Wondering what foods you should eat in Bologna? After spending two months eating our way through the city, we’re here to share the must-try dishes you won’t want to miss.
Bologna is one of the world’s greatest food cities. Home to classics like tagliatelle al ragù, tortellini, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and some of the best cured meats in the country. It’s no surprise this city is crowned Italy’s culinary capital.
In this Bologna food guide, we’ll walk you through the city’s most traditional dishes and introduce you to local favorites you’ve probably never heard of. Whether you’re planning a self-guided food tour or just figuring out what to order next, this guide is your ticket to the most authentic and mouth-watering foods in Bologna.
Let’s go taste Bologna.
Looking for the best places to eat in Bologna? Check out our Bologna Restaurant Guide.
Best Dishes from Bologna
It goes without saying, Bologna is all about hearty pasta and meat dishes. If you have time, we highly recommend taking a local cooking class to learn how to make a few of these dishes yourself.
1. Tortellini in Brodo
Tortellini is one of Bologna’s signature pastas. This small ring-shaped pasta is folded by hand and traditionally filled with pork loin, prosciutto, mortadella, Parmesan, and nutmeg.
Legend says its shape was inspired by the goddess Venus’ navel, and it’s so beloved that Bologna even hosts an annual tortellini festival, where the top 20 chefs in the city compete for the best version.
In Bologna, the classic way to enjoy it is in a savory beef broth with a generous sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano. We love the tortellini from Oltre, you can get it either with broth or in a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce – get the latter.
2. Lasagna Verde
Lasagna might not be unique to Bologna, but the city’s version, lasagna verde, is something special and hard to find outside the region. It’s made with fresh spinach-infused egg pasta, layered with ragù alla bolognese and creamy béchamel. The spinach gives the dish its green color
The lasagna from Le Golosita Di Nonna Aurora is one of our favorites.
3. Passatelli in Brodo
Pasatelli is one of Bologna’s lesser-known pasta dishes, but it absolutely deserves a place in your food almanac.
Pasatelli is made from bread crumbs, Parmigiano Reggiano, eggs, and lemon zest. Their shape looks a little bit like worms, but their flavor is so good.
Traditionally, Pasatelli is served in a beef broth, with a sprinkling of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese on top.
4. Tagliatelle al Ragu
You’re probably used to calling it spaghetti bolognese, but in Bologna, they call it tagliatelle al ragù. No matter what you call it, this hearty meat sauce served with tagliatelle pasta is an all around favorite.
The ragu is prepared by mincing onion, carrots, and celery and slow-cooking them together with pork, beef, and broth for hours until the meat is tender and the flavor from the fat is incorporated in the entire bolognese sauce.
You’ll find this dish at almost any restaurant in Bologna, but our go-tos are Oltre and All’Osteria Bottega.
5. Gramigna alla Salsiccia
We hosted a month-long food tour in Bologna, and gramigna alla salsiccia quickly became a group favorite.
Gramigna is a short, curly, tubed egg pasta – like an elongated, twisted macaroni. The star of the dish is the sausage ragu, which is a sauce made from local pork sausage, onions, tomatoes, and wine.
The recipe is quite similar to tagliatelle al ragu, but the additions of pork sausage and wine make a significant difference in the flavor. While gramigna might not get the same attention as some of Emilia-Romagna’s other pastas, you don’t want to miss out on trying it in Bologna.
6. Tortelloni
Tortelloni is tortellini’s bigger brother. While they share the same shape, their fillings and flavors are totally different.
If you’ve had your fill of tortellini in brodo, tortelloni is a great alternative. This larger, naval-shaped egg pasta is typically stuffed with fillings like ricotta and spinach or seasonal pumpkin (zucca), which is usually available in the fall.
Our favorite? The pumpkin version topped with butter, sage, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
7. Truffle Pasta
Okay, so truffles aren’t exclusive to Bologna, but we’ve had a few incredible truffle pastas here in the fall, and they’re definitely worth ordering.
