Trattoria da Amerigo

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Trattoria da Amerigo: Michelin-Starred Emilian Cooking in Savigno, Italy

Trattoria da Amerigo: A Michelin Star in the Hills of Bologna

In the small village of Savigno, Trattoria da Amerigo has been a fixture since 1934. Founded by Amerigo and his wife Agnese with a wood-burning stove, it is now run by their grandson Alberto Bettini, alongside his partner Marina. The restaurant has held a Michelin star since 1998, yet it has never abandoned its identity as a genuine country trattoria. The star is a recognition of consistency and quality, not a departure from the roots.

The cooking is firmly Emilian, drawing on the produce of the Bolognese hills. The kitchen has evolved from that original wood fire to an induction hob, but the philosophy remains: pride in the land and the region, with an eye to the future. The menu changes with the seasons, offering classic tasting menus that include a choice of three appetizers, three first courses, three second courses, and dessert, often paired with Colli Bolognesi wines.

Guests enter through the Bottega, a shop that echoes Amerigo’s old grocery store, selling traditional local products. The three dining rooms beyond are warm and unpretentious, exactly as a trattoria should be. The same spirit of hospitality extends to the Locanda Amerigo, a five-room inn in one of Savigno’s oldest houses, furnished with 20th-century design pieces. It continues the tradition of offering overnight accommodation that Amerigo himself established after the First World War.

Trattoria da Amerigo is a rare place: a Michelin-starred restaurant that feels like a home kitchen, serving Emilian food that is both rooted and refined. It is worth the drive into the hills.