17 Best Local Dishes & Food to Try in Bologna

Local Dishes from Bologna

As the food capital, Bologna takes its traditional dishes seriously. If you're short on time, I recommend a food tour in order to try as many of the classics as possible but if you'll be in the city for a few days or longer, enjoy a self-guided tour to my favorite Bologna restaurants listed below.

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Tagliatelle al ragù

This is what the world knows as Bolognese but here it's called ragù. Forget about spaghetti noodles, too, here the wider and flatter tagliatelle noodles rule. Every restaurant has its own recipe but, in general, ragù uses a mix of ground beef and pork, some veggies (like carrots and onions), and sometimes tomato paste, along with plenty of spices.

After eating the original recipe, I can understand why, at least a variation of it, became famous all around the world.

If you only have time to try one food in Bologna, let it be this.

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Lasagna

Did you know the original lasagna recipe has green noodles (dyed naturally from the spinach)? Yep, green lasagna! We didn't either until arriving in Bologna. Here they also don't use mozzarella cheese like most of us are accustomed to but instead béchamel sauce and parmigiano reggiano. Like with ragù, the hearty meat sauce is typically a blend of ground beef and pork.

While these swaps might sound strange, the final product is way better in Bologna!

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Gramigna alla Salsiccia

This is a pasta that I had never heard of until arriving in Bologna. Now that I've tried this delicious dish I'll be counting down the days until I can get back to Bologna to eat it again. I don't want to offend any Italians reading this but to non-Italians, the noodle is most akin to delicate macaroni noodles. It's served with minced sausage, or salsiccia.

Like most Italian classics, the dish is simple yet packed with flavor.

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Tortellini en Brodo

Most of us know the stuffed pasta tortellini but did you know traditionally tortellini is eaten in a light broth (brodo) instead of served with a sauce? Traditional tortellini is stuffed with minced mortadella and ricotta cheese.

I'll be honest, the broth didn't do much for me but my husband adored it. To me, the tortellini themselves are so flavorful that I could eat just noodles completely plain and be happy.

But, of course, when in Bologna, do as the Bolognese do and try it en brodo.

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Tortelloni

Think of these like giant tortellini. An easy way to remember the difference is to remember that -oni means big, -ini means small in Italian.

Instead of being served in broth, tortelloni are typically stuffed with just ricotta and spinach and served with melted butter and sage. It's possible to find varieties though.

Since I haven't visited Bologna in the fall, I haven't tried this one yet but according to locals, during that time it's common to find pumpkin tortelloni.

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Balanzoni

Simply put, balanzoni are green (thanks to spinach) tortelloni. These are also usually served with a butter and sage sauce but I tried them with an incredibly creamy béchamel sauce.

These are one of the lesser known Bologna foods but if you're a noodle lover like I am, do your best to try all of the varieties you can.

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Cotoletta alla Bolognese

This traditional dish translates to "Bolognese cutlet." It's a fried veal cutlet served with prosciutto and béchamel sauce on top. It's a large and heavy plate but worth the try, especially if you're hungry or have someone to share it with.

This is one of the "trashier" dishes we've seen since moving to Italy. Typically Italian food is lighter and fresher but cotoletta is certainly the exception to the rule.

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Passatelli

Of all the traditional dishes in Bologna, this is one dish we didn't get a chance to try. Passatelli are thick noodles made from bread crumbs, eggs, and parmigiano reggiano. Like tortellini, it's typically served in a light broth.

Although on my return trip to Bologna I know I'm going to want to recreate many of the meals I had this last time, top of my list is to try passatelli.

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Bologna Meats & Cheeses

Now that you know what to order for lunch and dinner while in Bologna, it's time to move on the meats and cheeses so you can build a dreamy charcuterie board to accompany your aperitivo.

Mortadella

Americans think they know mortadella as bologna (the meat, not the city) but we're far off. Mortadella is fresher, more delicate, and far more flavorful than you're expecting. I've eaten a lot of cured meats since moving to Italy but personally, mortadella is my favorite.

Mortadella is made entirely of pork meat and fat and pairs perfectly with the next cheese on the list.

Squacquerone

I adore cheese and do my best to try as many types as possible but this was yet another example of an Italian food that I didn't know existed until arriving in Bologna.

Squacquerone is super light, soft, and creamy. It tastes similar to a softer mozzarella. It's usually served here on platters with mortadella and bread.

