliable address for lovers of fresh fish and Mediterranean seafood, refined and enjoyable, steps from the Cathedral and Castle. Intimate atmosphere: raw fish, seafood pastas and textbook fried dishes. Specialty: parmigiana with octopus.
Piazza Sacrati 22 · 0532 773676 · 373 8642888
Cucina Bacilieri
9 min on foot
The most elegant restaurant in Ferrara, full of atmosphere. Michele, the chef, deserves a star that still hasn’t arrived. If you want a relaxing, very pleasant evening, Cucina Bacilieri is for you.
Via Terranuova 60 · 0532 243206 · 339 7791639
Messisbugo
11 min on foot
An iconic spot for young people, on the main nightlife street. Great also for a burger or a platter for dinner.
Via Carlo Mayr 95 · 0532 764060
Pizzeria Este Bar
10 min on foot
A historic, family-run venue in the center, active since 1975 just steps from the Cathedral and Castle. Born as a pizzeria, today it offers high-quality pizzas with different doughs plus a full meat-and-fish menu and a rich cellar. Second generation.
Via delle Scienze 13 · 0532 240323
Ethnic & plant-based.
Li Xia
4 min on footPlant-based
Authentic Chinese cuisine: at the tables not only locals but many Asian guests too. Meat, fish and lots of tofu- and vegetable-based dishes. Order online and there’s a plant-based section. Recommended: Thai vegetable noodles, tofu stew with cashews, golden cauliflower.
Piazza Sacrati 43
Taj Mahal
4 min on footPlant-based
We fly to India, cuisine naturally rich in vegetable dishes. Swirls of curry and sesame, basmati rice galore. Tip: go in a group and order lots of starters — samosa, vegetable, aloo or paneer pakora — and naan of every kind. There’s a whole plant-based section, the “khana shakahari”.
Via Garibaldi 89
Norma’s Burger
10 min on footPlant-based
A burger joint with a single plant-based option, “No Meat”, but it’s worth it. Juicy, super-fresh vegetables, soft bun. Highly recommended sweet potato fries, even the Nutella version. Few tables: expect a short queue or order takeaway.
Via Carlo Mayr 59/b
Shops, artisans & wine.
Lasciate Entrare il Sole
6 min on foot
Eleonora, my wife, and Chiara, her partner, made their dream come true: a concept store dedicated exclusively to women. Lots of research, objects and clothing for a woman who loves to look beautiful and feel good.
Via Voltapaletto 7 · 0532 204058
Il Filonificio
6 min on foot
Alice is adorable. She created a unique micro-bakery and in her workshop she makes real delicacies. You have to go, queue up, and on Saturday mornings stop for breakfast too.
Via Voltapaletto 24 · 348 5399381
Gelateria K2
5 min on foot
A historic Ferrara gelateria, open since 1968, known for artisan gelato with selected ingredients and a wide choice. Beyond cones and cups, great also for gelato cakes, semifreddi and specialties for parties and celebrations.
Via Armari 30/32 · 0532 240332
Gavoci 1969
24 min on foot
Giovanni Gavoci: “Our story begins in 1969, in a land beyond the sea, in a small workshop where my grandfather crafted bespoke shoes almost from nothing.” A true artist working with mastery in his atelier just beyond the ancient walls: one of the very few artisans still out there.
Via Caldirolo 84 · 0532 471357
The Ferrareser
7 min on foot
An idea that first became a magazine that doesn’t exist, on purpose, and then a small shop where you can buy — or just admire — beautiful works. It’s an association of Ferrarese illustrators and artists, united to tell the city through the covers of an imaginary magazine.
Via Contrari 20/a
Il Cappellaio, non proprio matto
46 min by car
In Codigoro, toward the Po Delta, hides the atelier of Roberto Lucchi, a young artisan who revived the ancient craft of hat-making. He recovered historic equipment and traveled Italy to learn from the masters. Today he makes made-to-measure hats blending tradition, handcraft and innovation.
Via Enrico Fermi 35, Codigoro · 348 0983645
Enoteca Ferrari
5 min on foot
Andrea Ferrari is an independent bottler and creates fabulous whiskies and rums that sell out as soon as they’re released, especially abroad. He fulfilled a new dream: a small wine shop offering his own products and other labels. If you love whisky, say hi from me.
Via Garibaldi 135
Perfetta, bocce da competizione
40 min by car
A small Ferrara pride with global resonance: from Berra come some of the most highly regarded competition bowls, chosen by champions and Made-in-Italy enthusiasts. Acquired in 1995 by Andrea Varzella, today it’s a laboratory of innovation where research, design and craftsmanship meet.
Via Sandro Pertini 1, Berra
Curiosities.
Anais’ tiles
A small project by big dreamers. On Anais’ socials appear small tiles with different drawings, to be hunted around the city on the peeling walls of historic and anonymous buildings. Hard to find, but when you spot them they’re wonderful: white, clean, laser-engraved. Photographing them is poetry.
The column and the tombstones
During a visit to the Jewish Ghetto and the MEIS I discovered a curiosity: the Borso d’Este column, to the left of the horse’s face in front of the Cathedral, is built in layers of pink Verona marble and white Istrian stone. Why? In 1716 a fire forced its rebuilding and, for material, ancient tombstones from Jewish cemeteries were reused. The truth resurfaced only in 1960, when the column was dismantled for restoration.
Aperitivo time.
