In the heart of Bologna, I Conoscenti is the life project of Biancamaria Cifarelli, who has infused a 14th-century palace with a cosmopolitan aesthetic vision, transforming it into a temple of good food, good drink…and good sleep.

The Historic Soul: Palazzo Conoscenti

Biancamaria, a native of Puglia, moved to Bologna for a life change and fell so in love with Palazzo Conoscenti, a 14th-century building that was the home of the powerful family of banker Alberto Conoscenti, that she chose it as the perfect setting for her hospitality project.

Thus, in 2017, after a conservative restoration, I Conoscenti came to life as a true gem: a cocktail bar and restaurant on the ground floor, and three rooms spread across multiple levels, all the way up to the turret.

I Conoscenti is everything I wanted to find in a place: a venue where you could feel good, surrounded by good people and food, with the right lighting, and a cool “Made in Italy” vibe.

(Biancamaria Cifarelli)

The Interior Design: A Dialogue Between the Centuries of Made in Italy

Biancamaria has overseen every detail of the inn with the precision of an art curator. Each object has been carefully chosen, demonstrating a great love for Made in Italy design.

From the lamps, chosen among the great design classics and cutting-edge pieces, from Foscarini to Flos, to the tapestries decorating the restaurant room by artist Caterina Frongia, to the giant floral decorations by the Premiata Compagnia dei Fiori.

The Cuisine and the Bar

The cuisine is entrusted to executive chef Salvatore Amato, a Puglian with a Michelin-starred past, including at Bartolini’s MUDEC, who offers dishes that focus on authentic flavors, with some international touches and a short, sustainable supply chain.

From Tortellini with Parmigiano Reggiano and nutmeg cream to Tubettino Benedetto Cavalieri with seafood, parsley and lemon chlorophyll, to the Manzo Selezione Macelleria Varvara, cauliflower and beef jus, the recipes range from Bolognese tradition to subtle inspirations from around the world.

In addition to the great classics, the bar offers constantly evolving crafted cocktails to pair with a tapas menu until 8:30 pm. In the summer, you can also enjoy the outdoor seating under the city’s characteristic porticoes, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

The Inn: Design Meets Medieval Bologna

The Inn’s three suites are the ideal refuge for the cultured traveler, the one who seeks beauty even in moments of rest.

Each room is unique, with rigorously Made in Italy design, headboards in fine fabrics, Venetian terrazzo or antique wood floors, and marble and resin bathrooms. The Galliera suite, with its 20th-century frescoes, is just stunning.

I Conoscenti is one of Bologna’s most beautiful and comprehensive establishments, perfect from lunch to dinner, perfect for a drink, dinner, or a retreat in the center of Bologna.

The Secret

Before the renovation, the ground floor of the building housed a historic high-end fountain pen shop. A historic Bologna landmark, I Vecchietti can now be found on Via Riva di Reno, offering the finest Italian pens, including Montegrappas.

Useful Info

I Conoscenti
Via Manzoni 6
40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 232071

Appetizers: from €14
First courses: from €18
Second courses: from €24

Rooms from: €160