Where to Eat and Drink in Bologna, Italy
- Will Gerson
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 hours ago
Often cited as one of Italy’s premier food cities, Bologna is rich with culinary tradition in past and present. The city is nicknamed la grassa (“the fat”) for its emphasis on meat and dairy products, which come from the fertile Po River Valley nearby. Bologna has produced a number of Italy’s most famous dishes—not just the bolognese. Read on for a guide to the best places to eat and drink your fill around the city.
This laid-back osteria is a perfect place to begin your food tour of Bologna. Popular among locals, the simplicity of the dishes at this charming, lively restaurant allows the quality of the locally-sourced ingredients to shine through.
I recommend starting with a tagliere (meat and cheese plate) before moving onto the tagliatelle al ragù, the city’s iconic dish known around the world as bolognese sauce. Of course, pair the food with a local wine—to go with food, Sangiovese is typically king around here.
Located in the city’s university district, this is a favored student haunt for its hearty, homestyle food and cheap prices. This is a great spot to try another one of the city’s iconic dishes, tortellini in brodo (pork-filled pasta in broth). Treat yourself to a steaming bowl paired with a bottle of their highly economical house wine. The local specialty lasagna alla bolognese here is also excellent.
The restaurant often has a rather lengthy wait for a table, so pop over to Camera A Sud around the corner for an aperitivo (pre-dinner drink).
This salumeria has been a fixture of Bologna’s Quadrilatero market district since it opened its doors in 1960. It’s a delicatessen selling a mouthwatering array of meats and cheeses, but they also have a small seating area in the back where you can order plates of tagliere alongside wines by the glass. Typical meats from the area include mortadella and Prosciutto di Parma, while the best local cheese is the world-famous Parmigiano-Reggiano.
This tavern is nearly as old as the Quadrilatero market itself, with its opening date of 1465 making it one of the oldest drinking establishments in Italy. While it would today be described as an enoteca (wine bar), the place actually fits the original definition of an osteria: a sort of Medieval inn where travelers and locals alike could come inside for a warm place to drink wine and enjoy food that they carried with them like bread, meat, and cheese.
The tavern maintains this tradition today, serving only wine and encouraging customers to bring their own food. It’s located right around the corner from Simoni, so you can stock up on provisions there. This is a great place to try some local frizzante (semi-sparkling) wines, like the red Lambrusco or the white Pignoletto.
This white-tablecloth establishment has a cozy interior, with its wood-paneled walls covered in framed photographs.
The handmade tagliatelle and tortellini are standouts here, as is the cotoletta alla bolognese, another iconic local dish consisting of a mouthwatering veal cutlet topped with ham, cheese, and a bit of broth to make it delightfully moist.
All this eating and wine-drinking will surely have you feeling a bit drowsy, so for a pick-me-up, head to this excellent caffetteria. Just remember the rules of coffee in Italy so that you don’t commit a tourist faux pas: coffee with milk (cappuccino, latte) is considered a breakfast drink and is not to be drunk after 12pm, while an espresso or macchiato is your best bet for an afternoon coffee.
Don’t neglect the sweet stuff on your food journey through Bologna, either. The rich dairy tradition here is not just limited to cheese and butter: this spot serves up some of the best gelato you can find anywhere.
Another popular student spot, this place serves up wonderful sandwiches for lunch or dinner. You are probably already familiar with Italian panini, but you can also try the piadina, popular in this region of Italy, somewhat akin to a Mexican tortilla, but with traditional meat and cheese fillings.
Another great sandwich spot located just off the Piazza Maggiore. Come for panini or giant plates of tagliere.
This restaurant has been open since 1937, but it breathes new life into classic bolognese cuisine, with subtly reimagined takes on traditional regional favorites. After dinner, head over to the nearby Via del Pratello to get acquainted with Bologna’s very active nightlife scene.
Looking to learn more about Bologna's unique identity? Click here.
