10 Great Restaurants in Bologna

Fourghetti is a modern bistro that offers Bolognese traditional fare, but with an upgrade. Classic Italian dishes take inspiration from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, with a thoroughly international flair.

Choose between an a la carte menu or a 5- or 7-step tasting menu, with an additional wine pairing if so desired. Artfully-plated entrees on any given night might range from tortellini with a parmesan cheese fondue and nutmeg to strozzapreti (traditional and regional hand-rolled pasta) with fennel and anchovy.

Sfoglia Rina is a nice pick if you're looking for a casual yet delicious meal near some of Bologna’s top sites, such as the Towers of Bologna. It specialises in fresh, homemade pasta and has been in business since the 1960s. The restaurant started as a pasta shop before expanding its operations to include dining and culinary classes (which might be of interest if you want to brush up on your pasta-making skills).

Pull up a seat in the light and airy dining room and pick from a menu that’s divided into 2 sections: Bolognese favourites and seasonal chef specialities.

Ranzani 13 is a colourful and modern eatery in Bologna that offers Italian pizzas for those looking for the real deal during their trip. It also serves craft beers for brew aficionados and burgers for picky eaters craving something familiar. Everything comes with a gourmet twist, but you won’t be surprised to see locals dining at this particular restaurant. 

Visitors often rave about Ranzani 13's friendly staff. Beyond the pizza and beer, favourite menu items include the Caprese salad and homemade desserts. The restaurant is slightly out of Bologna's city centre.

Ruggine, with its retro-inspired decor and location near Bologna’s university district, is a classic bistro with a bit of a Mediterranean influence. Beyond the food, the cosy atmosphere draws visitors to this restaurant, as does the building’s history.

Tucked away in an alley, this restaurant occupies a space that served as a buggy warehouse and a bicycle shop. Sit back, soak in the history and order one of the favourited cheese plates, alongside one of the options on the robust cocktail menu.

L’Arcimboldo is a restaurant in Bologna that blends 2 Italian specialities: food and art. It serves some of its own takes on regional fare upstairs while featuring an art gallery downstairs. The menu includes specialities such as the “real” tortellini of Bologna, served with capon and beef broth and Bolognese’s special green lasagna.

The modern and elegant dining room only seats a few dozen people, so you can enjoy a more intimate dining experience than you might elsewhere. When you’re done dining and checking out the art exhibit, you’ll find the historic centre of Bologna just outside, with popular sites like the Piazza VIII Agosto mere steps away.

Trattoria del Tempo Buono offers outdoor seating, handmade pasta and Mediterranean seafood in an altogether charming setting in Bologna. The rustic restaurant keeps things lowkey and casual, with homemade menu items and regional specialities that focus on locally-sourced ingredients.

While its fresh pasta is the star on the menu, other rustic Italian dishes focus more on seasonal vegetables or freshly-sourced meats. The restaurant also offers a gluten-free menu. It all pairs well with a small cocktail selection and a bar specialising in vermouth.

I Carracci is an elegant fine-dining restaurant inside the Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni. With its posh atmosphere, white tablecloths and 15th-century frescoes, it’s an excellent pick for a special evening out during your stay in Bologna's city centre.

The restaurant focuses on traditional Bolognese recipes and locally-sourced produce. You’ll find classics such as tagliatelle with ragu and tortellini in capon broth. Beyond the a la carte menu, the restaurant also offers tasting menus, with themes ranging from traditional Bolognese fair to vegetarian dining.

Ristorante San Pietro is an unassuming restaurant tucked down a picturesque alleyway in the city centre. Grab one of the few tables inside or request a spot on the sidewalk before diving into a menu packed with traditional Bolognese delights – ragu, tortellini, lasagna and traditional pizza.

Make sure to save room for dessert, as the cheesecake and tiramisu are both crowd favourites. Vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free diners will be pleased to find many options on the menu.

Trattoria Da Me is a small, traditional restaurant with a long history in Bologna. The original restaurant got its start in the 1930s, serving only a few fresh pasta dishes. 

Today, the menu has expanded to unique and inventive, chef-inspired dishes that are sure to please those looking for a change of pace from traditional offerings found at most Bologna restaurants. Make sure to leave room for dessert during your meal – the cheese ice cream is a quick favourite with reviewing travellers.

Trattoria del Biassanot aims to give you a taste of some of what it calls the “missable” traditional Bolognese dishes. These are things that you might look over if you're only focusing on the tortellini or tagliatelle.

While they still have those classics, they also offer up charcuterie plates featuring the best Italian homemade mortadella, the Bolognese choplet (veal cutlet topped with cheese and ham) and a dessert called The English Soup (layered dessert with cake and custard, similar to a trifle).