Bologna Food Guide
Bologna is a goldmine for people who want to immerse themselves in Italian culture and eat their way around a city.
We ate out for every single meal in Bologna as the food was too good to miss! See how much it cost us over here "Your Italy trip cost HOW much?"
The sheer number of foods and procurements that have come from the Emilia Romania region is absolutely fucking ludacris - from Mortadella, to Balsamic Vinega to the classic Tagliatelle al Ragu. Chances are, if you love it and it’s italian - it’s probably come out of this region.
Bologna is one of my favorite cities in the world, the food, the people and the culture make this a city you’ll want to visit time and time again. The unsung gastronomic hero of Italy and potentially even Europe!
As a kid I used to daydream about visiting Italy, what it would smell like, what it would look like and how the food would differ, how it would be something special. Bologna is all of those childhood daydreams realized, a dream come true if you will!
Coffee
Sure, Italy is known for coffee. Don’t let any Italians read this, but they’ve never been known for the best coffee. Coffee is a necessity, a way of life, a means of fuel and the perfect pairing to a morning cigarette. Bologna was the first Italian city I visited where you can truly start to see specialty coffee take shape, the meticulous care for how it’s roasted, how it’s served and what it’s paired with.
Forno Brisa is a hit, this bakery is a true gem, tucked away in the city of Bologna. The tag line being ‘Fancula La Dieta’ literally translating to ‘Fuck the diet’ is reason enough to visit this place. Roman style pizzas, freshly baked pastries and of course bangin coffee!
Mister Coffee bistro is an experience to say the least. Centered around Vladigal or Mister Coffee as his better known - this is certainly an interesting spot for a morning brew and a pastry! His face is plastered all over their retail bags and there’s a high probability that he’ll make your coffee! The coffee is banging and they’ve got such a strong variety of retail options.
Lunches
Lunch in Bologna, an important meal but one that needs some consideration! Do you opt for one of the epic grab and go spots like Mo Mortadella or Tigellino or do you park up and settle in somewhere you can over order and wash it all down with some lovely wine? If you’re looking to throw caution into the wind and get a little day buzz on whilst sampling some or Bolognas finest - Salumeria Simoni Laboratorio is the one. Simoni started many moons ago and produce alot of the cured meats you’ll find dotted around Bologna. Get yourself a table tucked inside their Laboratorio where you can gawk at the wall of Parmigianno Reggiano and take the waiters advise on wine and cold cuts.
Ragu - a place that truly has my heart - the new kids on the block. A young group of friends with a love for traditional Bologna dishes served with a modern twist. Think a soft homemade sesame bun served with traditional Bolognese sauce - the best fucking sloppy joe you’ve ever had. This spot is the best, the team are incredibly hospitable and the food is to die for!
Dinners
It’s no secret that there are a million and 1 good places to eat in Bologna - we had a long list of places we wanted to visit for dinner, but a lot of the time we found ourselves strolling through the city and picking out places that looked epic. La Prosciutteria being the one that topped this list.
Massive boards of cold cuts, ricotta, cheeses, spreads and dips served share style washed down with the most epic house red served straight from the cask.
Get yourself a table outside on a warm summer's night and enjoy the buzz of the university district!