You don't get much more classic lunch break than Vecchia Malga, one of many choices in the alleyway…read morestreet off of Bologna's main square, Piazza Maggiore. There are plates of thinly sliced meats with cheeses everywhere so it's hard to choose where to go, especially if you're a couple of vegetarians like us. We made a good choice here, ordering a cheese board for one and a mixed salad. The cheese board was so plentiful that we had to re-confirm that this was just a serving for one. It was. Really generous with 6 different local cheeses of various tastes and firmness, surrounding a cup of honey which sealed the deal for us. We loved this cheese board and left referring back to it as we had cheese in other places on our trip. The salad (I mean you have to occasionally eat vegetables...even in Italy) was basic, just arugula and tomatoes, but was super-fresh. Also they brought the region's famous bread in a paper bag. Well, I don't know if "famous" is the right word, but this is the only place in the world we'd experienced the bread brought in paper bags, so sign me up for its autograph. This was a great choice for a cheese plate among the many options on this street and in the area. The cheese board especially was our favorite cheese in the whole country.

Such an amazing experience for a couple of first time visitors to Italy. We enjoyed a sample board…read moreof meats and cheese, and while I thought the concept of lard as a condiment was strange, holy cow was that tasty! And I don't know why something as simple as tortellini in broth is so tasty, but it is the ultimate comfort food! The atmosphere was incredibly cozy on the cold and damp day we visited,. Our waiter took excellent care of us, and we enjoyed watching the butchers at work assisting customers. Tucked up in the loft with a glass of wine, and later a coffee, was a perfect afternoon!

Begium and Italian artesional beer, french and italian wine, local cheeses, cured meats, homemade…read morepastas, all sorts of baked goods and a delightful owner. Great little spot!

What a lovely place for our first lunch in Bologna!…read more Tagliatelle Bolognese was spectacular, as was the chef's original take on the cottoletto, which was served as an appetizer. Braised beef cheek; just the right amount of fat and so tender it melted in your mouth. The atmosphere was friendly, the service was just right and the classic jazz background music was the perfect choice. Would return in a minute.

Lovely spot offering a quiet dining experience. We had lovely apps and meals. Wine was nice as…read morewell. It was a satisfying experience overall.

Love this small vibrant Osteria. When we arrived we were afraid that we would be turned away as the…read moreOsteria was totally packed and a big waiting line. We were just asked to take a seat and it might be a while. Great. We got lucky there were parties before us that were waiting to seat 3 or 4. Within 10 minutes we were seated ahead of the larger parties. The place sits about 24 inside and almost that many outside. We looked around and almost all young Italians. A great sign. The place had energy. We looked at the food around us and we were happy. The menu is not very large which can someone very good...let's cook what we do best. Since the pasta dishes looked so good we had to have them. Tagliatelle Ragu and the Spaghetti alla Gricia with Guanciale. Both dishes were amazing. Delicious! And reasonably priced. $39 EUR for two with drinks. Highly recommend. Will definitely return on our next visit.

Been here twice and would happily return!!! Came once for drinks -- great variety and affordable…read moredrinks. Ambiance was great. The perfect wine bar. Later returned for lunch and had one of the better meals I've had in Bologna. The Parmesan plate was superb, the roasted veggies was delicious, and the ragu was THE BEST! Walked up with no red and got seated within 15 mins! Service was quick and easy! Overall I'd highly recommend!!

This was part of a day long food tour of Bologna. Our first stop was the meet the owner and tour…read morethe factory to see how they receive thousands of ham hocks, salt and dry them, pack the rice flour over the exposed area and allow them to cure for months until perfect. Very interesting seeing how this is done with only a handful of people. There were 20,000 hams curing while we were there and the smell is amazing. Then got to sample various types of hams. Totally worth seeing.

Stopped in as part of a food tour, so the experience was probably different than it would be if we…read morehad just popped in. As a result, the service was super friendly and attentive. There are a bunch of cute stores. Solid amount of options between pasta, cheese, meat, produce. I'm not sure I necessarily would have needed to come here it it weren't part of a food tour but in the end it was a nice experience. Not as overwhelming as some other similar markets may be and a nice way to see some of the authenticity of the area.

Perfect night at the perfect place to have dinner. Fried bread for antipasti, green lasagna with…read moretraditional ragu, tortellini with parmigiano reggiano cheese, and tortellini in beef and manzo broth. Complemented with white wine from Bologna winery and tiramisu for the dessert.

This tiny bakery/pastry shop has the best breads in all of Bologna. Their seeded breads are…read morewonderful. They are always fresh and you can buy buy small loaves at reasonable prices. You may be served by the owner, the absolutely stunning Krizia, or by her very charming mother. The place's name translates as "The Whim of Krizia". Of course, I haven't tried all the breads in Bologna but I have been searching for months with little luck for good honest bread (whole wheat and various seeded breads) made with the best quality ingredients. It is not easy. In Bologna, unfortunately, the bread served in many restaurants and sold in bakeries and grocery stores is either dry, white, and hard or soft, white, and fluffy. Not only is the bread here great, but Krizia has various kinds of freshly made small "torta salata", an Italian quiche, and many other tasty goodies. This place is not to be missed. [I am an American currently living in Bologna and this is my absolutely honest review, completely unsolicited.]

My favorite cafe so far in Italy! The staff are so upbeat and helpful and their food and coffee is…read moregreat. I came on December 23rd, Tuesday morning and it was packed! A lot of people but the line moves pretty fast. They have Panettone boxes hanging from the ceiling and art work all over the walls. They roast their own coffee in house making really good cappuccino. Their pastries are great too. Since we're here around Christmas, they recommend us getting the Panettone. We got their apricot and chocolate Panettone and it's amazing! Best Panettone I've had so far. Their other savory pastries are great as well. Highly recommend this cafe I hear in Bologna.

Chocolate brioches and the bread are the highlights!! The coffee is also super high quality…read more Service is quick and ambiance is fun. Perfect for sitting at a cafe and doing work.