Caffe della Corte in Bologna's Corte Isolani is the courtyard cafe in the medieval Casa Isolani arcade, with the 1860 fittings, the morning cappuccino crowd and the aperitivo terrace.
Tip: The courtyard terrace seating is the spot to ask for in summer; the morning espresso runs 07:00 to 10:00 with the locals.
Address: Corte Isolani 5, 40125 Bologna BO
Le Stanze Cafe in Bologna near Via Indipendenza is the cocktail-bar-and-cafe built into a 16th-century chapel, with frescoed ceilings, aperitivo from 18:00 and a late-night cocktail carte.
Signature drink: Aperitivo, cocktail
Tip: Walk-in works for the aperitivo; the cocktail bar runs until 02:00 Friday and Saturday. Cash and card both fine.
Pasticceria Impero on Via Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1920s-founded pasticceria-and-cafe, with the long marble counter, the morning sfogliatella ricciu and the lunch tramezzini.
Signature drink: Espresso, sfogliatella
Tip: The counter runs from 07:00 to 21:00 daily; the lunch tramezzini sell out by 14:00 and the morning cornetto integrale by 10:00.
Bar Calice in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the long-running aperitivo bar with the porticoed pavement seating and the daily Bolognese tagliere of mortadella, prosciutto and squacquerone.
Signature drink: Aperitivo, Lambrusco
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive before 19:30 to claim a porticoed seat. The Quadrilatero passeggiata makes this loud after 20:00.
Le Cementine in Bologna's Bolognina is the modern third-wave cafe with the cement-tile floor, the V60 pour-over and the daily-changing weekday lunch carte from 12:00.
Signature drink: Filter coffee, brunch
Tip: Walk-in works; the weekday lunch sets run 12:00 to 15:00 at 12 euros and the brunch on weekends fills after 11:00.
Stafilio in Bologna near the central station is the natural-wine bar and aperitivo room with the daily-changing taglieri of Emilian salumi and the long aperitivo standing crowd from 18:00.
Signature drink: Aperitivo, natural wine
Tip: Walk-in works; aperitivo runs 18:00 to 21:00 with the salumi board free with a glass. The street terrace fills first in summer.
Caffe Scaramagli on Strada Maggiore in Bologna is the long-running family cafe and pasticceria with the morning cornetto-and-espresso ritual and the Sunday pastries crowd from 09:00.
Signature drink: Cappuccino
Tip: Counter-stand only; arrive before 09:30 for the morning cornetto and pasticcini, the Sunday pastries sell out fast.
