Bologna Foodie Guide: What & Where to Eat in Bologna
This Bologna Food Guide has everything you need to know about food in Bologna, Italy, to have an extraordinary culinary journey in this amazing city!
Want to know WHAT to eat in Bologna? From fresh pastas and delectable sauces to cured meats and aged cheeses, jump to our list of the great food Bologna, Italy is known for: 21 Best Foods in Bologna!
Want to know WHERE to eat in Bologna? Knowing the best restaurants in Bologna to find the best foods in Bologna is key! Jump to our list of the Best Restaurants in Bologna, Italy.
Want to know MORE FOODIE FAVORITES in Bologna? Finding the best food in Bologna is not just about restaurants. Click on the following to jump to the Best Bologna Food Shops, Best Bologna Local Markets, Best Bologna Gelato, and Best Bologna Cooking Class and Food Tours!
Some Bologna food specialties typically found in Bologna restaurants
Bologna Food Culture
Located in Northern Italy, Bologna has acquired three nicknames. The first, La Dotta, Italian for “The Learned One,” gives a nod to Bologna being home to the oldest university in Europe.
The second, La Rossa, or “The Red One,” reflects the red brick color of much of the city’s historic architecture that dates back to the Middle Ages.
The third and most important nickname to us foodies is La Grassa. This Latin expression for “The Fat One” refers to the rich Bolognese cuisine. After all, Bologna boasts being both the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, aka Italy’s food valley, and the food capital of Italy!
Similar to Roman food specialties, the traditional dishes of Bologna cuisine are rooted in fresh local ingredients and the superb gastronomic products produced in the region.
Because the food scene is so hyper-local, many restaurants in Bologna offer similar menus that concentrate on authentic regional dishes. The trick is to find the best places to eat them. HINT: They are listed below!
best Food in Bologna, Italy
Want to know the best food Bologna locals love? They’re all right here!
I urge you to try as many Bologna food favorites as you can! Some of Italy’s most famous foods hail from this ancient city and the surrounding area! Yet, I bet you haven’t heard of many of these Bolognese dishes.
The Sauce & The Dressing
You cannot visit Bologna without trying both of the following!
Bolognese Sauce, aka Ragù
One of the most beloved hearty meat sauces of Italian cuisine, Bolognese sauce ranks #1 in La Grassa!
It may appear that this signature sauce just combines ground meat with marinara sauce (tomato sauce). However, traditional recipes for Bolognese sauce call for many more ingredients and a much more complex process that takes hours.
Every restaurant in Bologna will make their own version, so don’t be afraid to order it in different places. You will rarely see the name called out. In the culinary capital of Italy, they simply refer to it as Ragù (sauce).
Some traditional dishes with Bolognese sauce
Balsamico di Modena
Eating in Bologna involves a lot of balsamic vinegar, more specifically, Balsamico di Modena, or balsamic from Modena. Just a stone’s throw from Bologna, the city of Modena has been making this luscious nectar since the early 1000s.
It can be combined with olive oil for a dressing, or drizzled on just about anything from steak to strawberries.
Food lovers will want to purchase some balsamic to bring back home. After all, it is one of the most delicious Bologna food specialities that is easily transported. Just make sure you taste it first or buy it from a reputable shop that is selling the real thing!
If you have time, take a day trip to visit one of the local producers to see the process of making the balsamic vinegar of Modena and learn more about how it enhances the flavors of so much of the food from Bologna and the wider Emilia-Romagna region.
Mixed salad with balsamic vinegar dressing
best FOOD in BOlogna: Pasta
Great news for pasta lovers! Many of the famous Bologna dishes feature fresh homemade pastas. Which is the best pasta in Bologna? That’s for you to decide, but I’ll tell you mine below!
Tagliatelle al Ragù
What food is Bologna, Italy known for? Tagliatelle al Ragù! It’s a quintessential Italian dish.
The ragù, of course, is Bolognese sauce. The tagliatelle is one of the regional pastas that is a classic traditional food Bologna can’t get enough of. A long, fresh, egg-based pasta similar to fettuccine but thinner, it’s a perfect match for the meat sauce!
