I Portici is the hotel for travellers who want design, good food and convenience in one address. It occupies Palazzo Maccaferri, a refined example of Bolognese Art Nouveau with original Liberty-era frescoes, on Via Indipendenza midway between Bologna Centrale station and Piazza Maggiore. Inside, the period architecture is paired with clean, minimalist furnishings across one hundred rooms and suites. The hotel’s real draw is its food. Ristorante I Portici, set in the hotel’s historic theatre space, holds one Michelin star in the 2026 Michelin Guide; Cucina Portici is the relaxed, convivial alternative for pasta and pizza; Caffè Eden and Pasticceria Eden handle breakfast and pastries; and the Terrazza Lounge is a rooftop spot for an aperitivo. La Ghiacciaia, a medieval ice house that survives beneath the hotel, hosts tastings. For travellers arriving by train or planning day trips to Modena and Parma, the location is ideal.
Location and getting around: the station is a short walk north along the porticoes of Via Indipendenza, and Piazza Maggiore about ten minutes south, so you can roll a suitcase from the train and still be in the centre for dinner. The Montagnola park is just behind the hotel. The airport is around fifteen minutes by car or a short ride on the Marconi Express monorail from the station.
The rooms: one hundred rooms and suites in a contemporary style that lets the Art Nouveau details stand out, with a range of categories up to suites. Rooms facing the inner side are quieter than those over Via Indipendenza, which is a busy shopping street by day.
Who it suits: food lovers, couples on a city break, and travellers planning day trips by train who want to be close to the station without staying in a station hotel.
Good to know: book Ristorante I Portici well ahead, especially at weekends; Cucina Portici is easier to get into. Breakfast is served at Caffè Eden; check whether it is included in your rate. Ask the hotel about parking options before arriving by car, since the centre has a limited traffic zone.
Why stay here
- ✓Michelin-starred Ristorante I Portici
- ✓Cucina Portici casual restaurant
- ✓Terrazza Lounge rooftop bar
- ✓Caffe Eden breakfast room
- ✓Pasticceria Eden
- ✓Art Nouveau frescoes
- ✓Medieval ice house venue
- ✓Short walk to the station
Good questions
How far is I Portici Hotel from Bologna Centrale station?+
It is a short walk south of the station along the porticoes of Via Indipendenza. Piazza Maggiore is about ten minutes further on foot.
Does I Portici Hotel have a Michelin-starred restaurant?+
Yes, Ristorante I Portici holds one Michelin star in the 2026 Michelin Guide. Cucina Portici offers a more casual alternative in the same hotel.
How many rooms does I Portici Hotel have?+
The hotel has one hundred rooms and suites. They are set in the Art Nouveau Palazzo Maccaferri with contemporary furnishings.
