Bologna has food for all cravings, and to fit all budgets.
Top pasta restaurants:
Sfoglia Rina - Bologna: Via Castiglione, 5/b, 40124 Bologna BO, Italy: Located in the city center with the line out the door, the wait is completely with it! They make fresh pasta everyday and also sell it in the restaurant. The menu changes daily but there are some favorites that stay. The restaurant is pretty small for the amount of people that want to eat there but they have a great staff that move fast and get you in and out quickly. The presentation is very creative. What really benefits them is their ordering system, where you take a small writing pad and pencil and write your order before they come to the table. This place is great for all seating groups or singles. Price range: $$
Ca' Pelletti Locanda di Romagna (Bologna - Zamboni): Via Zamboni, 4, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy: This is a cute bar and restaurant. There is ample seating and a great selection of pasta. The seating upstairs is more like a bar, and downstairs is more like a restaurant. The atmosphere is very calm for being in the city center. Price range: $$
Top Aperitivos and Bars:
Lab 16: Via Zamboni, 16/D, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy: You choose a drink from the aperitivo list and it’s about 7-10 euro, and then it gives you access to the buffet. You can also skip the buffet and just grab a drink but your entire table must follow. You can’t have some people grab just a drink and others choose the buffet. Price range: $
Mercato di Mezzo: Via Clavature, 12, 40124 Bologna BO, Italy: Inside this market is a nice selection downstairs to pick and choose from for an aperitivo. I like this location because you can mix-and-match from different vendors. Price range: $$
Bar With No Name: Via Belvedere, 11/B, 40121 Bologna BO, Italy: Known for its hearing-impaired bartenders, this bar serves cocktails, wine & draft beer. You should try to sign your order! Price range: $
International Cuisine:
Mexican Food: Piedra del Sol: Via Goito, 20, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy: This restaurant has ample seating. Some nights they have dance lessons! It is a fun environment and easy to get to from the city center. Price Range: $$
Asian Food: Wasabi: Via De' Giudei, 4/a, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy: They offer all-you-can-eat buffets. For lunch buffets it is 15 euro and dinner buffet it is 23 euro but drinks aren’t included. If you don’t eat everything, you will be charged for the remaining food - so don’t go overboard with the ordering! This place has a conveyor belt in the center that brings sushi, chips, and vegetables right to your table. Price range: $$
American: America Graffiti: Piazza Malpighi, 1/b, 40123 Bologna BO, Italy: From the 1920s to the 1940s diners were popular in America and have become an icon for others to portray. They offer burgers, shakes, fries, and other food you’d see in american diners. Price range: $$
Tips:
The Emilia-Romagna region is known for their Piadeinas which are a flatbread usually filled with prosciutto, squacquerone or stracchino cheeses, and arugula. You can find them everywhere!
Try a Spritz Veneziano, or just Spritz for short, is an Italian wine-based cocktail, commonly served as an aperitif Italy.