The most popular Bolognese food, Tagliatelle al Ragu is found on almost every restaurant and trattoria menu in Bologna. But I hope you never see Spaghetti Bolognese listed. That usually indicates you’re in a tourist trap.
The quintessential Bologna food, Tagliatelle al Ragù
Tortellini in Brodo
Tortellini in Brodo is one of the most typical dishes of the Emilia-Romagna region. Although simple, it’s recipe is very specific. The tiny tortellini are stuffed with pork, prosciutto, mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, nutmeg, and egg and are set afloat in a rich beef and poultry broth—“brodo” in Italian.
Both Modena and Bologna claim to have invented this popular traditional food. What they can both agree on is that the hat-like shape was inspired by the Goddess Venus’ navel.
Tortellini in Brodo at a typical Bologna restaurant
Tortelloni
Larger than tortellini but similar in shape, tortelloni can be stuffed with just about anything. The most traditional recipes call for a ricotta and herb stuffing, sometimes adding spinach.
If you want to eat Bologna like a local, you’ll want to try many different types of tortelloni. That shouldn’t be an issue! As with my favorite Tuscan foods, I tend to gravitate towards the ones with truffles.
Varieties of fresh Bolognese tortelloni
Balanzoni
Named after a carnival character, balanzoni originated in La Grassa in the 1600s and remains a local favorite today. It also happens to rank as my favorite Bologna pasta!
These green tortelloni-like pastas are stuffed with spinach, eggs, ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, and chopped mortadella. The traditional way to serve Balanzoni is with brown butter and sage—YUM!
My favorite pasta in Bologna, balanzoni
Gramigna alla Salsiccia
This is a staple dish of Bologna’s traditional cuisine!
Named after a curly grass whose shape it resembles, gramigna is another type of regional Emilia-Romagna fresh egg pasta. These noodles are tubular like bucatini, but are shorter and somewhat squiggly.
“Salsiccia” means sausage, which refers to the sauce. The sausage for the sauce is made with seasoned pork meat. For this sausage ragù, the casings are removed and the recipe is similar to Bolognese sauce.
Gramigna alla Salsiccia, a staple dish of Bologna cuisine
Rosette al Forno
I have travelled through most regions of Italy and have not seen this Emilia-Romagna specialty, baked pasta roses, outside of this region.
Ricotta and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese are spread onto sheets of pasta. The spread is then topped with a slice of prosciutto crudo or ham and rolled up. Each roll stands on end in a baking dish so that together they resemble a bouquet of roses.
Lasagna alla Bolognese
We cannot discuss the most famous dishes from Bologna without discussing Lasagna alla Bolognese. The lasagna you order at the Italian food restaurants in your hometown probably differs from this Bologna famous food.
The biggest difference comes from using spinach in the noodles, which turns them green. Sometimes called Lasagne Verdi alla Bolognese, this layered pasta dish also incorporates a béchamel sauce instead of ricotta.
Lasagne Verdi, a famous food in Bologna, Italy
best FOOD in BOlogna: Salumi
La Grassa is a great place for cured meats and cold cuts. In Italy, they call it all salumi, and you will find the most delicious and varied assortment in Bologna.
When in town, stop for an aperitivo, or pre-meal drink, and enjoy a salumi board with an Aperol Spritz or a glass of Sangiovese wine. The following are the regional salumi not to miss during your stay in Bologna.
Culatello di Zibello
Culatello di Zibello is one of the most prized salumi products in the region. As a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product, many strict guidelines need to be followed in order to be called Culatello di Zibello and have the coveted PDO label.
Cured with salt, black pepper, garlic, and dry white wine, Culatello tastes and looks similar to prosciutto, but with less fat and a richer flavor.
A board that includes three of our must-try Bologna salumi: Culatello, Mortadella, and Prosciutto di Parma
Mortadella Di Bologna
This finely ground pork sausage is one of the most popular Bologna food specialties! The bologna or baloney that you may have grown up with was based on this sausage and named in honor of the city of its birth—but it was then stripped of all its flavor, silky texture, and appeal.
