TOP 6 BEST RESTAURANTS IN BOLOGNA

The best restaurants in Bologna offer authentic local cuisine and exquisite experiences.

Best Restaurants in Bologna

Nestled in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna stands among the best gastronomic cities of Italy, perhaps the best, offering a culinary experience like no other.

Sorry to disappoint you if you were looking for the world wide known “spaghetti bolognaise”, you won’t find it here anywhere here (or anywhere else in Italy), instead, you will find fresh handmade tagliatelle with rich flavours of slow-cooked ragù, tortellini, savoury notes of cured meats like mortadella.

Confused about what to taste in Bologna? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered in this article where we discuss the must-try food in Bologna, while here we are about to talk about where to eat it!

Curious about how to make the most famous Bologna dish? Why not try a cooking class where they will teach you how to make delicious tagliatelle with ragù!

Would you fancy trying some street food? Then a food walking tour through Bologna city centre could be an interesting experience!

In this article, we will show you trattorias and osterias, alongside more traditional restaurants where generations of passionate chefs continue to uphold the city’s culinary traditions.

You haven’t booked your accommodation in Bologna yet? We got you covered: we selected the best hotels in Bologna to make your experience here unforgettable! Click here.

So be ready to immerse yourself in the rich flavours, and discover why Bologna’s cuisine holds a special place among the finest in Italy. Buon appetito!

First on our list of the best restaurants in Bologna is the very well-known to locals “All’Osteria Bottega”. This gem in Bologna has garnered a reputation as both a beloved osteria and a refined restaurant, even earning a mention in the esteemed Michelin Guide.

Under the guidance of the experienced Daniele Minarelli, Osteria Bottega operates like a well-oiled machine, ensuring that each dish is prepared and served with utmost expertise. Whether you’re a local seeking a taste of nostalgia or a visitor eager to explore Bologna’s culinary heritage, Osteria Bottega promises an unforgettable dining experience.

Specialities:

  • Tortellini
  • Cured meats and veal tripe
  • Potato gnocchetti and pumpkin tortelli
  • Boiled meat – stew (bollito)

Address: Via Santa Caterina 51, Bologna

We are outside the city centre, In Bolognina, a historic working-class neighborhood that has become multicultural today, Trattoria via Serra is considered by many locals the best trattoria (traditional restaurant) in town: the ingredients are excellent and the dishes are intriguing yet unpretentious.

Guided by the owner’s warm and friendly nature, food regional traditions are celebrated to the fullest, from the exquisite fresh pasta (try the outstanding tortellini in broth) to the indulgent zuppa inglese. Indulge in the rich flavors and immerse yourself in the authentic culinary heritage of the region. Make sure to book well in advance.

Specialities:

  • Tortellini in brodo
  • Zuppa inglese (dessert)

 

Address: Via Luigi Serra 9B – Bologna

We are again outside the city centre, in the same neighborhood. For traditional flavors, including tortellini in broth, roasts, boiled meats, oven-baked rabbit, hearty meatballs, and friggione, Nonna Aurora will is an old-fashioned trattoria with a homely atmosphere. This is the place to savor the leisurely enjoyment of other traditional dishes, prepared with the same care and expertise as an excellent home cook. 

The antipasto selection features crescentine, irresistibly light and impossible to resist, accompanied by cured meats and pickles. We suggest you try a duo of primi courses, with a special recommendation for the ricotta-filled tortelloni.

Specialities:

  • Tagliatelle al ragù
  • Tortelloni alla ricotta
  • Crescentine con affettati e sottaceti
  • Polpette in umido (meatballs)
  • Coniglio al forno (oven-cooked rabbit)

 

Via Fioravanti, 45/B – Bologna

Another among the best restaurants in Bologna, opened by the Bertozzi brothers Fabio and Alessandro and managed by a passionate team of culinary and wine connoisseurs, is a true local gem. Located outside the city centre near the Bologna stadium, expect to find here all the classic of the traditional Emilian cuisine. 

Make sure not to miss their  sausage curly screw pasta known as “gramigna alla salsiccia,” tortellini and tortelloni in broth or with ragù, meatballs with peas (polpettine all’antica con piselli) and the succulent “scottadito” lamb (agnello).

For the ones of you with sweet tooth, don’t miss the irresistibly creamy homemade gelato (gelato alla crema fatto in casa)

Specialities:

  • Gramigna alla salsiccia
  • Tortelloni 
  • Tortellini
  • Agnello

Via Andrea Costa, 84 – Bologna

Back in the 1920s, it was known as Trattoria dello Zoppo and was run by a relative of Vito Pagani. It was in 1949 that Vito himself took over. The tables of Vito’s trattoria welcomed carters and railway workers who resided in the neighborhood. Eventually, it became a gathering place for artists, singers, intellectuals, political activists, and journalists alike.

Trattoria da Vito remains unchanged, just as it has always been. As trattoria, you can taste all the dishes from the tradition of this region as tagliatelle al ragù to the comforting tortellini in brodo, gramigna con salsiccia, stinco di maiale, all served in generous portions. Trattoria da Vito remains one of the last bastions of nostalgia—a haven for those who yearn for the bygone era of traditional trattorias.

Specialities:

  • Gramigna alla salsiccia
  • Lasagne 
  • Tortellini
  • Coniglio alla cacciatora

 

Via Mario Musolesi, 9 – Bologna

Last on our list of the best restaurants in Bologna is “Trattoria da Me”. In 2016 Elisa decided to take over her grandfather restaurant, adding her personal touch to the more traditional dishes. The result is a a vibrant and sophisticated trattoria, where you can find all the big classics with a contemporary twist. 

Here you can find fresh pasta, the famous slow-cooked “ossobuco tagliato per lungo”, tagliolini col friggione, tortellini in brodo, ossobuco di vitello, lasagne verdi, and cotoletta alla bolognese. The prices are reasonable, and it’s interesting to see how a new generation of chefs are blending traditions and creativity into their dishes.

Specialities:

  • Ossobuco
  • Tagliolini col friggione 
  • Lasagne verdi
  • Cotoletta alla bolognese

 

Via San Felice, 52A – Bologna

CONCLUSIONS

Ask 50 people in Bologna their favourite restaurants and you will have 50 different answers!

Our is just a short list of some of the Best Restaurants in Bologna and we believe is a great starting point if you want to explore the culinary history of the city. 

We chose the restaurants where you can find the most classic dishes, sometimes with a twist, but we are curious to discover what your personal list of the best restaurants in Bologna is.

Let us know in the comment box below. Buon appetito!

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