Caffe Rubik in Bologna's Centro Storico is the modern third-wave cafe with the V60 pour-over, the affogato al caffe and a small but well-edited daily-changing brunch carte.
Tip: Open daily 07:30 to 19:30; the brunch slot 10:00 to 13:00 on weekends is the busiest. Walk-in only.
Address: Via San Giorgio 5/A, 40121 Bologna BO
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.
Signature drink: Espresso
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.
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.
