40 cheap eats rooms in Bologna, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in Bologna: the places editors actually return to. All Bologna food.
Atti ★ 4.7
Via Caprarie 7, 40124 Bologna BO
Atti in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the 1880-founded salumeria-and-pasticceria with two adjoining shops on Via Caprarie, slicing mortadella to order and baking.
Tip: The bakery counter runs from 07:30; mortadella slicing takes 5 minutes per order and the queue thins after 11:00. Cash and card both fine.
Paolo Atti & Figli ★ 4.7
Via Drapperie 6, 40124 Bologna BO
Paolo Atti & Figli in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the 1880-founded sfoglina-and-pasticceria with hand-rolled tortellini sold by weight, plus the certosino di.
Tip: The pasta counter runs from 07:00; tortellini sell out by 12:30 on Saturdays. The Christmas certosino orders open in November.
Caffe Terzi ★ 4.6
Via Oberdan 10/D, 40126 Bologna BO
Caffe Terzi in Bologna's Centro Storico is the Manuel Terzi 2003-founded specialty espresso bar with single-origin beans, hand-pumped espresso machines.
Tip: Counter-stand only; arrive before 10:00 to skip the queue. Cash and card both fine.
Forno Brisa ★ 4.5
Via Galliera 34/B, 40121 Bologna BO
Forno Brisa in Bologna's Centro Storico is the 2015-founded modern sourdough bakery from Pasquale Polito, with five shops across the city and the daily-baked.
Tip: Five shops citywide; the Galliera flagship has the widest carte and the Mazzini branch the longest hours. The sourdough loaves sell out by 14:00.
Sfoglia Rina Counter ★ 4.5
Via Castiglione 5/B, 40124 Bologna BO
Sfoglia Rina in Bologna's Centro Storico runs a take-away counter selling hand-rolled pasta by weight, with tortellini, tagliatelle, tortelloni and lasagne.
Tip: The take-away counter runs from 09:00; tortellini sell by the 250g bag from 6 euros. Take home and cook in salted water 3 minutes.
Il Forno di Calzolari ★ 4.4
Via Marchesana 4/b, 40124 Bologna BO
Il Forno di Calzolari at the Via Marchesana shop in Bologna's Centro Storico is the city outpost of the Monghidoro Apennine forno, with the Pane di.
Tip: The Pane di Monghidoro arrives mid-morning and sells out by 13:00; ask for the crescente and a slab of focaccia for a walk-back-to-the-piazza lunch.
Gelateria Stefino Bio ★ 4.4
Via Luigi Serra 3, 40129 Bologna BO
Gelateria Stefino Bio in Bologna's Bolognina district is the 100 percent organic gelateria with the small-batch daily-changing carte, relocated to the Via.
Tip: The gelato is small-batch and the flavour list rotates daily; the pistachio runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Aroma Caffe ★ 4.4
Via Castiglione 25, 40124 Bologna BO
Aroma Caffe in Bologna's Centro Storico is the Aroma roasters' flagship cafe, with the V60 pour-over and the filter brew bar at the back, plus a daily brunch.
Tip: Counter and table seating both work; the brunch carte runs 09:00-14:00 on weekends, walk-in works.
Forno Brisa Cafe ★ 4.4
Via Galliera 34d, 40121 Bologna BO
Forno Brisa Cafe in Bologna's Centro Storico is the modern bakery-and-cafe flagship with the daily sourdough cornetto, the filter coffee bar and the brunch.
Tip: The Galliera shop runs 07:00-20:00; the weekend brunch carte fills after 10:00 and counter pastries restock through the morning.
Tamburini Counter ★ 4.4
Via Caprarie 1, 40124 Bologna BO
Tamburini in Bologna's Quadrilatero runs a take-away salumi counter with the mortadella sandwich, the tigella with squacquerone and the daily-changing.
Tip: The take-away counter runs 11:00-22:00; the lunch peak is 12:30-13:30 and the queue thins after 14:00.
Sfoglia Rina dine-in ★ 4.4
Via Castiglione 5/B, 40124 Bologna BO
Sfoglia Rina in Bologna's Centro Storico runs a small dine-in carte at the take-away counter with tagliatelle al ragu, tortelloni and the daily sfoglia pasta.
Tip: Walk-in only for dine-in; arrive before 13:00 to claim a seat. The take-away pasta runs from 5 euros per 250g.
Regina di Quadri ★ 4.3
Via Castiglione 25, 40124 Bologna BO
Regina di Quadri in Bologna's Centro Storico is the modern pasticceria with the sfoglia-leaved pastries, the Bolognese tradition of certosino di Bologna.
Tip: The morning pastries arrive at 07:30 and the gelato counter opens at 11:00. Cash and card both fine; the bar standing counter is locals' price tier.
Le Sorelle ★ 4.3
Via Mascarella 79/A, 40126 Bologna BO
Le Sorelle in Bologna's University quarter is the small sfoglina shop with hand-rolled pasta sold by weight, lasagne sheets, tortellini and tagliatelle.
