If you’re going to Italy on a food odyssey you have to stop in Bologna. Not only is it often referred to as Italy’s culinary centre, it is the home of ragu (Bolognese sauce), tortellini, tagliatelle, and mortadella. Just up the highway are Modena, where they make balsamic vinegar, and Parma, where Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano come from. Best of all, Bologna is said to be nearly as beautiful as Venice but without the crowds.
For our stay in Bologna we’ve booked the only organized tour on our trip. Going through Italian Days, we will visit the Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma factory, the Acetaia where they make Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena, and a winery built in a XVIth Century monastery where we will have handmade pasta for lunch. We’ve been emailing back and forth with the tour guide Alessandro who seems very friendly. Alessandro also helped out with my restaurant list for Bologna.
Restaurant list and Google Map after the jump —>
Name | Recommended By | Price | Trip Advisor Ranking | URL |
Drogheria della Rosa | NYT, Fodors | $/$$ | 71 | www.drogheriadellarosa.it |
Ex Forno | NYT | $$ | 107 | |
La Sorbetteria Castiglione | NYT, Trip Advisor Top 5 | $/$5-10 | 1 | www.lasorbetteria.it |
Marco Fadiga Bistrot | NYT, Frommers | $$/$ | 30 | www.marcofadigabistrot.it |
Ristorante al Pappagallo | Frommers | $$$ | 49 | |
San Domenico | Frommers | $$$$ | 115 | |
Al Sangiovese | Trip Advisor Top 5 | 2 | ||
Trattoria Dal Biassanot | Trip Advisor Top 5 | $20-60 | 3 | |
Trattoria da Pietro | Trip Advisor Top 5 | 4 | ||
Ristorante Garganelli | Trip Advisor Top 5 | $26-66 | 5 | |
Da Alice | Alessandro | 8 | ||
Da Cesari | Alessandro | 48 | ||
Osteria de Poeti | Alessandro | 160 |
As with Venice, there isn’t a lot of overlap and the Trip Advisor ratings don’t necessarily line up with the expert opinions. I’ll take Alessandro’s recommendations strongly and be sure to check out the sorbetteria! Detailed reviews to follow after the trip!
View Bologna Restaurants in a larger map
My adventures in Bologna were so different from yours, now I am wondering if I am missing out on a lot! I didn’t really plan much when I went to Italy for some unknown reason, I was thinking more along the line of serendipity adventures sigh ! Looking forward to your reviews of the places you’ve discovered – I’ll have to start on mine own ones soon 1 day, if I remember the names of them! 🙂