Italy · month by month
Modena food calendar
What is in season in Modena, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Modena
The best of January: Cotechino and bollito misto, Tortellini in brodo, Fiera di San Geminiano.
Eat it now
- Cotechino and bollito mistocold months
Boiled meats with mostarda at Da Danilo and the old trattorie.
Nov–Mar - Tortellini in brodocold months
Capon broth at Hosteria Giusti, Aldina and Franceschetta58.
Oct–Mar
On the calendar
- Fiera di San Geminianolate January
The patron saint's fair with stalls of local food. 2027 dates were not confirmed.
Plan around
- Hosteria Giusti closesAugust, December, first week of January
Plan lunch elsewhere: Aldina or Ermes.
Aug, Dec–Jan - Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Modena
The best of February: Cotechino and bollito misto, Tortellini in brodo.
Eat it now
- Cotechino and bollito mistocold months
Boiled meats with mostarda at Da Danilo and the old trattorie.
Nov–Mar - Tortellini in brodocold months
Capon broth at Hosteria Giusti, Aldina and Franceschetta58.
Oct–Mar
Plan around
- Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Modena
Shoulder seasonThe best of March: Cotechino and bollito misto, Tortellini in brodo.
Eat it now
- Cotechino and bollito mistocold months
Boiled meats with mostarda at Da Danilo and the old trattorie.
Nov–Mar - Tortellini in brodocold months
Capon broth at Hosteria Giusti, Aldina and Franceschetta58.
Oct–Mar
Plan around
- Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Modena
Peak seasonPlan around
- Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Modena
Peak seasonPlan around
- Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Modena
Peak seasonThe best of June: Vignola cherries.
In season
- Vignola cherriessummer
Summer cherries get prime shelf space at the market.
Jun–Jul
Plan around
- Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Modena
The best of July: Vignola cherries.
In season
- Vignola cherriessummer
Summer cherries get prime shelf space at the market.
Jun–Jul
Plan around
- Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Modena
A hard monthPlan around
- Hosteria Giusti closesAugust, December, first week of January
Plan lunch elsewhere: Aldina or Ermes.
Aug, Dec–Jan - Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Modena
Peak seasonThe best of September: Porcini at Mercato Albinelli and Sagra del Tortellino, Castelfranco Emilia.
In season
- Porcini at Mercato Albinelliautumn
2foodtrippers says autumn is the best time to buy mushrooms at the market, and they go on tagliatelle.
Sep–Nov
On the calendar
- Sagra del Tortellino, Castelfranco Emiliaearly September
Ten days of hand-made tortellini in the province, Sept 4-13 in 2026.
- Sagra dell'Uva e del Lambrusco GrasparossaSeptember weekends
Castelvetro in the hills, Sept 19-27 in 2026.
- Festivalfilosofiamid-September
Sept 18-20 in 2026, with the portici cafes full.
Plan around
- Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Modena
Peak seasonThe best of October: Tortellini in brodo and Porcini at Mercato Albinelli.
In season
- Porcini at Mercato Albinelliautumn
2foodtrippers says autumn is the best time to buy mushrooms at the market, and they go on tagliatelle.
Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Tortellini in brodocold months
Capon broth at Hosteria Giusti, Aldina and Franceschetta58.
Oct–Mar
Plan around
- Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Modena
Shoulder seasonThe best of November: Cotechino and bollito misto, Tortellini in brodo.
In season
- Porcini at Mercato Albinelliautumn
2foodtrippers says autumn is the best time to buy mushrooms at the market, and they go on tagliatelle.
Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Cotechino and bollito mistocold months
Boiled meats with mostarda at Da Danilo and the old trattorie.
Nov–Mar - Tortellini in brodocold months
Capon broth at Hosteria Giusti, Aldina and Franceschetta58.
Oct–Mar
Plan around
- Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Modena
The best of December: Cotechino and bollito misto, Tortellini in brodo.
Eat it now
- Cotechino and bollito mistocold months
Boiled meats with mostarda at Da Danilo and the old trattorie.
Nov–Mar - Tortellini in brodocold months
Capon broth at Hosteria Giusti, Aldina and Franceschetta58.
Oct–Mar
Plan around
- Hosteria Giusti closesAugust, December, first week of January
Plan lunch elsewhere: Aldina or Ermes.
Aug, Dec–Jan - Book Osteria Francescana earlyyear round
Tables open about a month ahead and go in minutes.
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.