Where to eat and drink in Bologna

Bologna is a captivating medieval city, renowned for its delightful pasta dishes and home to Europe’s oldest university, founded in 1088. It offers the perfect mix of culinary delights and cultural wonders, ensuring an unforgettable stay. Among the city's many treasures are its medieval towers, endless porticoes, and grand statues, each with a unique story to tell. However, it’s Bologna’s status as Italy’s gastronomic capital that has truly placed it in the spotlight in recent years. Food is a serious matter here: over 30 official recipes – including favorites like tortellini, lasagna, and tagliatelle – are even registered with the Chamber of Commerce. The vibrant food scene, with its bustling markets, historic bars, and charming restaurants serving traditional fare, leaves the biggest impression.

Salumeria Simoni – for a food tour

Located in the heart of the old town, Salumeria Simoni serves a wide selection of delicious and freshly cut meat and cheese, in a fun and buzzing atmosphere. As well as being a perfect place to try mortadella – Bologna’s most famous cured meat –you can also enjoy other tasty salumi such as prosciutto, bresaola, porchetta, and culatello di zibello. 

The taglieri (platters) vary greatly in size, from small plates of one type of meat and cheese, to jumbo platters made up of several salumi, a variety of cheese, crescentine, jams and pickles.

Book a mortadella tour with Davide Simoni of the Salumeria Simoni deli and you’ll be rewarded with an hour of culture and history focused on Bologna’s famous sausage!

Osteria Dal Nonno – for a farmyard lunch

Located in the hills of Bologna, Osteria Dal Nonno is the perfect spot for a Sunday lunch on a sunny day.

There’s no menu, the waitress just tells you what they have. There’s no wine list, just wine offered jug. The food is traditional Bolognese with dishes like lasagne and cannelloni filled with béchamel and prosciutto cotto but really, you only need to order one thing— L’antipasto di Bologna: crescentine, tigelle, with salumi, cheeses, and vegetables soaked in oil and vinegar. It’s hard to mess up fried dough but the crescentine are amazing here. Crispy and soft at the same time. The perfect vessel to melt prosciutto crudo and the “Bolognese butter”—essentially mashed up lard mixed with spices like rosemary and sage. You can’t miss it while visiting Bologna. 

Mulino Bruciato – for the best cotoletta alla Bolognese

For many, “traditional” means large portions. That’s the philosophy of Mulino Bruciato. Here you can feel at home, that of grandparents who take care of filling your plate and make sure you eat it all.

We challenge you to finish the delicious Cotoletta alla Bolognese, perhaps after a nice plate of tagliatelle with meat sauce.

Senza Nome – for a lovely aperitivo

Beer, wine or cocktails accompanied by a delicious buffet; this is Senza Nome. And if this is not enough, Senza Nome is also a place of cultural and social promotion that often hosts events such as exhibitions and small acoustic concerts.

Moreover, what really makes it a special and valuable local, is that managers are hearing impaired. These guys are dedicated to the integration and spread of sign language with great passion. In fact, you can easily order at the counter using the cards or following the instructions provided for the use of sign language.

Vagh in Ufézzi – for one of the best trattorias in Bologna

One of the most welcoming, affordable meals you’d be lucky to have in one of Bologna’s few truly satisfying trattorias left. Run by a husband/wife hospitality duo, they intend to procure a short, yet delightful menu based on their daily whims in a convivial atmosphere. Main plates involve pillowy fried dough pockets and local charcuterie and fresh cheese to stuff them with. If you’re lucky, you may also find mortadella-stuffed tortelloni, tossed in butter and sprinkled with either salted ricotta or truffle shavings, as well as stewed snail over potatoes or snail ragu’ tagliatelle for the most adventurous.

Allegra – for quality time with friends

Allegra is a lovely bakery in Bologna’s city center that offers coffee and pastries in the morning and wine in the evening, creating a lively atmosphere in the city’s streets from dawn till dusk.

It's a delightful spot enjoyable in every aspect: breakfast with viennoiseries and specialty coffee; lunch with sourdough bread served with generous dollops of whipped butter; and dinner at the adjacent restaurant 'Calmo,' which offers contemporary cuisine in a fine dining setting, reinterpreting traditional dishes, as well as accompanied by a wide and undoubtedly interesting wine selection.

Scampo – for the perfect fresh fish

Scampo is a modern fish shop in the center of Bologna with a dual concept: you can either buy fish at the counter or eat it on-site. Hence, you can choose the fish you want directly from the counter and also select your preferred cooking method—whether steamed, pan-fried, grilled, or fried (of course, raw options are also available)—all under the careful guidance of the staff.

The wine list also features a special focus on wines from the Emilia Romagna region, such as the organic Pignoletto from Agrobiologica Oro di Diamanti winery.