A few years back, I spent a bunch of time in Modena working on Master of None with my food-obsessed friends whose appetite for immersing themselves in Italian regional cuisine may very well surpass my own. I admit that a few days in, I was desperate for dumplings, a craving that was left sadly unquenched. This is an ongoing personal issue. Digressions aside, many visitors only visit Modena to eat at Osteria Francescana, but I urge you to spend a few days in this charming, pastel-hued town for more time to take advantage of its rich culinary scene. Shop the stalls of Mercato Albinelli, queue up for panini at Bar Schiavoni, sip sparkling wine at Archer, and twirl tagliatelle at Hosteria Giusti (lunch only, book yesterday!). I present my guide to Modena:

• Archer: This natural wine bar pours amazing vino from Italy, France, and Slovenia alongside delicious cheese, cured meats, and other gourmet treats. I love the hard boiled eggs with tuna sauce and the Cantabrian anchovies with butter and toast. I could eat and drink here every day of my life and when I’m in Modena, I do.
• Osteria Francescana: Hot take, but you don't have to go to Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant. In fact, you will eat extraordinarily well in Modena if you spend your time elsewhere. If you must, I recommend skipping the tasting menu and going à la carte: Crocantino of foie gras with caramelized almonds and hazelnuts and aged Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena, eel “swimming up the Po River,” Culatello di Zibello (the locally revered cured meat) with mostarda, tagliatelle al ragù (if this doesn’t change your life you are dead inside), and suckling pig. 
• Franceschetta 58: The Osteria Francescana-affiliated brasserie, helmed by Francesco Vicenzi, serves exceptionally good cured meats and tortellini with the traditional Parmigiano-Reggiano cream. Go here for a taste of the Francescana philosophy at reasonable prices.   
• Hosteria Giusti: Accessed via an alley off of Via Emilia, Hosteria Giusti is a 4-table institution serving traditional modenese fare, like tagliatelle and tortellini and a range of meaty mains like braised veal cheek and cotechino. Start with a round of minestrone fritters and gnocco fritto. Book well in advance. Lunch only. Don’t miss Giusti’s salami, cheese, and pasta shop, which is attached to the restaurant via a narrow corridor and accessed from Via Farini.
• For more modenese classics visit Da Enzo.
• Bar Schiavoni: This sandwich shop in the historic Mercato Albinelli is open from early morning–so swing by for a breakfast of gnocco fritto and coffee–until the early afternoon. There are simple focaccia sandwiches served from the counter before noon, but from midday until closing (around 3:30pm) sisters Sara and Chiara Fantoni serve five sandwiches (for around €5 each) and they are awesome (both the sandwiches and the sisters). The menu changes daily but you might find panini such as: smoked swordfish with white peaches, capers, olives, and onions; crispy pancetta with arugula and truffle sauce; or eggplant, roasted tomatoes, and goat ricotta.
• Satisfy your sweet tooth with pastries from Antica Pasticceria San Biagio. Bloom on Via Farini does amazing natural gelato.
• Mon Cafè does a good sweet and savory breakfast and tasty little sandwiches; I’m not a huge fan of their dinner menu, but the wine list is awesome, so it’s worth a stop for a drink.
• Canalino Market Caffè has a fun cocktail list, while La Bicicletta is nice for aperitivo.
• In the market for traditional balsamic vinegar? Visit Acetaia di San Giacomo and La Cà del Non, awesome vinegar producers outside Modena.
• If you’re mobile (or don’t mind springing for taxis), be sure to check out Hombre, an excellent Parmigiano-Reggiano producer (and owner of a vast Maserati collection), which provides cheese tours–and car museum tours– upon request. And I Sapori Delle Vacche Rosse also makes incredible cheese. 
• For a memorable meal outside of Modena, it’s hard to beat La Lanterna di Diogene. Not only are the owners of this agriturismo the nicest people with the most sensational Lambrusco list, the restaurant and farm also provide employment and professional training to people with special needs. Northeast of Modena in Finale Emilia, Entra is an excellent trattoria, while southeast of the city, Amerigo dal 1934 is a beautiful bastion of traditional regional flavors. East of Modena, Antica Osteria del Mirasole does delicious grilled meats and is one of my favorite places on the planet.

Check out more delicious recs for Bologna on my guide for that nearby city! And you can check out all my city guides here.

 Special thanks to Alessandro Laganà and Enrico Vignoli for their exquisite culinary guidance.