The real-deal mortadella is made from high-quality pork and flavored with pistachios, black pepper, and extra fat. When I first saw it in Bologna, I didn’t think I could possibly be a fan because of the versions I had had a history with in the U.S.
If you think you might share this same reluctance, you must eat Bologna’s authentic mortadella. It tastes sooo much better than its pale North American imitation! I was delighted to find out how wrong I could be about the Italian original! In Bologna, thin slices will be found on such Bolognese foods as salumi boards, crostini, and pizzas.
Prosciutto di Parma
Prosciutto di Parma translates simply to “Parma ham” or “ham from Parma,” and the province of Parma is found in Emilia-Romagna just west of Bologna. In Italy, ham will either be Prosciutto crudo (cured) or Prosciutto cotto (cooked). Prosciutto Crudo di Parma is a PDO type of Prosciutto crudo that must be from Parma and must be made according traditional methods.
Even if you eat Prosciutto often at home, you need to eat some in the region where the inhabitants have been making it since 100 B.C. Some specialty shops even offer tastings of Prosciutto that have undergone different periods of aging. Try some and taste the difference!
best FOOD in BOlogna: Cheese
Many of my favorite foods include cheese in some shape or form. So, I always get excited to travel to someplace like Bologna with internationally renowned regional cheeses.
Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
Known in culinary circles as “the king of cheese,” Parmigiano Reggiano is hands down the most famous cheese from the Emilia Romagna region. Where I come from, most people use Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and parmesan cheese interchangeably. Italian cheese connoisseurs will tell you that’s a big no-no.
They are both made from cow’s milk, but they are not the same. For starters, Parmigiano Reggiano must come from certain grass-fed cows and be aged at least 12 months. Parmesan has no such regulations.
Not surprisingly, the texture and rich flavor of PDO Parmigiano Reggiano will beat out mass-produced parmesan every time.
The most famous cheese from the Emilia-Romagna region, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Grana Padano
Another of the PDO local specialties, Grana Padano is also a hard cheese made from cow’s milk. The deep nutty flavor makes it a popular choice for salumi boards. Similar to Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano can be grated atop many pasta dishes as a finishing touch.
The differences between these two cheeses come from the production methods. Grana Padano cows can be fed 50% grain, and the minimum aging cycle of the cheese is 10 months. This results in a less crumbly, more creamy texture and a slightly sweeter taste.
Squacquerone
I first became acquainted with Squacquerone (pronounced skwa-kweh-ROW-nay) when it appeared on a platter with cured meats. The cheese sat in a small bowl because of its super soft, almost runny texture.
It was love at first bite. Salty and creamy, it reminded me of stracciatella, the dreamy center of Burrata. If you order a salumi and cheese board in Bologna, make sure it includes Squacquerone!
A salumi and cheese board with Squacquerone in a container
best FOOD in BOlogna: Bread & Cake
Time for the bread and cake section of our Bologna, Italy food list. When you think of Italian bread, you probably picture a long slender loaf that resembles the famous French food the baguette. None of these Bologna breads look like that.
Tigelle
Tigelle is a very popular food to eat in Bologna. In fact, it was the bread most often served with the salumi boards we ordered.
Shaped like an English muffin, each of these golden brown flat breads is meant to be separated and stuffed like a sandwich.
The must-eat Bologna food, Tigelle
Piadina
The earliest reference in recorded food history to Piadina dates back to 1371. A thin flat bread similar to a tortilla, Piadina can be eaten plain with olive oil, or folded with meats and cheese in the middle.
The most classic filling for Piadina combines Prosciutto di Parma, Squacquerone, and arugula.
Crescentine
Crescentina (the singular of crescentine) may also be called Torta Fritta or Gnocco Fritto. Whatever you call it, it’s bread dough cut into a diamond shape and fried in pork fat. It reminds me of one of my favorite famous foods of New Mexico, sopaipilla.
Crescentine have a crispy outside and a soft pillowy inside making them a delicious accompaniment to Squacquerone cheese and an assortment of salumi.
