Cantinella Arena del Sole

Tucked behind Bologna’s Teatro Arena del Sole, this intimate and romantic hideaway is run by wine entrepreneur Roberta Rondelli and partner Lorenzo Spagnolo. Known for bringing life to artistic and cultural spaces while preserving their beauty, they have turned the theatre’s cloister into a vibrant dining spot. Over three years, it has become a unique under-the-stars venue, with old vines climbing Gothic stained-glass windows, attracting guests from spring brunches to summer aperitifs.

Defying the city’s usual reluctance toward dining inside hotels, cinemas, theatres, or pop-up spaces, the project’s success lies in refined taste and artisanal sourcing, familiar from their other venues. The concise yet fresh menu proves that simplicity doesn’t mean monotony, offering craft cocktails, natural wines, and shareable plates: juicy beef meatballs braised in beer with mustard sauce, Romagnolo platters with gourmet cheeses from the renowned Formaggeria Barbieri, 36-hour leavened pan pizza, focaccia barese, pea and mint hummus, and daily specials

Polpettine di manzo cotte nella birra con salsa senapata

Flò Fiori (fiori), FreakAndò (antiquariato)