The dish is usually quite simple, tagliatelle with a light sauce that lets the truffle shine, and surprisingly affordable at around €12-18.
If you’re looking for a great vegetarian dish in Bologna, truffle pasta is it. Tip: porcini mushroom pasta is another fall favorite you have to try.
8. Balanzoni
Simply put, balanzoni are large green tortelloni filled with a ricotta-based mixture. They’re most commonly served with a butter and sage sauce, though you might also come across variations with creamier sauces.
9. Cotoletta alla Bolognese
Bolognese veal cutlet is just as rich and indulgent as it sounds. The cutlet is fried in butter, simmered in meat broth for flavor, and topped with Prosciutto and Parmesan Cheese.
I recommend sharing – it’s always a huge portion and I can never finish one on my own. You can find Cotoletta alla Bolognese on the menu at many restaurants around town, we loved it at both All’Osteria Bottega and Trattoria Collegio di Spagna.
10. Stuffed Zucchini
Stuffed zucchini, or zucchine ripiene, is one of my favorite secondi piatti to order in Bologna.
Made with a local variety of zucchini, they’re hollowed out and filled with a classic ragù-style meat mixture, topped with tomato sauce, and baked until perfectly tender. They’re often served with meatballs on the side.
Best Side Dishes from Bologna
Typical Italian dining features antipasti served before your main course. These are some of the most traditional bolognese appetizers you can order with your meal.
11. Crescentina
If you travel around Emilia-Romagna, you might see crescentina under different names. It’s gnocco fritto in Reggio Emilia and Modena, or torta fritta in Parma. In Bologna, it’s crescentina.
This traditional dish is made from a dough of flour, water, salt, and lard, rolled into thin disks and fried until golden and crispy.
It’s often served as an appetizer with cured meats and fresh cheese, but you can also get it for breakfast and dip it in your morning coffee – my preferred way of eating it.
These are one of my favorite foods to eat in Bologna.
12. Erbazzone
Erbazzone is a savory pie that’s typically found in Bologna during the summer and early fall, think of it as the Italian version of spanakopita.
The dough is simple: just flour, salt, water, and olive oil or lard. It’s filled with a mix of spinach, Parmesan, ricotta, and a touch of garlic.
You won’t often see it on restaurant menus, so keep an eye out for it at local bakeries instead.
13. Aceto Balsamico di Modena
Aceto Balsamico di Modena is a thick, syrupy vinegar made from Trebbiano and Lambrusco grapes, aged in wooden barrels for up to 25 years. Its rich, sweet flavor and low acidity make it perfect for drizzling over fruit, roasted veggies, grilled meats – even Fior di Latte gelato.
We recommend doing a tasting in Bologna or on a day trip to the hills where it’s made. You’ll be surprised by how much the aging process and wood types affect the flavor.
Balsamic vinegar is a must-eat in Bologna.
14. Friggione
Friggione is a traditional Bolognese side dish made from slow-cooked onions and tomatoes. It’s usually served alongside meats, cheeses, bread, or crescentina, but I’ve also had it with pasta (like in the photo above), and it was delicious.
I recommend trying friggione from Trattoria Da Me.
Best Sandwiches in Bologna
Our favorite local sandwiches in Bologna stand out for their unique bread and regional ingredients. They’re perfect for sharing as a snack or grabbing on the go for a quick lunch.
15. Tigelle
Tigelle is a traditional snack from Emilia-Romagna made with thin, round discs of soft dough, cooked on a tigella (iron griddle) and served warm. They’re typically stuffed with local fillings like cured meats, cheese, vegetables, or even sweet jams.
16. Piadina
Piadina is an Italian flatbread sandwich that is popular in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, originally from towns along the Adriatic but now found all over, including in Bologna.
The bread is made of wheat flour, olive oil, and water, and then cooked on a hot griddle until golden.
