Bologna’s 5 Best Traditional Restaurants
A local’s guide on where to eat authentic Bolognese food
Bologna has no shortage of quaint, family-owned Osterias and Trattorias to satisfy your hunger. However, if you want to experience the best local and traditional dishes like Tagliatelle al Ragù, Tortellini in Brodo, Lasagne Verde, and Cotoletta alla Bolognese, please follow our restaurant guide to experience the best tried and true places to eat during your stay.
As locals, we’ve researched and visited Bologna’s traditional restaurants many times to carefully evaluate them and narrow the list to the 5 best. Our recommended restaurants offer great value, ambiance, and, above all, authentic cuisine from Italian families who’ve been cooking their traditional recipes for decades and sometimes centuries.
Top Things To Do In Bologna
In addition to dining at one of the restaurants below, save some time for a food tour in or around Bologna.
- Tour the area’s famous food factories and have a traditional lunch with wine in the countryside.
- If you’re interested in discovering new Italian wines, visit our Bologna wine bar guide.
- Some favorites to consider include a food walking tour or a pasta and tiramisu cooking class, to get to know the red city its storied past.
- For those looking to do a quick cultural tour, check out the top-rated 2-hour city tours.
Where To Stay In Bologna
Bologna is a very walkable city, and to indulge in all the food and drinks it has to offer, you must stay in the historic center. Our top recommendations are Al Cappello Rosso and Hotel Corona D’Oro.
The Best Traditional Restaurants In Bologna
Ristorante Grassilli
Despite being right in the center of Bologna, Grassilli manages to evade the throngs of tourists and remain a local spot with coworkers, couples, and friends enjoying a satisfying lunch or dinner. Located on a quaint side street just under the two towers, or Due Torre, Grassilli is a small historic restaurant with a big heart and menu.
Half of Grassilli’s dishes are delicious Bolognese pasta and second courses; the other is an ever-changing list of requisite Italian specialties from other regions. Grassilli’s stuffed pasta, including their tortellini, tortelloni, and lasagne, is incredible, as are their risotto and gnocchi from northern Italy. If their food wasn’t enough to lure you in, they also have a fantastic wine list featuring natural, local, boutique wines from Emilia Romagna.
Via dal Luzzo, 3, 40125 Bologna
Monday-Saturday 12:30pm-2:30pm & 7:30–10:30pm
Drogheria della Rosa
Della Rosa, as locals call it, is famous for its food and enthusiastic owner, Emanuele, who personally greets his guests nearly every day of the year. For decades, the iconic Trattoria has served excellent house-made pasta and meat dishes using only the best local ingredients. Their lasagne is outstanding, and don’t miss their juicy meat selections to follow.
Typical of years past, they don’t have a written menu, so be sure to listen to the server and don’t hesitate to ask them to repeat or switch languages. Come with a curious mind and an empty stomach. Take a seat on their lovely outdoor patio, or sit inside and embrace the experience of a long Italian dinner!
Via Cartoleria, 10, 40124 Bologna
Monday 8pm-10pm. Tuesday-Saturday 12:30pm -2pm & 8–10pm
Antica Osteria Le Mura
Le Mura is a quintessential Bolognese restaurant with perfectly executed dishes and a charming, historic atmosphere complete with beautiful artwork and inviting decor.
Great service and hospitality are only surpassed by their fantastic dishes. They honor traditional cuisine with their selection of pasta and meats, and also feature innovative modern dishes using fresh seasonal ingredients. Their wine list is also an excellent mix of old and new styles of wines, including natural, organic wines from Emilia Romagna and elsewhere in Italy.
The Osteria is located at the southern edge of town, near the historic city walls (le mura, in Italian), and provides a quiet and romantic escape from the bustle of the city center.
Vicolo del Falcone, 13A, 40124 Bologna
Monday- Friday 7pm-10:30pm. Saturday & Sunday 12pm-2:30pm & 7pm-10:30pm
Trattoria Casa Mia
Just outside Bologna’s western city walls at Porta Saragozza sits the unassuming and tiny Trattoria Casa Mia. Open for lunch and dinner, Casa Mia delivers tremendously tasty dishes, large portion sizes, and great hospitality.
Everything is wonderful, but favorites include their Gramigna (curly pasta) with sausage, Lasagne, and the Tagliatelle al Ragù. They also have daily risotto specials and seasonal dishes. For lunch, they even offer a 15 euro fixed meal that will keep you full until the next day. Go hungry, leave very happy.
If you’re short on time and need food-to-go or delivered, Casa Mia recently opened a new takeout shop called Manicaretti just a few doors down at 97/b Via Saragozza. They’re open for lunch and dinner and offer pizza slices and a long list of pasta, sides, and second dishes. Stop by or call +39 051 4854862 to order.
Via Saragozza, 91/b, 40135 Bologna
Tuesday-Sunday 12pm-2:30pm & 7:30pm-10:30pm
Trattoria Da Me
After receiving international television fame a few years ago, Da Me is one of Bologna’s most visited restaurants. The recognition and praise they’ve received are, however, highly deserved. It started in 1937 and is now run by the family’s granddaughter Chef Elisa. Their food is extremely flavorful, unique, and full of passion.
Their tagliatelle al ragù is cooked perfectly, and their agnolotti and stuffed kinds of pasta are heavenly. Be sure to peruse their antipasto menu of interesting appetizers like whipped “gelato” cheeses. The desserts are delicious, and the wine list features local producers and natural wines from Emilia Romagna.
If you want to entertain at home, you can also pick-up their handmade fresh pasta at their pasta laboratory a few doors down at Via San Felice 52/a.
Via S. Felice, 50, 40100 Bologna
Tuesday- Friday 7pm-10:30pm. Saturday-Sunday 12–3pm & 7pm-10:30pm
More Top Restaurants in Bologna, Italy
Passatello di Bologna
Conveniently located a short distance from Bologna’s central train station, this restaurant offers traditional cuisine from Emilia Romagna. It specializes in Passatelli, a dish made of egg, parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs pressed into pieces using a potato ricer. They also feature delicious crescentine bread with local meats and cheeses, typical pastas, and Bologna’s famous cottoletta. Don’t miss out on one of Bologna’s best restaurants, visit Il Passatello!
Osteria 15
Osteria 15 is yet another historic place to dine on traditional Bologna dishes, all without inflated prices. Try their meatballs, tagliatelle al ragu, or gnocchi. You won’t be disappointed.
Ristorante Donatello
Since 1903, Donatello has been serving incredible dishes from all over Italy. In addition to local specialties, you can also try dishes like risotto and beef tartare. With a charming historic interior, Donatello accommodates large groups, making it perfect for celebrations.
Article originally published at https://www.graperevival.com/bolognas-5-best-restaurants-for-traditional-food/