Food in Bologna: Traditional Dishes, Restaurants and Places to Eat

For foodies, visiting Bologna’s restaurants and other places to eat is a must-do. Food is a big deal in Bologna for good reason, and the city is a great place to dine out or cook with local produce. On our three visits to Bologna, we had many delightful meals out at various restaurants.

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One nickname for the city is La Grassa (the fat one). This nickname refers to the number of delicious dishes the city produces. Because of this, the city has many culinary tours, including many on GetYourGuide.

What Food Is Bologna Famous For?

Some of the most famous dishes of the city and the Emilia-Romagna region are:

• Tagliatelle al ragù bolognese.
• Green lasagne, or lasagne verdi alla bolognese. Lasagna with spinach and Ragù Bolognese.
• Tortellini, the stuffed pasta dish, is from the region. It’s often stuffed with mixed meats or cheese.
• “Tortellini in brodo is tortellini served in broth.
• Parmigiano Reggiano is a tasty regional cheese.
• Mortadella is a large sausage originating in the region.

Local Food At Restaurants In Bologna

Visitors to Bologna have hundreds of options to try regional cuisine. We dined at a few restaurants and found the food moreish. As a bonus, every eatery we tried was dog-friendly. Bologna also has a great bar and cafe scene, many of which sell pastries and other snacks.

Trattoria Pizzeria Belle Arti

In Bologna’s student district is Trattoria Pizzeria Belle Arti, a fantastic family-run restaurant that serves great local food. We visited because they had all the local dishes and great reviews. We just turned up in the evening, and they found us a table straight away among the typical bustle of an Italian restaurant. The staff were friendly and attentive. To start, we had their Antipasto Bologna, which includes mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano, bruschetta, and olives.

For the main course, I had the Tortellini in brodo, a local speciality of Tortellini in broth, and it tasted delicious. My wife had the Lasagne alla Bolognese, which was delicious and filling. This was a great dining experience and a nice place to spend time.

Il Piatto Rotto for Tagliatelle al Ragù Bolognese

For our first meal out in Bologna, we chose Il Piatto Rotto, a nice-looking restaurant with a good-sized outdoor seating area. For drinks, we had wine and Peroni Gran Riserva, a white beer. This was my favourite Italian beer during our month-long tour of Italy.

To start, we shared a cheeseboard and bread, both tasty and featuring Parmigiano Reggiano. The cheeses were perfectly matched to a jam/chutney/honey. The pairings inspired me for future cheese plates at home.

Our main course picked itself; we were going to try Tagliatelle al Ragù Bolognese in its hometown. The Tagliatelle al Ragù Bolognese was flavourful and filling. Enjoying Bolognese in the city changed how I made the dish on our onward journey.

Tagliatella

For a nice quiet lunch out, I popped into Tagliatella on Via de’ Falegnami near Teatro Arena del Sole. This was a nice quiet side street with tables outside. The staff here were friendly and made me feel welcome. I had a few Ichnusa beers here while waiting for my food.

For food, I had their Tagliatelle al ragù Bolognese with copious amounts of Parmesan cheese. Their Tagliatelle al ragù Bolognese was delicious and came with a generous portion of ragù. I really enjoyed dining here and would love to return to try their other local dishes.

Ristorante Pizzeria Il Saraceno

In the centre of Bologna, on a side street, Ristorante Pizzeria Il Saraceno is a pleasant restaurant with an outdoor dining area. It is primarily a pizza restaurant; thus, we opted to enjoy their pizza. The restaurant had a diverse drinks list, including Italian beers and regional wines.

The pizzas we tried were nice; we had a white quattro formaggi pizza, which was tasty, and the cheese flavours were a treat for the taste buds. We also tried their capricciosa pizza, which had generous toppings.

Trattoria Belle Arti For Lasagne Verdi Alla Bolognese

Another randomly picked restaurant in Bologna for us was Trattoria Belle Arti. We visited Trattoria Belle Arti for a meal out to celebrate our first wedding anniversary.

The restaurant had both indoor and outdoor seating; however, it was a lovely evening, so we dined outside. We were offered some appetiser specials we couldn’t decide on, so we tried all three, including one with ham and cheese.

For main courses, we tried the local speciality, Lasagne Verdi alla Bolognese. The Lasagne Verdi Alla Bolognese was delicious and filling.

We drank both regional wine and beer with our meal. To round off the anniversary meal out, we had some very tasty tiramisu.

Dining at Mercato di Mezzo

Mercato di Mezzo is a historic market with many places to choose from. They have indoor and outdoor seating. On my first visit, I ate focaccia and a slice of pizza for lunch.

On my second visit to Bologna, I headed back to the market to try something new. This time I chose parmigiana with a Moretti beer outside. It was delicious, and the tomatoes and aubergine, combined with the local Parmesan cheese, were top-drawer flavours. They also have other stalls specialising in local dishes, including some that specialise in Tortelini.

La Prosciutteria

A short walk from Piazza Maggiore is La Prosciutteria, a nice place for lunch out. Their menu features a big selection of panini and charcuterie boards. These feature a wide selection of Tuscan and Italian meats and cheeses.

They have indoor and outdoor seating; you order at the counter, then they call your name once your panini or board is ready.

On my visit, I opted for the gourmet board and a beer. It had tasty cold cuts and cheeses with fruit, a spicy relish, and three crostini with pâté. It was a huge portion and tasted delicious.

SPAN Pizzeria

Behind the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Peter is SPAN Pizzeria, an excellent place for a meal out. We dined here early evening, and it was bustling with people eating out and collecting pizza to take away. We had seats on their small terrace and really enjoyed it. For starters, we had their frittura napoletana, a combination of deep-fried dishes including pasta and rice.

For the main course, we had their fresha pizza, topped with lots of ham, tomatoes, and burrata. To complement the food, they had some nice Italian craft beers.

Food & Culinary Tours & Experiences in Bologna, Italy

For food lovers and visitors who prefer structured experiences, plenty of culinary tours and experiences are available to book. You can find many on GetYourGuide or arrange some when in the city.

One option is a multi-course, traditional Bolognese lunch across 5 different restaurants. The food tour guide will share stories and recipes and divulge the history of Bologna and its most famous dishes. These tours take about 3.5 hours and include food and wine.

For budget travellers or those who prefer solo travel, a self-guided foodie tour is available. This includes a guide and vouchers at specific establishments. You get tasting vouchers, and you can combine the tour with other sightseeing activities.

Is Bologna, Italy, Worth Visiting for the Food?

We found Bologna’s food excellent, and it was our favourite place for Italian cuisine. It seemed more consistent, with good food at every place we dined, unlike in popular tourist destinations.

The city’s shops and markets were also wonderful places to purchase regional ingredients. The tortellini stalls were wonderful and a joy to visit and cook with once back in my kitchen.