Naked stone walls, chic bistro furniture, varnished woodwork, old-fashioned tableware, industrial light fixtures… There’s nothing cheesy about Fabrizzio Ferrara’s bistrattoria – it’s the perfect spot for a taste of Italy that’s good for the soul! The day we went, the prix-fixe lunch menu was filled with flavors that had us wanting to come back for more: delicate chicken liver cromesquis intensified by pickled onion; a delicious plate of linguine with fish roe and saffron; before a comforting slice of apple cake served with a scoop of mascarpone cream. But the à la carte selection was equally appealing, featuring for example octopus salad, potato and nettle pressé, or ricotta-squash ravioli with mint and peppery canestrato cheese… Bravissimo! // Ana Kirpad

FEELING THIRSTY? Drink unfussy, low-intervention Italian wines: a lambrusco di Sorbara (€6 a glass), a Sicilian red from Ayunta (€7), a Venetian white produced by Daniele Portinari (€28 a bottle)…
PRICE: Prix-fixe menus €20-25 (weekday lunch), à la carte €37-59.