Bologna is known for Bolognese sauce, its Nutella factory, and its many different cuisines to explore. Bologna is a truly cosmopolitan Italian city, and was even named a European capital of culture. Because of this, there are many Bologna bars and cafes to choose from when visiting this city. Much of the cuisine focuses on cheese and meats, as Bologna is part of the Emilia-Romagna region that is known for cured meats.

Eat in the City Center

Farmigia is a venue that contains a bar and a small restaurant. The quality of the food is excellent, and you can find first and second courses as well as salads. The bar is very popular and serves many cocktails. Farmigia is frequently crowded, as it is a prime location near the center of the city.

Alla Corte di Bacco is near Piazza Santo Stefano. This is a wine bar that has many international and Italian wines. You can get a wine by the bottle or the glass. This is a great place to stop for an aperitif. The bar also serves first and second courses and sandwiches. It is very small, so your best bet is to call for a reservation.

Wine, Jazz and a Great View

If you are going to the cinema or just want a quick bite and a glass of wine, then stop by Il Circolo Pickwick, which is found on Via San Felice. The wine is available by the glass, and the atmosphere is excellent, with background music and wooden furniture. You can easily spend the evening chatting with friends or grabbing a drink before or after seeing a movie.

Del Montesino is a jazz club and Sardinian restaurant. You can get great traditional dishes such as Sardinian gnocchetti, pane e case, matured ricotta, dried tomatoes, and Cannonau. This is a very welcoming restaurant. The walls are covered with posters and photos, and it is very relaxing.

Bar de’Marchi is found across from the Basilica di San Francesco. This cafe has one of the best views in Bologna, and you can find university students stopping for a drink and old men playing cards here. The bar maintains the style of traditional old Italy, and is very similar to the bars that you would find in small Italian villages.

Have Some Gelato

La Sorbetteria di Castiglion is a great gelato parlor where you can try many different flavors of traditional gelato. There are tables available outside, and you can enjoy delicacies like gelato cakes. Another great place for gelato is the Gelateria Margherita, where you can grab a gelato and relax for a few minutes during your busy day.

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Pre-dinner drinks Just like for lunch, it is not unusual for an Italian to go out and to have something to drink before dinner. Not quite surprising since dinner frequently only starts after 8pm. This predinner drink is again called an aperitivo and the usual rules as before do apply.

Dinner For dinner there are many good options in Bologna although there is quite some activity in the whole restaurant scene; one restaurant that exists today may not exist tomorrow. Below I'll give a list that is accurate as of August 2000.

After dinner Bologna is a university town which guarantees a very lively nightlife. Night life traditionally took place in osterie , but today besides those you can always find a lot of people around bars and gelaterias that stay open till late.