These sandwiches can be filled with just about anything – cured meats, cheeses, and veggies. One of our favorite combos is ground sausage with fontina cheese and onions – so good!
Best Meat from Bologna
Bologna is home to some of the most popular cured meats in the world, and it’s worth trying a sampling of them all as an appetizer at a restaurant or at a local delicatessen.
17. Mortadella
No Bologna food guide would be complete without mentioning mortadella. Mortadella is the meat of Bologna. You’ll find it on top of pizzas, in delis, at the market, and on any charcuterie board. There are even local sandwich shops that only serve mortadella sandwiches.
So what exactly is mortadella? Mortadella is an emulsified pork sausage made from high-quality finely ground pork from the neck and shoulder, cubes of lard, black peppercorns, and sometimes pistachio. It doesn’t sound the most appetizing when you describe it like that, but trust me, it’s amazing.
Get the Mortadella sandwich from Mò Mortadella Lab, or try it on a square pizza with fresh ricotta and pistachio.
18. Salame Rosa
Salame Rosa is a cured meat unique to Bologna, made from pork and fat mixed with spices, garlic, and pepper. It’s cooked slowly in an oven for up to 24 hours, making it a hybrid between salami and mortadella.
It looks like mortadella but has a milder, ham-like flavor. You’ll only find it in local delis, so grab a few slices to try it out for yourself.
19. Prosciutto di Parma
As the name suggests, Prosciutto di Parma isn’t from Bologna, but you wouldn’t know that by the quantity of it consumed in the foodie city.
Made in nearby Parma, this prized ham is cured with just sea salt over 12–36 months using strict methods, much like Parmigiano Reggiano. It comes from the hind legs of specific pig breeds like Large White, Landrace, and Duroc.
Try it plain, in a piadina or tigelle, or on pizza. It’s incredibly versatile and pairs perfectly with a glass of Lambrusco.
Best Cheeses of Bologna
Used in nearly every traditional bolognese food, cheese is an important staple of the region. It is the ingredient that tops a pasta, ties a sandwich together, or completes a pizza. Here some cheeses you can’t miss in Bologna.
20. Parmigiano Reggiano
Known as the king of cheese, you haven’t truly tasted Bologna until you’ve tried Parmigiano Reggiano.
Made from high-quality cow’s milk, the cheese is separated from whey (which is later used for ricotta), then salted and aged for 12 to 36 months. At 12 months, it’s still fresh and milky, great for pasta, while the 24- and 36-month versions develop salt crystals and a bold, umami-rich flavor.
We recommend sampling all three ages to find your favorite, then topping it with a drop of traditional balsamic vinegar for an unbeatable flavor combo.
21. Squacquerone
Squacquerone (pronounced skwa kweh ROW nay) is the very definition of a hidden gem. This ultra fresh cow’s milk cheese is everywhere in Bologna, yet I hadn’t even heard of it before my first visit. Now, I crave it regularly and can’t find it outside the region, much to my disappointment.
It takes just four days to make, and because it spoils quickly, it’s best eaten fresh. The flavor is mild, sweet, and milky, with a soft, creamy texture.
You’ll find squacquerone in many traditional dishes – stuffed into tigelle or piadina, paired with crescentina, or served alongside charcuterie. One of my favorite ways to eat it is with local caramelized fig sauce on bread. You can even order them together at local cheese shops. Highly recommend giving it a try.
22. Grana Padano
Just as Salame Rosa is the little brother to mortadella, Grana Padano is the little brother to Parmesan cheese. Granted DOP status in 1996, this ancient cheese was first created by Cistercian monks in the 12th century.
You’ll find it all over Emilia-Romagna. Made from cow’s milk and aged between nine months and two years, Grana Padano has a similar flavor to Parmigiano Reggiano, but it’s a bit milder since it’s not aged as long. We recommend comparing the two cheeses side by side to see which you prefer.