Tip: The pasta is rolled fresh through the morning; tortellini sell out by 13:00. Closed Sunday and Monday. Cash preferred.
Cremeria Funivia ★ 4.3
Piazza Cavour 1/D, 40124 Bologna BO
Cremeria Funivia in Bologna's Piazza Cavour is the long-running gelateria with the daily-changing carte rooted in Emilian produce, the strong pistachio.
Tip: The pistachio uses Bronte DOP and the carte rotates seasonally; the queue thins after 21:30 most evenings.
Caffe Zanarini ★ 4.3
Piazza Galvani 1, 40124 Bologna BO
Caffe Zanarini on Piazza Galvani in Bologna is the 1850-founded grand cafe in the Bolognese 19th-century tradition, with the long marble bar.
Tip: The terrace seating runs at full sit-down prices; the bar counter is the locals' price tier and the morning cappuccino is the order.
Caffe Rubik ★ 4.3
Via San Giorgio 5/A, 40121 Bologna BO
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.
Tip: Open daily 07:30-19:30; the brunch slot 10:00-13:00 on weekends is the busiest. Walk-in only.
Polpette e Crescentine al Mercato delle Erbe ★ 4.3
Via Ugo Bassi 23, 40121 Bologna BO
Polpette e Crescentine at the Mercato delle Erbe in Bologna's centro serves the deep-fried crescentine and griddled tigelle counter with salumi.
Tip: Inside the Mercato delle Erbe on Via Ugo Bassi. The crescentine arrive hot from the fryer; pair with mortadella and stracchino in the Bolognese order.
Osteria dell'Orsa ★ 4.2
universita · Via Mentana 1/F, 40126 Bologna BO
Osteria dell'Orsa in Bologna's University quarter is the canonical student trattoria operating since 1979, a no-reservations canteen for tagliatelle.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive by 12:00 for lunch or after 21:30 for dinner to skip the line. Cash and card both fine.
Pizzeria Altero ★ 4.2
quadrilatero · Via dell'Indipendenza 39, 40121 Bologna BO
Pizzeria Altero on Via dell'Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1957-founded pizza-al-taglio counter, an old-school Bolognese counter serving slabs of pizza rossa.
Tip: Cash and card both fine; the counter runs 11:00-22:00 daily and the queue thins after the lunch peak.
Pasticceria Impero ★ 4.2
Via Indipendenza 39, 40121 Bologna BO
Pasticceria Impero on Via Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1920s-founded pasticceria with the morning sfogliatella ricciu, the Bolognese certosino at Christmas.
Tip: The sfogliatella riccia is the morning order; the Christmas certosino opens in November and sells by the loaf. Counter-stand and table both work.
Le Stanze Cafe ★ 4.2
Via Borgo San Pietro 1, 40126 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.
Tip: Walk-in works for the aperitivo; the cocktail bar runs until 02:00 Friday and Saturday. Cash and card both fine.
Doppio Civico Coffee & Bakery ★ 4.2
Via Don Luigi Sturzo 30/B, 40135 Bologna BO
Doppio Civico Coffee & Bakery in Bologna's Saragozza-Sturzo quarter is the modern coffee + bakery counter with the in-house leavened focaccia.
Tip: Walk-in works; the focaccia and the cream croissants sell out by 12:00, and the Tuesday and Thursday seasonal cakes go fast. Closed Monday.
Stafilio ★ 4.2
Via dei Mille 16/A, 40121 Bologna BO
Bologna's natural-wine bar near the central station: daily-changing Emilian salumi taglieri, aperitivo 18:00-21:00, salumi board free with a glass.
Tip: Walk-in works; aperitivo runs 18:00-21:00 with the salumi board free with a glass. The street terrace fills first in summer.
Pizzeria Altero ★ 4.2
Via dell'Indipendenza 39, 40121 Bologna BO
Pizzeria Altero on Via dell'Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1957-founded pizza-al-taglio counter, an old-school Bolognese fixture serving slabs of pizza rossa.
Tip: Take-away counter only; the pizza rossa is 3 euros per slab and the queue thins after the 13:00 lunch peak.
Casa Monica ★ 4.2
Via Saragozza 24, 40123 Bologna BO
Casa Monica in Bologna's Saragozza is the piadina-and-crescentine counter with the Romagnola flatbreads stuffed with squacquerone, prosciutto and Bolognese.
Tip: Walk-in works; the piadina runs 4 to 7 euros and the take-away queue thins after 13:30.
Piadineria da Bardo ★ 4.2
Via Belle Arti 20, 40126 Bologna BO
Piadineria da Bardo in Bologna's University quarter is the Romagnola piadina counter from Forli, with the rosemary-and-lard flatbread. Open daily 11:30-22:00.
Tip: Walk-in only; the piadine run 4 to 7 euros and the late-night counter runs to 22:00. Cash and card both fine.