Prosciutto di Parma (Parma Ham)

Technically not from Bologna but still the same region of Emilia Romagna, prosciutto, or Parma Ham, is a cured meat from neighboring Parma. If you're going on a day trip to Parma, eat up there but if not, try it in Bologna as you're still very close to the source.

Parmigiano Reggiano

Just like with Prosciutto di Parma, this cheese is from Parma as well. While most of us know parmesan cheese, the real thing is parmigiano reggiano and is one of the best hard cheeses out there.

Where mortadella and squacquerone go hand in hand, I love the combination of prosciutto crudo and parmigiano reggiano.

You'll also find most restaurants in Bologna have grated parmigiano reggiano on the table and use it as an ingredient to make some of the city's classic dishes.

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Bologna Side Dishes

Now that you know your meats and cheeses in Bologna, you need to know what to pair them with.

Tigelle

These round, stamped breads are found all over Bologna. It's common to find them used for street food style sandwiches. I love bread but these didn't do too much for me personally as they're pretty simple. While they don't offer much flavor on their own, they are the perfect bread to mix with flavorful toppings as they won't compete.

Crescentine

This fried bread on the other hand certainly made my mouth water. You'll find this bread all over but it's especially common as an appetizer or with your charcuterie board. This bread can hold its own by itself but I liked it even more with cheese on top...of course.

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar originates in neighboring Modena but given the proximity most providers sell their goods in Bologna, too. If you're going to Modena, save it for there, but if you don't, be sure to try the real stuff. The older it is, the thicker and sweeter.

My husband isn't typically a fan but after trying traditional balsamic vinegar, he is. We bought a bottle from one of the oldest makers in the country, Giuseppe Giusti, and have used it nearly every day to top salads since coming back home to Trieste.

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Bologna Sweets

What's a well-balanced diet without a sweet treat?

Torta di Riso

Alright, I'll be honest here. I had super high expectations of torta di riso, or rice cake, before coming to Bologna. I loved risini in Verona, their rice pastry, so I was looking forward to Bologna's variety.

It maybe was where we ordered it from but it left a lot to be desired. I still recommend you try for yourself and see if this sweet hits the spot for you.

It's most commonly found on dessert menus but we were told by locals it's also possible to find it at some cafes to eat with your morning cappuccino.

Gelato

Gelato is so good in Bologna that the Gelato University is based here. That means students from around Italy and the rest of the world come to Bologna to learn how to make the very best.

I've eaten my fair share of gelato since moving to Italy and never have I had such a mind altering experience than my first gelato in Bologna. Trust me, you've been warned. Gelato as you know it might be ruined after indulging here.

There's over 100 gelaterias in Bologna so you won't have to look far to find a good one but if you're searching for a recommendation, these have all been tried and tested:

• Gelateria Gianni: Personally, this was my favorite gelato in Bologna, the gelato that may have ruined all future gelatos for me. I ordered a scoop of the "Samurai" (3 cheese, weird but go with it) and coffee.
• Cremeria la Vecchia Stalla: The salted pistachio, "Il Divino," was one of the strangest gelato flavors I've ever tried, and that's coming from me eating 3 cheeses the day before. It's actually very salty which is confusing yet somehow really delicious.
• Cremeria Cavour: I tried their signature flavor, "Il Cavour," which tasted just like Key lime pie. Super zesty yet creamy. While Gianni remained my #1 this ice cream was a super close second and one I actually wish I could have right now while writing this.

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Bologna Wines

Now, to wash all that food down, opt for a glass of wine straight from the region of Emilia Romagna.

Lambrusco

Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine that pairs fantastically with all of the traditional dishes in the region. Just like all wines, you'll find different varieties here that range from sweet to dry but unless you're a wine aficionado that knows exactly what you're looking for, try out the house one and get ready to be pleased.

Pignoletto

Pignoletto is Lambrusco's white wine counterpart. It's also a sparkling wine and super refreshing and light. It's in constant cahoots with prosecco to battle for the title of best sparkling white wine in Italy. My heart lies with prosecco but that might just be because that's what rules where I live in Trieste.

During my time in Bologna, sipping on pignoletto, the thought never crossed my mind that it should be a glass of prosecco instead.

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Best Restaurants to Try Bologna Food

Enjoy these Bologna restaurants for lunch or dinner, based on your schedule. Just be sure to check their opening times and make a reservation before you plan your day around a certain spot.

Keep in mind that most restaurants (and shops) close in Italy between lunch and dinner, typically around 3pm-5pm. Some places will have a longer break time but in general you can assume it'll be tough to find a spot to eat in Bologna (and the rest of Italy) during this time.