Certosino
Certosino is a special cake made from honey, chocolate, nuts, cinnamon, and candied fruit. Back in Medieval times, only apothecaries or pharmacists used to prepare it. It is a famous food in Italy, but you won’t find it in other countries like you do the famous Milan food, Panettone.
Because this traditional Bolognese food is usually eaten on special occasions, sometimes they call it pan spzièl (special bread). Certosino has become an especially popular dessert at Christmastime, and some versions have become quite ornate.
A special Bologna dessert, Certosino
Torta di Riso
A typical dessert of Emilia-Romagna, Torta di Riso uses rice as a main ingredient. For a region so rich in gastronomic delicacies, at first glance, this rice cake may seem a disappointment.
However, the added ingredients of pine nuts, liqueurs, spices, vanilla, and candied fruit transform it into a tasty treat.
best FOOD in BOlogna: Signature Meat Dish
The meats Bologna is known for are mainly in the salumi category. So, it should go without saying that if a meat dish bears the city name, you must try it!
Cotoletta alla Bolognese
Cotoletta translates to veal cutlet, but Bolognese in this instance does not mean the red meat sauce. It indicates that the preparation originated in Bologna. In fact, the sauce for this original food of Bologna is more like melted buttery cheese.
A pounded cutlet is dipped in egg and bread crumb and then fried in butter. The cutlet is then topped with a slice of prosciutto crudo and grated Parmigiano Reggiano. A buttery broth then melts the cheese into a sauce.
A quintessential traditional food in Bologna, Italy, and one of the most popular meat dishes of the region, Cotoletta alla Bolognese will appear on most Bologna restaurant menus as a second course.
The signature meat dish of Bologna cuisine, Cotoletta alla Bolognese
Where to eat in Bologna, Italy
Whether you’re touring the Basilica di San Petronio in the Piazza Maggiore, shopping in the Portici, or roaming in the Quadrilatero, amazing food is just a short walk away.
Some of the best Bologna food will be found in places other than osterias, trattorias, and ristoranti. So, in addition to the best Bologna restaurants, visit some food shops, food markets, and/or take a food tour.
Best Restaurants in Bologna, Italy
Just like in other parts of Italy, in Bologna restaurants, pasta dishes are considered first courses, or “primi piatti.” I hate to be a bad influence, but I’ve been known to kick that rule to the curb.
For foodies, Bologna happens to be pasta heaven. I much prefer a second bowl of handmade pasta to a slab of meat I can get more or less anywhere. So, if you feel the same, don’t hesitate to order two primi instead of a primi and a secondi.
Now you just need to know the best restaurants in Bologna, Italy to order in. Here are our top picks!
Piazza Maggiore is within walking distance of many of the best Bologna restaurants.
All’Osteria Bottega
A Bolognese food tour guide likened eating at All’Osteria Bottega to looking through an old photo album and having “lost memories and blurry flavors reappear from their glorious past.” Indeed, this is one of the best places to eat in Bologna if you’re looking for the region’s most traditional, most authentic recipes.
Sure, they serve exquisite salumi, but they are best known for keeping alive such rustic, almost antiquarian dishes as baby pigeon breast with chicory and pomegranate sauce, hazelnut-crusted lamb loin, and roasted guinea hen, to mention just a few. Even classics not threatened with extinction are expertly prepared. No matter the dish, at All’Osteria Bottega, pride in the region’s history, tradition, and unique flavors comes through in every delicious bite.
Address: Via Santa Caterina, 51, 40123, Bologna
Trattoria Anna Maria
This is another gem among the Bologna restaurants that make it their mission to keep alive the Bolognese ethos of using only the freshest ingredients to make the oldest of recipes. Here, pasta is still made by hand daily, as it has been for the almost 40 years this restaurant has been open.
There is nothing fancy about the look, but plenty of reward in the tastes. The menu is old school, to the point that there is not only Tortellini in Brodo, but three other pastas served simply in tasty broth. There are plenty of tagliatelle, tortelloni, and tortellini options, and secondi include a bevy of roasts that must keep every animal on the farm nervous—but every diner reliably satisfied.