Osteria dell'Orsa ★ 4.2
Via Mentana 1/F, 40126 Bologna BO
Osteria dell'Orsa in Bologna's University quarter is the canonical 1979-founded student trattoria, a no-reservations canteen for tagliatelle al ragu at 8.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive before 12:00 for lunch or after 21:30 for dinner. Cash and card both fine.
Tamburini self-service ★ 4.2
Via Caprarie 1, 40124 Bologna BO
Tamburini in Bologna's Quadrilatero runs a self-service tasting tray of daily-changing pasta, salumi tagliere and the mortadella tigella sandwich at 8 to 15.
Tip: Self-service runs 11:00-22:00; the lunch peak is 12:30-13:30 and the queue thins after 14:00.
Pizzeria Altero ★ 4.2
Via dell'Indipendenza 39, 40121 Bologna BO
Pizzeria Altero on Via dell'Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1957-founded pizza-al-taglio counter, a stand-up Bolognese fixture serving slabs of pizza rossa.
Tip: Take-away counter only; the pizza rossa is 3 euros per slab and the queue thins after the 13:00 lunch peak.
Piadineria da Bardo ★ 4.2
Via Belle Arti 20, 40126 Bologna BO
Piadineria da Bardo in Bologna's University quarter is the Romagnola piadina counter with rosemary-and-lard flatbread, squacquerone filling.
Tip: Walk-in only; the piadine run 4 to 7 euros and the late-night counter runs to 22:00. Cash and card both fine.
Pasticceria Maccaferri ★ 4.1
Via Massimo d'Azeglio 51, 40123 Bologna BO
Pasticceria Maccaferri in Bologna's Centro Storico is the long-running family pasticceria on Via Massimo d'Azeglio with the Bolognese certosino at Christmas.
Tip: The Christmas certosino sells from late November to Epiphany; book the larger loaves a week ahead. Counter-stand and box-to-go both work.
Forno Bizzarri ★ 4.1
Via Andrea Costa 132, 40134 Bologna BO
Forno Bizzarri in Bologna's Saragozza is the lievito-madre forno with the Bolognese pizza bianca, the sourdough loaves and a daily pizza al taglio counter.
Tip: The pizza bianca is the morning order; the pizza al taglio runs lunch only and the sourdough sells by the kilo. Cash preferred.
Caffe della Corte ★ 4.1
Corte Isolani 5, 40125 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.
Tip: The courtyard terrace seating is the spot to ask for in summer; the morning espresso runs 07:00-10:00 with the locals.
Pasticceria Impero ★ 4.1
Via Indipendenza 39, 40121 Bologna BO
Pasticceria Impero on Via Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1920s-founded pasticceria-and-cafe, with the long marble counter, the morning sfogliatella ricciu.
Tip: The counter runs from 07:00-21:00 daily; the lunch tramezzini sell out by 14:00 and the morning cornetto integrale by 10:00.
Bar Calice ★ 4.1
Via Clavature 13/A, 40124 Bologna BO
Bar Calice in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the long-running aperitivo bar with the porticoed pavement seating and the daily Bolognese tagliere of mortadella.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive before 19:30 to claim a porticoed seat. The Quadrilatero passeggiata makes this loud after 20:00.
La Mortadellina ★ 4.1
Via Pescherie Vecchie 16, 40124 Bologna BO
La Mortadellina in Bologna's Quadrilatero on Via Pescherie Vecchie is the dedicated mortadella sandwich counter with the daily-sliced mortadella.
Tip: Walk-in only; the mortadella sandwich runs 6 euros and the cunza tigella 7 euros. The lunch peak is 12:30-13:30.
Mercato di Mezzo ★ 4.1
Via Clavature 12, 40124 Bologna BO
Mercato di Mezzo in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the relaunched 19th-century food hall with 15 vendors of salumi taglieri, pasta plates and the daily fritti.
Tip: Walk-in only; the food hall runs 09:00 to midnight daily. The first floor is the calmer seating; aperitivo on the ground floor.
La Mortadellina ★ 4.1
Via Pescherie Vecchie 16, 40124 Bologna BO
La Mortadellina in Bologna's Quadrilatero on Via Pescherie Vecchie is the dedicated mortadella sandwich counter with daily-sliced mortadella from Pasquini.
Tip: Walk-in only; the mortadella sandwich runs 6 euros and the cunza tigella 7 euros. The lunch peak is 12:30-13:30.
Trattoria del Rosso ★ 4.0
universita · Via Augusto Righi 30, 40126 Bologna BO
Trattoria del Rosso in Bologna's University quarter is the canonical 1899-founded student trattoria, a no-reservations room serving the Bolognese pasta canon.
Tip: Walk-in only; arrive by 12:00 for lunch or after 21:30 for dinner. Cash preferred but card now accepted.
Panificio Zaccanti ★ 4.0
Via San Felice 84, 40122 Bologna BO
Panificio Zaccanti in Bologna's San Felice quarter is the family forno with the daily-baked pane di farro, the Bolognese piadina and a small daily-changing.
Tip: The pane di farro sells out by 13:00; the pizza al taglio runs 11:30-14:30 and the focaccia is the lunch order.