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Restaurants in Bologna

Food-lovers will delight in the city's cuisine by trying specialities such as mortadella, tortellini, ragu and Bolognese sauce, all part of Bologna's culinary heritage. From heaving buffets of aperitivo to six-course menus, there’s something for every budget.

The Bologna restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over €50)
Moderate (€25 to €50)
Cheap (up to €25)

These prices are for a three-course meal for one, including half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, tax and service. If service isn’t included, it’s customary to round the bill up to the nearest 10. Be wary that you may be charged a ‘cover charge’ for bread.

Expensive

Drogheria della Rosa

Cuisine: Italian

In a former pharmacy, this traditional-looking trattoria serves up masterly meals of sophisticated cuisine. Its intensely skilful, welcoming chef, Emanuele Addone, gives it personality. Anyone who's anyone, from Noam Chomsky to Arnold Schwarzenegger, has eaten here. The food is unfussy and full of local flavour, such as potato ravioli with thyme.

Address: , Via Cartoleria 10, Bologna, 40124
Telephone: +39 51 222 529.
Website: http://www.drogheriadellarosa.it

I Portici

Cuisine: Fine dining

Bologna's first Michelin-starred restaurant, I Portici has been pulling in serious foodies since it opened in 2008.
 Set inside the 19th-century Eden theatre, expect theatrical presentation and top-notch ingredients from chef Agostino Lacobucci. There are three tasting menus to choose from: meat, seafood and the chef's secret selection. Dinner only.

Address: 
XXX
, Via Indipendenza, 69, Bologna
, 40121
Telephone: +39 51 421 8562.
Website: http://www.iporticihotel.com/en/i-portici-restaurant

Rodrigo

Cuisine: Italian

A wood-panelled, bottle-lined restaurant, Rodrigo exudes traditional elegance. It's a relaxed place for a leisurely meal, with sublime food and is renowned for its truffles. Meat lovers should try costata di manzo Robespierre, thinly sliced steak rubbed with rosemary and grilled on one side. Desserts are homemade.

Address: , Via della Zecca 2H, Bologna, 40121
Telephone: +39 51 235 536.
Website: http://www.ristoranterodrigobologna.it

Moderate

Il Posto

Cuisine: Italian

Adding a touch of modernity to an otherwise traditional dining scene, Il Posto offers all the trimmings of a high-end eatery but with a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Locally sourced ingredients and daring chefs ensure dishes like red tuna steak with apple crisps and slow cooked suckling pig are served with aplomb. The wine list is excellent too.

Address: , Via Massarenti 37, Bologna, 40138
Telephone: +39 51 307 852.
Website: http://www.ilposto.bo.it

Osteria Marsalino

Cuisine: Italian

This modern osteria is renowned for its creative dishes but it also excels at classic pasta dishes accompanied by excellent wines. It's slightly on the dinky side, so try and nab a table outdoors. Jazz and funk tunes add to its laid back vibe, enticing diners to linger all evening long.

Address: , Via Marsala, 13, Bologna, 40126
Telephone: +39 51 238 675.
Website: http://www.marsalino.it

Trattoria Anna Maria

Cuisine: Italian

This reasonably priced trattoria has loads of personality and serves up delicious Bolognese dishes. 
Overseen by the fierce Anna Maria, a real Italian mamma, the tortellini here is tremendous and its panna cotta are pretty good too. The walls are covered with photos of famous previous diners.

Address: , Via Belle Arti, 17a, Bologna, 40126
Telephone: +39 51 231 302.
Website: http://www.trattoriannamaria.com

Cheap

Mercato di Mezzo

Cuisine: Various

This popular slow food mecca has different stalls selling delicious dishes and big wooden tables and stools in the centre. Almost like a permanent street food market, it's great for sampling local titbits, such as tortellini, fried fish or octopus salad. Pizzeria Eataly on the first floor is particularly good.

Address: , Via Clavature 12, Bologna, 40125
Telephone: +39 51 236 358.

Osteria dell'Orsa

Cuisine: Italian

A popular cheap eatery in the university area, Osteria dell'Orsa has long wooden tables that encourage socialising and a long history of satisfying bohemian clientele with hearty local cuisine and a fine array of accompaniments. There is a second branch at Via Andrea Costa 35, near the stadium.

Address: , Via Mentana 1F, Bologna, 40126
Telephone: +39 51 231 576.
Website: http://www.osteriadellorsa.com

Tamburini

Cuisine: Italian

Tamburini is the best place in town place to buy homemade pasta, local hams and cheeses. Head to the back of the shop for a chance to sample their mouth-melting lasagne or ask the butcher for a plate of ham and cheese, and swish it down with a glass of red wine.

Address: , Via Caprarie 1, Bologna, 40124
Telephone: +39 51 236 358.
Website: http://www.tamburini.com
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

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Hotel Porta San Mamolo

Excellent value, this comfortable, quiet and central hotel is close to Piazza Maggiore. Rooms are light and prettily decorated with period fabrics, elegant furnishings, floral oil paintings and candy-stripe wallpaper. The bright breakfast room is set between two courtyards. There is free Wi-Fi, satellite TV and complimentary bike hire.

Hotel Paradise

Within walking distance of the tourist centre, the 3-star Hotel Paradise offers 18 rooms, including mini apartments with small kitchens. Most of the rooms have elegant modern decor and offer fantastic views of the city's red rooftops. Its free internet and Wi-Fi access is a bonus.


Hotel Albergo Atlantic

A cosy and charming budget hotel within walking distance of the city centre, Hotel Albergo Atlantic is also close to the train station. The rooms have been renovated recently and are light and bright. Expect friendly, welcoming staff, spotlessly clean rooms and a continental buffet breakfast. Complimentary Wi-Fi is included too.

Il Convento dei Fiori di Seta

In a 14th-century convent, this chic boutique combines the building's original features and traditional style (exposed brickwork, beams, oriental rugs and religious frescoes) with elements of contemporary design, such as Perspex and chrome chairs and blown-up modernist floral photographs. A spa area offers a Jacuzzi and Turkish bath.

Grand Hotel Majestic Già Baglioni

This 109-room hotel, on one of Bologna's main shopping streets, is the city's most luxurious. It was designed during the 18th century and built on orders of a pope. Murano glass chandeliers sprinkle the ceilings, while expansive corridors lead guests to beautifully decorated rooms containing antique furniture and modern amenities.

Hotel Corona D'Oro

Situated by the Two Towers in the heart of the historic centre, this luxury hotel is housed in an historic 14th-century palace and is within walking distance of all the major sights. Rooms are grand and elegantly furnished with spacious bathrooms. Particularly popular is the aperitivo buffet at happy hour and its plentiful breakfast.