Guidebook for Bologna
Food Scene
Probably best pastries in the neighborhood. And having coffee under the portico is quite lovely
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Caffè Rubik
31d Via MarsalaProbably best pastries in the neighborhood. And having coffee under the portico is quite lovely
Gelateria Galliera 49
49b Via GallieraBest ice cream in town
Best pasta in town. Though not really a restaurant, they will serve you cooked food (in a take-away box, to be eaten at the bar across the street.)
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Pasta Fresca Naldi
69/c Via del PratelloBest pasta in town. Though not really a restaurant, they will serve you cooked food (in a take-away box, to be eaten at the bar across the street.)
Fantastic local food. Might have to book in advance if it's a weekend / holiday.
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La Montanara
15a Via Augusto RighiFantastic local food. Might have to book in advance if it's a weekend / holiday.
Fantastic local food. Might have to book in advance if it's a weekend / holiday.
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Trattoria Tony a Bologna
1b Via Augusto RighiFantastic local food. Might have to book in advance if it's a weekend / holiday.
An old time "trattoria popolare", a working-class restaurant. Low prices, excellent food, friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
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Trattoria Da Vito Bologna
9 Via Mario MusolesiAn old time "trattoria popolare", a working-class restaurant. Low prices, excellent food, friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Definitely the prettiest ice cream shop I know. Also one of the best ice cream shops in town: great on the way to the park
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Cremeria Santo Stefano
70c Via Santo StefanoDefinitely the prettiest ice cream shop I know. Also one of the best ice cream shops in town: great on the way to the park
Best pizza in town, hands down. Not really a restaurant though, more of street-food shop, and the prices are surprisingly low (even more so considering the quality.) The young couple that opened the place are also super friendly.
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CERTO! - Via Marsala
35a Via MarsalaBest pizza in town, hands down. Not really a restaurant though, more of street-food shop, and the prices are surprisingly low (even more so considering the quality.) The young couple that opened the place are also super friendly.
You'd expect traditional food to have its traditional restaurants, but then you find new places that become instant-classics
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Vag In Ufezzi Bologna
9c Via de' ColtelliYou'd expect traditional food to have its traditional restaurants, but then you find new places that become instant-classics
More bistro than cafè, one of the better places in town for vegan/vegetarian food. Nice cocktails too. Furniture is an eclectic mix, giving the place a homey feel.
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Fram Cafè Bioveg Bologna
22 Via RialtoMore bistro than cafè, one of the better places in town for vegan/vegetarian food. Nice cocktails too. Furniture is an eclectic mix, giving the place a homey feel.
This cafè specializes in Sicilian sweets: and they make them right. The brioche with ricotta is probably my favorite, but I'll have to try another just to be sure.
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Nonna Vincenza
This cafè specializes in Sicilian sweets: and they make them right. The brioche with ricotta is probably my favorite, but I'll have to try another just to be sure.
Sightseeing
Piazza Giuseppe Verdi
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna
33 Via ZamboniThe old university building: most of it is free, seeing the anatomy dissection hall is €3
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Archiginnasio di Bologna
1 Piazza GalvaniThe old university building: most of it is free, seeing the anatomy dissection hall is €3
It's a subjective thing, but I believe this is the prettiest piazza in Bologna
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Two Towers
Piazza di Porta RavegnanaIt's a subjective thing, but I believe this is the prettiest piazza in Bologna
Drinks & Nightlife
Medulla Vini
18a Via Guglielmo OberdanOrganic, biodynamic wines at affordable prices
Rude
10a Via RialtoLovely homey bar with very reasonable prices
A tiny bar that could probably fit only 20 people but every evening around aperitivo time (7-10pm) is packed with at least 100. And yet somehow they also manage to fit in there live music concerts.
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Bar Maurizio
22a Via GuerrazziA tiny bar that could probably fit only 20 people but every evening around aperitivo time (7-10pm) is packed with at least 100. And yet somehow they also manage to fit in there live music concerts.
During the day it's a low-key cafè, from aperitivo time to midnight it becomes a cheap, friendly dive-bar with a pool table and two foosball tables. Don't be shy about inviting strangers to play with you!
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Miki & Max
24c Via OrfeoDuring the day it's a low-key cafè, from aperitivo time to midnight it becomes a cheap, friendly dive-bar with a pool table and two foosball tables. Don't be shy about inviting strangers to play with you!
Essentials
CONAD CITY
37 Via Guglielmo OberdanI usually do my general groceries here
The biggest vegetable market in the city center. The best vegetables all find their way here. During lunch time and in the evening there are also a few nice eateries too.
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Mercato delle Erbe
25 Via Ugo BassiThe biggest vegetable market in the city center. The best vegetables all find their way here. During lunch time and in the evening there are also a few nice eateries too.
Arts & Culture
A rather quirky, off-beat museum: 18th and 19th century wax figures that helped medical students learn, before, well, we got the internet.
Taruffi Museum of Patologic Anatomy
A rather quirky, off-beat museum: 18th and 19th century wax figures that helped medical students learn, before, well, we got the internet.
Bologna was one of the biggest centers of Arte Povera, which was in vogue throughout the 1970s. The permanent collection is mostly that -- there's also a video of a famous perfomance of Marina Abramovic here -- with some nods to younger, contemporary artists. The rotating exhibition is usually good, but who knows.
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MAMbo - Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna
14 Via Don Giovanni MinzoniBologna was one of the biggest centers of Arte Povera, which was in vogue throughout the 1970s. The permanent collection is mostly that -- there's also a video of a famous perfomance of Marina Abramovic here -- with some nods to younger, contemporary artists. The rotating exhibition is usually good, but who knows.
Shopping
A lovely independent, alternative bookstore. You don't have to know a word of Italian to enjoy going there and flip through the books - though they do have some in English.
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Modo Infoshop
24b Via MascarellaA lovely independent, alternative bookstore. You don't have to know a word of Italian to enjoy going there and flip through the books - though they do have some in English.
Parks & Nature
Going out of the city might not be the first thing I'd recommend on a short stay, but for those staying longer -- weather permitting -- villa Ghigi is a lovely park for a walk and a picnic
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Parco di Villa Ghigi
105 Via San MamoloGoing out of the city might not be the first thing I'd recommend on a short stay, but for those staying longer -- weather permitting -- villa Ghigi is a lovely park for a walk and a picnic