Best Desserts in Bologna
On your Bologna food trip, you’ll eat plenty of hearty, filling dishes. But, you’ll want to make sure to save room for dessert. Bologna is home to the world’s best gelato, not to mention a few other sweet treats.
23. Torta di riso
Torta di riso is a classic Bolognese dessert made with arborio rice, eggs, sugar, lemon peel, almonds, and milk. The result is a creamy, chewy cake – somewhere between rice pudding and crème brûlée.
It’s not the flashiest dessert behind the pastry counter, but don’t let the humble look fool you, this is one of Bologna’s best sweet treats.
While you can order it after a meal, I actually prefer it as a morning pastry with a cappuccino from a local pasticceria like Gamberini.
24. Zuppa Inglese
According to legend, Zuppa Inglese is believed to have originated in the 16th century in the city of Ferrara by a chef trying to recreate the English trifle for the Dukes of Este.
The traditional recipe has three layers: a thick layer of classic pastry cream, then chocolate cream, and finally sponge cake soaked in alchermes, a bright red Italian herb liqueur that gives the Zuppa Inglese its characteristic red color.
This is a must-try Bologna dessert you’ll find on the menu at many restaurants around the city.
25. Gelato
The best gelato in the entire world is in Bologna. You can quote me on that. As someone who is completely obsessed with this creamy Italian dessert, I have tried a lot of gelato all over Italy, and nothing compares to the gelato scene in Bologna.
Bologna is home to over 100 gelato shops and Gelato University, and the average quality of gelato in the city far exceeds gelato anywhere else in the world.
We have a list of the best gelato shops in Bologna that you can read, and we recommend trying as many of these places as you can. But be warned, gelato will never be the same again. Once you’ve tasted gelato in Bologna, you’ve reached the mountain top.
Best Wine from Bologna
To complete your Bologna food experience, we recommend pairing your meals with a local white or red wine.
26. Lambrusco
With all these incredible foods to try, you’ll need something to sip on, and in Bologna, that means Lambrusco.
Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine from Emilia-Romagna, made from grape varieties like Marani, Maestri, Montericco, and Salamino di Santa Croce. It has a bright, fruity flavor with notes of cherry, rhubarb, and sometimes violets, and can range from dry to slightly sweet.
It’s a perfect food wine. Pair it with pasta, pizza, Parmigiano Reggiano, or cured meats like prosciutto and mortadella. The light bubbles make it easy to enjoy with just about any meal.
27. Pignoletto
For those of you who prefer a glass of sparkling white wine, look no further than Pignoletto.
This refreshing wine from the hills of Emilia Romagna is made using the Grechetto Gentile grape variety. This fun white wine has the aromas of crisp green apples, freshly cut grass, and lemons. It also has light floral notes of honeysuckle and jasmine.
It’s a great choice as an aperitif and pairs well with young cheeses, vegetables, and seafood.
Bologna Food: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bologna the food capital of Italy?
To say that Italy is full of incredible food scenes is an understatement. Whether you visit Milan, Rome, Florence, or Palermo, you are bound to eat a dish that awakens something deep within your soul that will leave you wanting to come back for more.
And while each of these Italian cities, and many others, can make a valid case as the food capital of Italy, Bologna can go punch for punch with any of these heavyweights. Bologna serves as both the literal and gastronomic capital of Italy’s “food valley”, Emilia Romagna, putting it squarely on the map as Italy’s gastronomic capital.
In fact, Bologna has earned the nickname “La Grassa”, meaning “The Fat” as a tribute to the rich and delicious cuisine of the region. The nickname is also given because Bologna cooks with a lot of pork meat. Seriously. A lot.
Bologna has a well-deserved reputation as the food capital of Italy; it’s as if every meal is an intensely flavorful sensory experience. And when you visit, you’ll notice that food takes the center stage in the lives of the locals. In Bologna, food is not just a way of life, it is life.
