So.... you and your partner are running around Bologna, getting romantic under porticos, shopping…read morefor leather, shopping for things, shopping, shopping, shopping. Then you almost walk into FP Pallotti Franco Never mind that you just had a satisfying lunch a few hours ago but, you're in Bologna where everything screams deliciousness. We ogled from outside, we saw specialty coffees being served, more importantly we saw an oasis of sweets. Had to come in here. And when I did oooooh, ooooh. I honed in on the desserts. We tried the panna cotta, chocolate/pistachio bonbon and a tortina. Loved the bites we had so much we vowed to come back. I think you will too. Visits: 1 Tip: Close to the University of Bologna, they close early like 7pm.

A little bit off the beaten track, but there is no place like it in Bologna for an early morning…read moreCappucino and Brioche. Offering a wide variety of pastries snacks and coffee specialities this small café on the Via de Borgo has it all. The staff are really nice and it's worth tracking down here for a good start to the day.

When we were in Italy last year we stopped in for lunch and were overwhelmed by the options at this…read moreall-vegan cafe! There's a small dining area upstairs, and they have an extra space in the basement, which is where we ate. The basement smells a little musty (like a basement) but once you're digging into your food you don't even notice. They had a lunch buffet and you paid by weight. Lots of options the day we visited: grilled veggies, rice, two kind of lentils, pasta w/eggplant & sauce, salad, focaccia, etc. There were a few things I didn't care for, but I ate almost everything on my plate because I was so hungry. Some of us even took some dessert to go. I got a slice of carrot almond cake (very dry) and a truffle (ok). I know others really loved their desserts but I thought they were a little lackluster.

It's "Colazione da Bianca", which means "Breakfast at Bianca's", but they won't get offended if you…read moreswing by for an afternoon tea or coffee. This place has the Central Perk kind of vibe, for the Friends aficionados out there, a cafe where you feel like spending a good hour chatting with friends while also indulging a bit. The pastry and tart selection is definitely rich, the tea selection a bit on the low end, but acceptable. We had cappuccino and a selection of mignons, but I feel that the food is actually a secondary item, the atmosphere takes the cake, no pun intended. The place can get crowded, but there's a fast enough turnover so that the wait is never longer than 10 minutes. All credit cards are accepted, as long as you spend over €10. Add a couple of cookies and you're there already, because the pricing is also very NY-esque. The difference is that you have no skyscrapers around, but you're smack in the center of Bologna, walking distance to the major attractions. If you need to get that extra dose of caffeine after that dish of tagliatelle, or just rest after a day of strolling around, Bianca is a welcome oasis of sweet coziness.

This place has the most amazing dessert I have ever tried here in bologna. My friend says she's…read morebeen conquered every time she comes here. The caffè deca is not worth it though, next time I'll just try one of them herbal teas...

The final thing on our Italian To-Do List was find a truly delicious cannoli. We'd tasted some…read morenot-great ones, but finally found what we were looking for just off the Università di Bologna campus, at a cute bakery that makes Sicilian pastries. It was heavenly - as was the Meringa (meringue). Amazing cannoli, charming atmosphere, and friendly people. It was a terrific addition to our quick visit to Bologna.

Fabulous and cosy place to enjoy a cup of tea or cappuccino. They even have something on the menu…read morefor gluten-free.

Food 5 Value 4.5…read moreService 5 Décor 4.5 The tagliatelle with ragu was the best I've had in Italy thus far and I've tried many over the past 4 months of living here. Pasta is cooked to perfection and the ragu is meaty and tasty. The bolognese cutlet was also fantastic. We ordered 1 to share amongst 4 of us and they were nice enough to portion it out for us individually. It was still extremely sizable- you can imagine what 1 full serving looked like! Will definitely be back again.

Having lived in Bologna, I would say m that there are a bunch of other aperitif places that serve…read morehigh quality snacks and drinks so this wouldn't be my go to recommendations. However, I'd recommend this place for travelers as it does have a good variety and is definitely aesthetically pleasing!!

I couldn't walk past Gamberini without taking a look inside. The cakes and fruit tarts displayed in…read morethe window were gorgeous! Berries, nuts, seeds, cream beckon you to try them...having just eaten I managed to stave off the temptation by getting only a couple cookies. Only to realize I'm not really a fan of the texture of the traditional cookies, they taste kinda like shortbread (which aren't my fave) bit too sandy for my preference. The jelly was good, the taste of the pistachio in the pistachio cookie was kinda light compared to my expectation. If I'm in Bologna again I'd certainly stop by and try some other items. The staff was courteous and the other pastries, desserts and chocolates looked delicious. Seating consisted of several smaller tables on the right side of the shop, it was pretty full on a weekday afternoon, which tells me it's a popular spot.

This sorbetteria has been here since 1994. I could taste the experience in the single flavors or…read morethe composed combination flavors. The Ciocolato fondante is a dark bitter chocolate that should be a jump start to everyone's day. The chocolate is strong and incredibly smooth. The pistachio is true to the nut. It has a natural color so don't expect a bright green. The Dolce Emma made of Ricotta cream and fig caramelized in honey and lemon was my ABSOLUTE favorite. All the patrons that come in are mesmerized by the list of flavors. There is a lot to read. They offer gluten free, lactose free, sugar free and vegan options (!). Definitely a gelateria that you need to visit while in Bologna. The service was great! The staff member was really nice to allow me a taste of several flavors before I made my choice. Gelato taste: 4.5 stars Service: 5 stars...my server spoke some English Ambiance: 5 stars (a beautiful shop and outdoor seating too)

Nom nom nom. What a great spot. Huge portions and great prices. Tried strawberry, pistachio and…read morechocolate hazelnut. Each one was the best gelato flavor of its kind I've had. Impeccable. Wish I lived in this city. Will be back before I leave

We read that is one of best gelatos in Bologna so we had to try it. It was worth the detour!…read more The shop is bright with a minimalist decor. It was very clean. There is a list of gelato flavors on the wall. It was hard to choose but chocolate is my go to. The chocolate was rich and super chocolatey! The pistachio was also very good. We were waited in fairly quickly with only one other customer in front of us. It pays to get gelato on the winter-no lines. The store had high top tables to stand at or seating upstairs.

Long line but goes by quick and worth the wait. Big fan of the granitas here, super refreshing on a…read morehot day. Pompelmo rosa and almond were my favorites. Pompelmo rosa gelato super refreshing too, you can taste the pulp and seeds of the real fruit. Tourist/English friendly. No seating so most people were standing and eating inside/outside. A must visit in Bologna!

One of the most popular gelato spots in Bologna, but I thought Cremeria Cavour was better than this…read moreone. I appreciated how they had a lot more unique flavors, and I chose the speculoos and the classic pistachio. I thought the texture of the speculoos was a bit underwhelming and the flavor wasn't that precise either. The pistachio was solid, but nothing super memorable. either.

We walked past this gelato place, and in the name of science, we needed to test some flavors. This…read morewas the best gelato we found in Bologna, but the flavors were not quite as authentic as what we had in Florence. However, it was still very good and the staff has exceedingly friendly and helpful. I even was able to see them making the gelato in the back room. I would recommend this place for you to do your own scientific testing. There was no seating inside or outside, which would have been helpful as our gelato melted.