Italians love eating a late dinner (unless you're from Spain or Argentina, then you might feel it's early here). Many restaurants will open for dinner around 7:30pm but it's not uncommon for places to only accept reservations from 9pm onwards.

Just to be clear, these aren't the only delicious restaurants in Bologna by a long shot - these are just restaurants that have been tried and tested by us and really stood out among the crowd.

Don't miss out on:

• Sfoglia Rina: This restaurant is best enjoyed as take away as the line can get really long. Their tagliatelle al ragu made me want to cry it's so good. I suggest taking it to-go to eat at Osteria del Sole where you can bring your own food and only order your drinks from them.
• Osteria Al 15: Friends of ours recommended that we eat here and I'm so glad we did. My husband's favorite food is lasagna but as he said, no others will compete with this one. Try that and their gramigna for a filling yet affordable meal.
• Bottega Portici: There are 2 locations in town, the one linked is the one we ate at. It was a great location sitting outside under the portico. If you're interested in trying cotoletta alla bolognese, this is a great place to do so.
• Atipico Osteria: We were underwhelmed by their other pasta dishes but their fried tortellini appetizer and tortellini en brodo was so so good.
• Bella Vita: This was our first meal in Bologna and to be honest, we chose here out of desperation. We arrived late to the city center and were super hungry. It was inching towards 3pm so we knew we needed to make a decision and quick but it ended up being a great meal. They focus on small plates but also serve a few pasta dishes.

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Best Places for an Aperitivo in Bologna

If this is your first trip to Italy, the aperitivo culture is something you won't want to miss out on (unless you don't like snacks or drinking).

Aperitivo literally means "to open" but is used to talk about the before-meal drink and oftentimes small bites used "to open" your appetite for dinner. Think happy hour on a national scale.

If you're not super hungry for dinner, head out for an aperitivo that also offers tagliere, or charcuterie boards of meats and cheeses. But, if you simply want to enjoy some fresh air and great people watching, opt for just a pre-meal drink instead.

A few of the best places to go in Bologna for an aperitivo are:

• Zerocinquantino: This is a great place to go for traditional meats and cheeses in Bologna. I'm looking at you mortadella and squacquerone. The icing on top of the cake is their homemade bread. Their lambrusco with peach cocktail is super refreshing when it's warm out.
• Tamburini: Tamburini is more than a place for a good drink but also a deli and local food shop. They really offer a little bit of everything so if you're in the mood to taste test or have a good spot to people watch while you sip your spritz, this is a great choice.
• La Prosciutteria: This literally translates to something like "the prosciutto place" so you know what to get when coming here. It's actually a chain from Tuscany but given the proximity to Parma, you know the meats are top-notch here. I recommend a platter of a variety of meats and cheese to enjoy a good sampling.
• Camera A Sud: For something a little trendier, head to this wine bar. You'll know you're in the right place when you get surrounded by quirky street art and even quirkier people.

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Where to Stay in Bologna

If you look at Bologna on a map, you'll see there's a highway that circles the city center. I recommend staying anywhere inside that circle so you can get around on foot instead of having to rely on public transportation (although the public transportation is easy to use - more on that below!).

📍A few of my top recommendations for places to stay in Bologna are:

• Budget Option: Casa Petronio Apartments: They offer a variety of apartments with 2-bedrooms, 1-bedrooms, or a studio to choose from. A bike rental and coffee shop is conveniently located in the same building.
• Mid-Tier Option: Central City Rooms m09: This is where we stayed in Bologna and we really enjoyed it. It's pet-friendly so we could bring our pets with us and it's really close to the train station which made coming and going easy.
• Luxury Option: Grand Hotel Majestic gia' Baglioni: For a taste of luxury and to be just steps from Piazza Maggiore, you'll love your stay at this high-end hotel where you'll feel as if you became a queen in the 1800s.

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Which Bologna Food Will You Try First?

When planning your trip to Bologna, I highly recommend you stay with enough time to try at least a couple of the Italian dishes highlighted on this list. If you're food driven like I am though, you'll want enough time to try them all.

This Bologna food guide should have you covered for a self-guided food tour throughout Bologna and into the rest of the Emilia Romagna region. Trust me, you'll love trying the original recipes of dishes you most likely grew up eating. Just be warned, you'll never quite look at spaghetti or lasagna the same again.

And now I'm hungry...