Address: Via delle Belle Arti, 17/A, 40126, Bologna
Sfoglia Rina
This is one of the best restaurants in Bologna for a combination of both traditional favorites and inventive new dishes. The restaurant’s name derives from the term “sfoglina,” a woman who expertly makes pasta by hand, and Rina, the actual sfoglina who started her own pasta company in Bologna back in 1963.
Rina’s pasta-making prowess led to continual growth, and in the early 2000s, her descendants decided to start a restaurant next to the pasta works so that customers could enjoy the freshest pasta in a casual setting that more resembles a grandma’s kitchen than a flashy restaurant. The menu offers authentic regional dishes and daily specials that push the envelope. All of Rina’s pasta is still handmade by dedicated artisans.
Address: Via Castiglione, 5/B, 40124 Bologna
A line for Sfoglia Rina, one of the best restaurants in Bologna for fresh pasta
Osteria dell’Orsa
This is one of the restaurants in Bologna, Italy, most popular with locals for its informal—almost spartan—ambiance that is warmed by the friendly staff, reasonable prices, and reliably tasty versions of scratch-made Bolognese staples. And its location is in the very heart of the city, in the university neighborhood, steps from both Via Indipendenza and Piazza Maggiore.
Seating is communal, so unless you come with a large group of your own, prepare to have an authentic Italian experience mingling with locals sharing the benches at your long table. This spot is also known as a happening jazz venue, drawing both quality local and international acts.
Address: Via Mentana, 1/F, 40126, Bologna
Osteria Le Sette Chiese
This restaurant in Bologna is named for its proximity to the Basilica of Santo Stefano, a complex known locally as the “seven churches,” or “sette chiese.” Rustic and comprising only two small rooms, this old-school osteria concentrates on regional fare served in large portions.
Salumi and cheese plates vie with pasta dishes for popularity in this eatery frequented primarily by locals. Artisanal beers, amari liqueurs, and grappa bolster a wine list featuring a small but solid selection of carafe and bottle choices.
Address: Via Burgonuovo, 6/B, 40125, Bologna
The namesake of Osteria Le Sette Chiese, Basilica of Santo Stefano, aka the seven churches.
Drogheria della Rosa
One of the best restaurants Bologna has to offer is situated in what was once a grocer’s shop, or “drogheria.” Today, the space is chockablock full of curiosities on the various shelves left over from its previous duties, but the food takes center stage.
Owner Emanuel Addone provides reliably delicious versions of traditional dishes expertly made in house. There are no menus; the ever-changing options are spelled out by the friendly waiters or Emanuel himself. The pasta, secondi, and desserts are all first rate. Seating indoors is complemented by tables in the charming colonnaded arcade just outside the front door.
Address: Via Cartoleria, 10, 40124, Bologna
Trattoria del Rosso
We loved our meal at Trattoria del Rosso, and we were not alone. Located just a few minutes’ walk from the university, there were many young people enjoying one of the best Bologna restaurants the same night we were.
We were treated to attentive service, delicious staples of Bolognese cuisine, and friendly banter from the owner, who checked in on us after every course was served. The atmosphere is not fancy, but warm and inviting. The menu focuses on regional cuisine done right, and the prices are definitely affordable.
Address: Via Augusto Righi, 30, 40126, Bologna
Eating at the Bologna restaurant Trattoria del Rosso
Trattoria di Via Serra
After a successful 10-year run at their osteria in the nearby mountain town of Zocca, the owners of Trattoria di Via Serra have brought their passion and focus to Bologna. Sourcing the best ingredients via longtime relationships with local growers, the team also skillfully executes in the kitchen to create some of the best food in Bologna, Italy.
The restaurant has already achieved Michelin Bib Gourmand status. This designation recognizes restaurants that provide exceptionally good food at moderate prices. The friendly, informal feel and top-quality regional cuisine is a winning combination in this Bolognina neighborhood eatery.
Address: Via Luigi Serra, 9/B, 40129, Bologna
Osteria Al 15
The wood-beamed ceiling and artifact-filled nooks and crannies at this osteria are reminiscent of a rustic mountain cabin. And the cooking is rustically simple as well: Time-tested local favorites forego fancy presentation and let their flavors be the unadorned focus.
