The Cantina Bentivoglio occupies the vaulted brick cellars of a sixteenth-century palazzo just off Piazza Verdi. Live jazz seven nights a week makes it the city's best-known music venue — small enough that even the back row is close to the stage.
Bookings are essential at weekends. The food (mostly traditional Bolognese pasta) is decent rather than the main draw — the real reason to come is the music programme, which mixes local musicians, touring Italians and occasional international names. The room is dim, low-ceilinged, and crowded; on a good night exactly what you want.