Where to eat in Bologna? From the best Tagliatelle al Ragù to secret Aperitivo bars, explore our curated guides to Italy’s food capital.
You cannot visit Bologna without eating pasta. But if you want to take the magic home with you, you need to learn how to make it. Bologna is the world capital of fresh egg pasta (Sfoglia). Here, making Tortellini is not just cooking; it’s a religion. The “Sfogline” (pasta ladies) are respected figures who roll…
If you have Celiac disease, booking a trip to Bologna—the capital of fresh egg pasta—might sound like a recipe for disaster. You probably imagine sitting sadly with a plain salad while everyone around you devours Tortellini and Lasagna. I have good news: Italy is actually a gluten-free paradise. It sounds contradictory, but because Celiac disease…
If you try to order a “Venti Vanilla Latte” in Bologna, you might get a confused look. Coffee culture here is serious, fast, and codified. For Italians, an espresso (or caffè) is a quick jolt of energy taken standing at the bar. But Bologna is also a modern university city, which means it’s one of…
Bologna is nicknamed La Grassa (The Fat) because of its love affair with pork. Mortadella, prosciutto, and meat ragù are everywhere. Read here our Ultimate Food Guide for all you need to know about food in Bologna! If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you might be panicking. Will you be stuck eating plain side…
In Bologna, gelato is not just a dessert; it is a daily ritual. While Florence claims to have invented it, Bologna has perfected it. The city is home to the Carpigiani Gelato University (yes, a real university), which draws students from all over the world to learn the science of frozen desserts. But with a…
In Bologna, 6:00 PM is not just a time. It is a religion. This is Aperitivo hour. It’s that magical window between work and dinner when the entire city spills out onto the street to drink wine, eat snacks, and complain about the government or football. But unlike Milan (where aperitivo is often expensive and…
If you think Bologna is beautiful in the summer, wait until you see it in December. The city doesn’t just put up a few lights; it transforms. The porticoes shelter you from the winter chill, the air smells of roasted chestnuts (caldarroste), and the entire city seems to be collectively preparing for one thing: the…
Let’s get one thing clear immediately: Spaghetti Bolognese does not exist. If you see it on a menu in Bologna, you are in a tourist trap. Run away. In this city, we eat Tagliatelle al Ragù. We eat Tortellini the size of a pinky finger. We eat Mortadella sliced so thin it melts on your…