What time do people eat dinner in Bologna, Italy?
Italians tend to eat dinner a bit later than what you might be used to at home. Restaurants in Bologna typically open anywhere between 7-8 pm but don’t reach their peak until around 9 pm. Most restaurants are open until 10:30 or 11:00 pm.
What time is lunch in Bologna, Italy?
The lunch window for restaurants in Bologna is between 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm. When you plan to eat in Bologna, you’ll want to plan your day accordingly because restaurants are only open for a brief 2 or 2.5-hour window for lunch. If you start looking to eat lunch at 3, you’ll be out of luck at most restaurants.
Do I need to make a reservation for restaurants in Bologna, Italy?
It is highly recommended to book a restaurant ahead of time if you want to secure a table at a restaurant to eat in Bologna. Many of the highly acclaimed Bologna restaurants fill up quickly, especially on the weekend. The best way to make a reservation is to call or email the restaurant ahead of time. Most places don’t have online table reservation systems yet.
Expert tip: If you don’t have a reservation at a restaurant, but really want to eat there, show up 5 minutes before opening time. If you have a party of four or fewer, you have a good chance of grabbing one of their open tables. Sometimes you will be turned away, but this is your best bet to get in if you don’t have a reservation.
What is the most popular food in Bologna, Italy?
If you had to narrow down Bologna to one dish, which is completely impossible, the most popular Bologna food is tagliatelle al ragù. It is simply a must-eat when visiting Italy’s culinary capital.
The second most famous dish would be tortellini. Whether you eat tortellini in brodo, fried, or with a nice sauce, this delicious dish is synonymous with the old medieval city.
The third most popular food is a tie between Parmigiano Reggiano and mortadella. If you try these four most famous dishes on your trip to Bologna, you’ll have completed Food in Bologna 101.
More Information for your trip to Bologna
Bologna has some of the most delicious gelato in all of Italy. Check out our guide to the best gelato shops in Bologna.
Looking to do a day trip from Bologna? There are so many incredible day trips from Bologna, including a food tour in Modena and a visit to the Ferrari factory in Maranello. Take a look at our article about the 23 best day trips from Bologna.
Wanting to try some unique foods from Emilia-Romagna? Check out our article on the most underrated foods in Emilia Romagna.
For a full a list of all of the things to do in Bologna, read our article on the best things to do in Bologna.
Wondering how to get from the Bologna airport to the train station? We have an entire guide to help you get to the city from the airport.
ITALY TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE
Italy Travel Insurance – Should you get travel insurance for Italy? YES! We always get travel insurance before all of our trips for peace of mind. Check out Travel Insurance Master to find the best plan for you.
Italy Rental Cars – Is it safe to rent a car in Italy? Yes! We’ve rented a car in Italy too many times to count, and it’s definitely the most convenient way to get around the countryside. We rented our car through Discover Cars (our go-to rental agency), which helps you find the best rates no matter where you are traveling.
Italy Phone Plans – If your phone plan does not offer free coverage in Italy, then we suggest getting an eSIM. We used Airalo during our trip to Italy, and we had fantastic coverage the entire time. It’s easy to download and you can even top up via the app if needed.
Italy Hotels – Wondering where to book your accommodations for Italy? We’ve been reserving all of our hotels through Booking for years. Their messaging tool makes it easy to communicate with the hotels, and there are endless options to choose from.
Hi,
I came across your website when researching Emilia Romagna and its been a resource we’ve been referring to time and time again! The food photos all look so delectable and was hoping if you could give a list of the restaurants you went to and rate for the above food? We are massive foodies and would love the insight.
Hi Claudia,
Of course! I just published a list of our favorite restaurants in Bologna. For other places in Emilia Romagna, I recommend checking out the restaurant section in these articles: Modena, Parma, Ravenna, Brisighella, Dozza.
Hopefully this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
-Jenoa