39 editor picks in Bologna.
39 cheap eats places in Bologna, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Bologna: the places editors actually return to. All Bologna food.
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.
TipThe 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 in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the 1880-founded sfoglina-and-pasticceria with hand-rolled tortellini sold by weight, plus the certosino di.
TipThe pasta counter runs from 07:00; tortellini sell out by 12:30 on Saturdays. The Christmas certosino orders open in November.
Caffe Terzi in Bologna's Centro Storico is the Manuel Terzi 2003-founded specialty espresso bar with single-origin beans, hand-pumped espresso machines.
TipCounter-stand only; arrive before 10:00 to skip the queue. Cash and card both fine.
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.
TipFive 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 in Bologna's Centro Storico runs a take-away counter selling hand-rolled pasta by weight, with tortellini, tagliatelle, tortelloni and lasagne.
OrderTortellini, tagliatelle by weight
TipThe 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 at the Via Marchesana shop in Bologna's Centro Storico is the city outpost of the Monghidoro Apennine forno, with the Pane di.
TipThe 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 in Bologna's Bolognina district is the 100 percent organic gelateria with the small-batch daily-changing carte, relocated.
TipThe gelato is small-batch and the flavour list rotates daily; the pistachio runs Tuesday through Sunday.
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.
TipCounter and table seating both work; the brunch carte runs 09:00-14:00 on weekends, walk-in works.
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.
TipThe Galliera shop runs 07:00-20:00; the weekend brunch carte fills after 10:00 and counter pastries restock through the morning.
Tamburini in Bologna's Quadrilatero runs a take-away salumi counter with the mortadella sandwich, the tigella with squacquerone and the daily-changing.
OrderMortadella sandwich
TipThe 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 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.
OrderTagliatelle al ragu, tortelloni
TipWalk-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 in Bologna's Centro Storico is the modern pasticceria with the sfoglia-leaved pastries, the Bolognese tradition of certosino di Bologna.
TipThe 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.
Cremeria Funivia in Bologna's Piazza Cavour is the long-running gelateria with the daily-changing carte rooted in Emilian produce, the strong pistachio.
TipThe pistachio uses Bronte DOP and the carte rotates seasonally; the queue thins after 21:30 most evenings.
Caffe Zanarini on Piazza Galvani in Bologna is the 1850-founded grand cafe in the Bolognese 19th-century tradition, with the long marble bar.
TipThe 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 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.
TipOpen daily 07:30-19:30; the brunch slot 10:00-13:00 on weekends is the busiest. Walk-in only.
Polpette e Crescentine at the Mercato delle Erbe in Bologna's centro serves the deep-fried crescentine and griddled tigelle counter with salumi.
OrderCrescentine fritte, tigelle, polpette
TipInside 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 in Bologna's University quarter is the canonical student trattoria operating since 1979, a no-reservations canteen for tagliatelle.
OrderTagliatelle al ragu, crescentine with the salumi board, sausage with friggione.
TipWalk-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 on Via dell'Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1957-founded pizza-al-taglio counter, an old-school Bolognese counter serving slabs of pizza rossa.
OrderThe pizza rossa al taglio, the crescentine fritte, the slab pizza with mortadella.
TipCash and card both fine; the counter runs 11:00-22:00 daily and the queue thins after the lunch peak.
Pasticceria Impero on Via Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1920s-founded pasticceria with the morning sfogliatella ricciu, the Bolognese certosino at Christmas.
TipThe 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 in Bologna near Via Indipendenza is the cocktail-bar-and-cafe built into a 16th-century chapel, with frescoed ceilings, aperitivo from 18:00.
TipWalk-in works for the aperitivo; the cocktail bar runs until 02:00 Friday and Saturday. Cash and card both fine.
Doppio Civico Coffee & Bakery in Bologna's Saragozza-Sturzo quarter is the modern coffee + bakery counter with the in-house leavened focaccia.
