Bologna, Italy – the city that most would call the food capital of Italy!
If you aren’t familiar with what food Bologna is known for, check out this post first: 8 Popular Foods Bologna is Known For
Below I will share:
Foodie Areas to Visit in Bologna
Via Degli Orefici
Via Degli Orefici is a street in Bologna (within the historic city center) that is packed full of delicious restaurants.
I recommend wandering around this area and popping into any place that looks good!
I enjoyed having some wine and charcuterie at Simoni in this area.
Mercato Di Mezzo
Mercato Di Mezzo is an indoor food market/ food court where you can find meats, cheeses, wine, pasta, and more!
The ground floor (level 0) has multiple food vendors and open seating. The first floor has a pizzeria and the second floor has a brewery. In Europe, the ground floor is level 0 (unlike in America where ground floor is level 1).
Mercato Di Mezzo is a great place to sit and have an aperitivo. Speaking of…
What is an Aperitivo?
An aperitivo (or aperitif) is a pre-dinner drink to open the appetite. It is a cultural experience that I highly recommend partaking in when visiting Italy.
Aperitivo time is more than just having a drink. It is about gathering, socializing, and connecting with others.
I often ordered an aperol spritz (one of the most popular aperitif cocktails in Italy). It is made with prosecco, bitters, and soda water.
An aperitvo is often served with a little snack. This helped tie me over to the late dinners in Italy (most restaurants don’t open until 7pm or later).
The pictures above and below were taken on the rooftop of Hotel Touring. The views were phenomenal (especially at sunset)!
You can visit this rooftop bar even if you are not a guest of the hotel. I recommend calling and making reservations (in case you don’t speak any Italian, they speak English). We also stayed at this hotel and loved it!
Above is a picture of Serre dei Giardini.
This is another great place to grab an aperitivo before dinner (although I don’t think they offer any snacks with drink purchase here).
It is located in a park just outside of the historic city center.
Best Places to Eat in Bologna:
1. Taverna del Postiglione
Taverna del Postiglione came highly recommended by a couple of my coworkers that live in Bologna. Everything was excellent!
They offer classic Bologna food staples like bolognese (called Tagliatelle al Ragu on the menu), lasagna (pasta is green from spinach) and zuppa inglese (a trifle with sponge cake, cream, and chocolate layers).
We had a bottle of wine that our server recommended. It was the best wine on our trip!
2. Incucina Bistro
Incucina Bistro was another recommendation from my coworker that lives in Bologna.
I had a beautiful fig salad here. Everything was so fresh. And their desserts are delicious!
3. Simoni
Salumeria Simoni is a great place to stop for an aperitivo. I recommend getting a meat and cheese board.
They offer a wide range of cured meats, cheeses, and pasta. You have to try mortadella (pork sausage) while in Bologna!
I loved all the food maps on the walls at Simoni that showed what food/wine/cheese/bread each city in the Emilia Romagna region is known for.
4. Corten
We stopped at Corten for dinner one night (no reservations). We really enjoyed our pizza and a bottle of Chianti.
If you try to find it during the day before they are open, you might not spot it (until they slide open the doors).
5. Trattoria Trebbi
Trattoria Trebbi was recommended by our hotel staff. This was one of our favorite dinner spots. The food was amazing, the wine was cheap (and good), and the staff was friendly.
Our favorite dish here was the Pumpkin (Zucca) Tortelli that was topped with sausage and balsamic vinegar. It was a memorable dish!
This was a short walk from our hotel (Hotel Touring) which was nice… especially since we ordered a whole liter of wine! It was only 10 Euros for a whole liter!
6. Sorbetteria Castiglione
Sorbetteria Castiglione is a great gelateria! My husband and I made the mistake of trying to share 1 piccolo (small) cone. After we finished, we had to go back in and order another piccolo because it was just so good!
Other Places to Eat:
- Pizzeria il Rovescio – Pizza
- San Silvestro in Cantina – typical Bolognese cuisine
- Casa Minghetti – wine and cocktail bar, lots of outdoor seating, small plates
- La Vecchia Stalla – Gelato (near San Domenico Church)
- Creameria Santo Stefano – Gelato
- Paolo Atti e Figli – store that sells fresh pasta and bread
Other Posts You Might Like:
- The Best Things to do in Bologna
- 8 Popular Foods Bologna is Known For
- The Ultimate 15 Day Italy Vacation (If planning your first visit to Italy, see this post for some Tips Before Visiting)
- How to Spend 3 Days in Rome, Italy
- How to Spend 3 Days in Florence, Italy