Enoteca San Nicola

The story

Enoteca San Nicola: Country Cooking & Bib Gourmand in Bobbio

From Enoteca to Restaurant

Thirty years ago, Piero Bonacina opened a modest wine bar in Bobbio. That passion for wine and local ingredients grew into the Ristorante Enoteca San Nicola, housed in a restored 17th-century Augustinian convent in the town’s historic centre. The original enoteca spirit remains, but today the kitchen turns out confident country cooking that earned the restaurant a Michelin Bib Gourmand for good quality, good value dining.

The Setting

The stone walls and vaulted ceilings of the old convent give the dining room a quiet, grounded atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where you can linger over a meal without hurry. The restaurant also runs an adjacent B&B, making it a natural stop for those exploring the Trebbia Valley.

The Food

The menu changes with the seasons, but a recent line-up shows the kitchen’s strengths. Antipasti include a mixed salumi plate with salame, coppa and saviotto, as well as mantecato baccalà with potatoes, leeks and romesco sauce. Primi range from a velvety red lentil soup with coconut milk and focaccia croutons to ravioli stuffed with braised duck, finished with melted butter and parmesan. There are home-made chicche di ricotta in a dried-tomato sauce with almonds and black olives, and tagliolini with venison ragù.

For secondi, you might find caramelised pork coppa in Gutturnio wine with prunes, or a beef stew with curry, coconut milk and cashews served on black rice. Each dish is rooted in local flavours, prepared without unnecessary fuss.

The Wine List

The cellar holds more than 1,000 Italian and international labels. If you prefer a glass or half-bottle, the by-the-glass list includes a Malvasia blend from La Tosa and a Gutturnio Superiore from Cantine Romagnoli. The selection is carefully chosen to match the straightforward, generous country cooking on the plate.

Recognition

The Michelin Bib Gourmand – awarded for 2026 – recognises exactly what Enoteca San Nicola does well: honest, skilful cooking that offers real value. It is a place where the origins as a simple enoteca still shine through, and the country cooking of Emilia-Romagna is served with warmth and purpose.