TipWalk-in works; the focaccia and the cream croissants sell out by 12:00, and the Tuesday and Thursday seasonal cakes go fast. Closed Monday.
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.
TipWalk-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 on Via dell'Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1957-founded pizza-al-taglio counter, an old-school Bolognese fixture serving slabs of pizza rossa.
OrderPizza al taglio
TipTake-away counter only; the pizza rossa is 3 euros per slab and the queue thins after the 13:00 lunch peak.
Casa Monica in Bologna's Saragozza is the piadina-and-crescentine counter with the Romagnola flatbreads stuffed with squacquerone, prosciutto and Bolognese.
OrderPiadina, crescentine
TipWalk-in works; the piadina runs 4 to 7 euros and the take-away queue thins after 13:30.
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.
OrderPiadina Romagnola
TipWalk-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 in Bologna's University quarter is the canonical 1979-founded student trattoria, a no-reservations canteen for tagliatelle al ragu at 8.
OrderTagliatelle al ragu
TipWalk-in only; arrive before 12:00 for lunch or after 21:30 for dinner. Cash and card both fine.
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.
OrderPasta plate, salumi tagliere
TipSelf-service runs 11:00-22:00; the lunch peak is 12:30-13:30 and the queue thins after 14:00.
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.
OrderPizza al taglio rossa
TipTake-away counter only; the pizza rossa is 3 euros per slab and the queue thins after the 13:00 lunch peak.
Piadineria da Bardo in Bologna's University quarter is the Romagnola piadina counter with rosemary-and-lard flatbread, squacquerone filling.
OrderPiadina Romagnola
TipWalk-in only; the piadine run 4 to 7 euros and the late-night counter runs to 22:00. Cash and card both fine.
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.
TipThe courtyard terrace seating is the spot to ask for in summer; the morning espresso runs 07:00-10:00 with the locals.
Pasticceria Impero on Via Indipendenza in Bologna is the 1920s-founded pasticceria-and-cafe, with the long marble counter, the morning sfogliatella ricciu.
TipThe 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 in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the long-running aperitivo bar with the porticoed pavement seating and the daily Bolognese tagliere of mortadella.
TipWalk-in only; arrive before 19:30 to claim a porticoed seat. The Quadrilatero passeggiata makes this loud after 20:00.
La Mortadellina in Bologna's Quadrilatero on Via Pescherie Vecchie is the dedicated mortadella sandwich counter with the daily-sliced mortadella.
OrderMortadella sandwich
TipWalk-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 in Bologna's Quadrilatero is the relaunched 19th-century food hall with 15 vendors of salumi taglieri, pasta plates and the daily fritti.
OrderSalumi tagliere, fritti, pasta
TipWalk-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 in Bologna's Quadrilatero on Via Pescherie Vecchie is the dedicated mortadella sandwich counter with daily-sliced mortadella from Pasquini.
OrderMortadella sandwich
TipWalk-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 in Bologna's University quarter is the canonical 1899-founded student trattoria, a no-reservations room serving the Bolognese pasta canon.
OrderTagliatelle al ragu, the cotoletta alla bolognese, the Saturday bollito.
TipWalk-in only; arrive by 12:00 for lunch or after 21:30 for dinner. Cash preferred but card now accepted.
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.
TipCounter-stand only; arrive before 09:30 for the morning cornetto and pasticcini, the Sunday pastries sell out fast.
Bottega Portici in Bologna's Centro Storico is the take-away counter for crescentine fritte and gnocco fritto, with the daily salumi tagliere.
OrderCrescentine, gnocco fritto
TipTake-away counter runs 11:00-23:00; the gnocco fritto is fried to order and best eaten within 5 minutes.
Trattoria del Rosso in Bologna's University quarter is the canonical 1899-founded student trattoria, a no-reservations room serving the Bolognese pasta canon.
OrderTagliatelle al ragu, cotoletta
TipWalk-in only; arrive by 12:00 for lunch or after 21:30 for dinner. Cash preferred but card now accepted.
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