Skottadito
In the historic center, ideal for aperitivo, apericena and after dinner. Live music on some evenings.
Laudano e Misture
Refined cocktails and a sophisticated atmosphere: high-level mixology.
Apelle
Innovative cocktails and a trendy vibe: the right place to experiment with new flavors.
Antico Caffè
A historic Ferrara café, elegant setting and a wide selection of drinks: perfect for a classic aperitivo.
Sushi spot.
Crudo
Japanese spot praised for the freshness of the fish and the artistic presentation.
Taberu
Wide selection of sushi and hot Japanese dishes: great for a casual dinner with friends.
Yun
Fresh sushi and a relaxed atmosphere, overlooking the Volano river.
Koi
In the former Stock Exchange palace: a high-quality sushi experience with a contemporary touch.
Pizza & meat.
Basilico
Artisan wood-fired pizzas, high-quality ingredients and light doughs.
Giuseppe
Traditional pizzeria; you can also eat at the counter on greaseproof paper. Excellent ceci.
Ciro’s
Authentic Neapolitan pizza, soft dough and tall crust, with ingredients imported from Naples.
Cool nights.
Dancing
Sinatra, College, Giardini Sonori: dance floors and DJ sets for every taste.
Live music
Skottadito, Apelle and Locanda del Furioso for DJ and live sets. Zuni: cicchetteria and live music, between art and culture.
Where we hang out.
Piazza Verdi
The Gen Z symbol spot: an evening meeting point for chats and drinks.
Piazza Ariostea
A meeting place day and night: on the grass in the sun, or for an evening aperitivo.
Duomo
Next to the Cathedral, where a street of bars and aperitivo spots begins.
Saraceno
A street entirely dedicated to food & beverage.
A few tips for Comacchio.
Vasco & Giulia
Fish cuisine, in Comacchio.
Via L. Muratori 21, Comacchio · 0533 81252
Al Ponticello
Sleep and excursions in the valleys with Riccardo, the owner.
Via Don Minzoni 2, Comacchio
Osteria Arcadia
Fish and boat excursions in the valleys, in Santa Giulia di Porto Tolle.
Via Luigi Lungo 29, Santa Giulia di Porto Tolle · 0426 388334
And finally, Ravenna.
Ca’ de Vèn
Piadina and Romagna dishes, in a historic venue.
Via Corrado Ricci 24, Ravenna · 0544 30163
Osteria Passatelli
Romagna dishes, in a converted old cinema.
Via Ponte Marino 19, Ravenna · 0544 215206
Darsenale
The first brew-pub in Ravenna’s docklands.
Via d’Alaggio, Ravenna · 392 3777568
Around the website
Zeno’s tip, page by page.
This suite is made for living in, not just for sleeping. After a day exploring Ferrara on foot: a long shower, then the little sitting room, with the Castle in the window.
Castle View SuiteOn the first evening, leave the curtains open. The Castle lit up, seen from the bed, is the reason this room exists.
Castle View SuperiorWith children it is the most comfortable choice: space for everyone, the kettle for the evening camomile tea and breakfast 130 metres away, a walk to wake up.
Loft Suite AnnexIf you are staying more than one night, choose the Superior: you feel the extra space from the second day, when the suitcase is open and Ferrara has already tired your legs.
SuperiorThe Standard is for those who live Ferrara outdoors: you drop your suitcase, take a bike and come back in the evening. The Castle is right below, the city does the rest.
StandardIt is our best-value room, and not the smallest for that: perfect if you spend the day out in Ferrara and all you ask of your room is space and a good bed.
Superior AnnexStart with the Ferrara savouries: salame rosa and zia on local bread. The sweet things come later, slowly, in front of the Castle.
La DispensaStay a night at Al Ponticello, with Sarah and Riccardo. They are lovely people, and Riccardo, a nature guide, will show you unique places in Comacchio and the lagoons.
ComacchioA night at Osteria Arcadia, to taste its excellent food and to take a boat trip with the son of Pamela, the owner. He takes you into the lagoons of the Delta and introduces you to Ostra Bora, the oyster he farms himself.
The Po Delta
Frequently asked questions.
Where to eat near the Hotel Annunziata?
Five minutes’ walk or less: Retrobottega (3 min), The Lab (4 min), Le Due Comari (4 min), Localino (5 min). These are places Zeno knows and goes to; you’ll find the reason for each one on this page.
Where to eat vegetarian or vegan in Ferrara?
With vegetarian and vegan dishes: Osteria Il Frantoio (14 min), Il Sorpasso (14 min), Quel Fantastico Giovedì (13 min). With a whole section of plant-based dishes: Li Xia (4 min), Taj Mahal (4 min), Norma’s Burger (10 min). The minutes are on foot from the hotel.
Where to eat gluten free in Ferrara?
Among Zeno’s places, these have gluten-free dishes: Quel Fantastico Giovedì (13 min), La Provvidenza (17 min), Le Due Comari (4 min). At La Dispensa, the hotel breakfast, there is a gluten-free display with certified products.
Where to go for an aperitivo in Ferrara?
Skottadito, Laudano e Misture, Apelle, Antico Caffè. For an aperitivo outdoors, Piazza Ariostea; for a whole street of bars, Via Saraceno. At the hotel there is the Bitter Spritz Bar, open to everyone from 12.00 to 22.00.
Who is Zeno?
Zeno Govoni, owner and manager of the Hotel Annunziata. These are the places he knows and goes to: not a list of addresses.