Portions are generous, prices are very affordable, and the ambience is authentically local with a friendly neighborhood vibe.
Address: Via Mirasole, 13, 40124, Bologna
Ristorante Da Cesari
There’s a genuine charm to this place that struck me when I entered it for the first time. Rich, dark, wood paneling rose two-thirds of the way up the wall, giving way to tiers of shelves stocked with wine bottles. The tables were topped with white tablecloths adorned by flowered borders that could have come from my Nana’s cupboard. Everything was simple and wholesome, but with an undeniable touch of class.
And that’s how it remains. Run by the same family since 1955, Da Cesari still proudly specializes in the traditional favorites of Emilia-Romagna. Although what’s listed on the menu is predictable, I am always pleasantly surprised at how the dishes that come out of the kitchen seem a little more refined, a touch more elegant, and more deeply satisfying than even I was hoping for.
Address: Via de’ Carbonesi, 8, 40123, Bologna
Da Cesari, one of the best Bologna restaurants serving traditional Emilia-Romagna dishes
Best Bologna Food Shops
The Quadrilatero district teems with handmade pasta shops, cheese shops, and salumeries. If you’re trying to decide which food to try in Bologna, window-shopping in this neighborhood will have you drooling.
Many of these food shops also operate as small restaurants with limited menus. Sit at an outdoor table, sip a glass of local wine, and snack on the local fare. Allow one of the best culinary experiences in Bologna to unfold with you at its center!
Simoni
With the most popular delicatessens in the heart of Bologna, Simoni offers some of the best mortadella and other cured meats. They have three locations within a few-minutes walk of each other right in the city centre. These old neighborhood shops also sell plenty of local cheeses and varieties of fresh pasta.
If you walk by the Simoni Laboratorio location and you see an empty table, grab it. You may not get a second chance. Ordering the wonderful salumi boards and sandwiches here is one of the best ways to experience the real deal salumi Simoni is famous for. Indeed, every hour spent here is a happy hour in Bologna!
Addresses: Salumeria Simoni (#1): Via Drapperie, 5/2A, 40100 Bologna; Salumeria Simoni (#2): Via Pescherie Vecchie, 7/C, 40100 Bologna; Laboratorio Simoni: Via Pescherie Vecchie, 3/B, 40100 Bologna
Simoni, a famous Bologna salumeria in the Quadrilatero
Tamburini
One of my favorite shops for exploring the gastronomy of Bologna!
In the historic district, between the towers of Bologna and the Piazza Maggiore, Tamburini sells everything a gourmet traveler will want to bring home. I especially love their Balsamico di Modena and truffle products.
A few tables sit outside the shop where you can order an aperitivo and salumi board.
Address: Via Caprarie, 1, 40124 Bologna
La Baita Vecchia Malga
Tucked in a narrow street of the Quadrilatero, La Baita has a wonderful window full of handmade pastas and gastronomic delights.
At the outdoor tables, they serve a handful of traditional Bologna pasta dishes in addition to an assortment of salumi and cheeses.
Address: Via Pescherie Vecchie, 3A, 40124 Bologna
La Baita is a great place for traditional Bologna food.
best Bologna Food Markets
If you want to learn about Bologna, Italy food, visit one of the city’s food markets. Vendors set up stalls full of colorful fresh produce, locally made cheeses and meats, and a vast array of other local products.
They are a great place to enjoy a typical Italian breakfast. Additionally, the farmers markets are also where you’ll find some of the best street food in Bologna!
You can enjoy your purchase on the spot, or, if you’re not hungry enough to dig in yet, pick up something yummy and take it to the iconic Osteria del Sole. Founded in 1495, it stands as the oldest operating osteria in Italy, and it still functions the way osterias did when they first came onto the scene: They only sell wine—no food. That’s why they invite customers to bring their meal with them and enjoy it with some wine from the wide selection of choices available.
Mercato delle Erbe
The Bologna food market, Mercato delle Erbe, boasts being the largest covered market in the historical city center. Watch sfogline roll out handmade egg pasta while you grab a bite or sip of whatever looks tasty.
Need a good excuse for a day drink? If you haven’t tried the local Lambrusco wine, stop at Vineria alle Erbe. You can get an affordable glass (or bottle) of this sparkling red wine. This Bologna market is also a great place for an inexpensive meal. Sit down at Altro, or do fast food Bologna-style at MozzaBella Street Food.
Address: Via Ugo Bassi, 25, 40121, Bologna
A sfoglina cutting tagliatelle at the Bologna food market, Mercato delle Erbe
Mercato di Mezzo
As the oldest covered food market in all of Bologna, Mercato di Mezzo has a rich culinary tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Luckily, it has undergone a huge renovation since then.
It’s the perfect place to purchase foodie gifts and souvenirs. The market has so much to offer—from wine at enotecas and counter seats for pizza, to grab-and-go pastries. Walking and munching your way through is like taking a mini food tour of Bologna.
Address: Via Clavature, 12, 40124 Bologna
Mercato Albani
Out of all the food markets in Bologna, Mercato Albani feels the most authentic. Located in downtown Bologna in a real working class neighborhood, this is the food market Bologna locals flock to.
You’ll find less places for a sit-down meal, but you can try a mortadella sandwich at Ligera. You may want to limit yourself to a small snack anyway. The nearby Trattoria di Via Serra, one of our picks for best restaurants, is located nearby, and would be a better place to fill up.
Address: Via Francesco Albani, 40129, Bologna
Fresh produce can be purchased at all of the Bologna food markets.
Best Gelato in Bologna
While traveling in Bologna, I’ve been known to call gelato lunch. If you feel so inclined or just have a hankering, these gelato shops will not disappoint!
Cremeria Santo Stefano
Does your definition of best food places include rich, creamy gelato, hand-crafted chocolates, and scrumptious pastries? If you answered yes, Cremeria Santo Stefano should definitely be on your Bologna bucket list. Their gelato cioccolato—chocolate gelato—is legendary!
Address: Via Santo Stefano, 70C, 40125 Bologna
La Sorbetteria Castiglione
The best gelato near the University of Bologna, La Sorbetteria Castiglione strives to create unique flavors while still embracing the traditional.
Try one of their specialties popular with university students, like Dolce Emma, (ricotta and caramelized figs), Cremino Ludovico (caramelized hazelnut cream), or Cremino Guglielmo (espresso, mascarpone, and cacao nibs).
Address: Via Saragozza, 83, 40135, Bologna
Best Cooking Class and Food Tours in Bologna
Have you considered taking a taking a cooking class or food tour in Bologna, Italy? Led by locals, both activities provide a fun-filled few hours of enjoying Bologna’s famous foods.
Food Tours Bologna
A Bologna food tour is a great way to learn about the gastronomy and history of the capital of Emilia-Romagna. Especially for a first-time visitor, food guides can save you a lot of time and guess work.
Some of the regional specialties you'll sample on a Bologna food tour
The tours descriptions below contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. For more information, see my Affiliate Policy.
Best Bologna Food Tour - rated 5 out of 5 stars!
Taste your way through the food capital of Italy. Sample local specialties such as Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Bolognese ragù, and mortadella. Meet artisans, visit a market, and discover how tortellini are made. Lunch at a historic osteria and a gelato tasting are included.
a great Cooking Class in Bologna
If you want to know the secrets of cooking Bolognese pasta, take a cooking class!
Best Bologna Cooking Class - rated 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Learn to make fresh tortelloni and tagliatelle pasta like a true Italian “nonna.” Afterwards you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor over lunch with wine.
Best Food in Bologna, Italy
Hopefully this Bologna Food Guide has answered all of your questions regarding what and where to eat in Bologna, one of the most epicurean of all Italian cities!
If you still have questions on finding the best food in Bologna, I’d be happy to try to answer them if you leave me a note in the comments below.
If you’ve already been to Bologna or go after reading this article, we would love to hear from you! What was your favorite Bologna food/culinary experience? What were your favorite Bologna restaurants?
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