The best cocktail bars in Bologna
A toast around the world with the city's mixology scene
The art of mixology runs through the streets of Bologna, shaping eclectic bars with a kaleidoscopic spirit that draw inspiration from every corner of the world in daring combinations to sip slowly. Inventive spirit bases, seasonal ingredients, evocative aromas and flavours take both mind and palate on a journey around the glass, exploring distant lands and international influences. Cocktail lists crafted down to the finest detail by talented bartenders will delight both eye and palate.
Bologna’s drinking scene is ripe for discovery, drink after drink, from aperitivo through to late night, thanks to our selection of the best cocktail bars in the city, ready to become your next favourite drinking spot.
Nu Lounge Bar
Via de’Musei, 6
A cocktail bar just steps from Piazza Maggiore that has turned the founders’ international experience – Davide, Daniele, Elena and Maurizio – into a benchmark for good drinking in the city, specialising in recent years in Tiki culture. It is a celebration of Polynesian lands, starting with the setting where carvings, wallpaper and exotic details mingle with a sophisticated atmosphere, complete with velvet banquettes, soft lighting and an impressive back bar behind the counter. The varied cocktail list relies on craft mixing and fresh ingredients, including orgeat, grenadine, Falernum, Honey Mix, Passion Fruit Syrup and cinnamon syrup.
Emporio 1920
Via de’Castagnoli, 2/D
A venue with a delightfully retro feel inspired by the roaring 20s, where every detail and furnishing is the result of careful scouring of antique markets and vintage shops. A flashback to the past reminiscent of American Prohibition-era speakeasies, but set in Bologna, where a list of original cocktails will delight your palate: vegetable extracts, ferments, aromas recalling exotic flavours, citrus blends and seasonal ingredients. All accompanied by a soundtrack of seductive international swing rhythms.
Bizarre – cocktail boutique
Via Belvedere 4/a
A tasting boutique is how Bizarre defines itself: an intimate cocktail bar with just 12 seats, offering a cosy, secluded atmosphere where vintage details and subtle colours meet masterful bartending. Sage green walls, hand-painted stools, dark wood, touches of metal and marble, and an expansive wall-mounted back bar provide the setting for a fine drinking experience led by bartender Enrico Scarzella. His cocktail list balances signature drinks and international classics with flair and continuous research. A welcoming address where you feel effortlessly at home.
I Conoscenti
Via Manzoni, 6
A cocktail bar set inside a historic 14th-century city palazzo dating from the ‘300s, where refined decor and warm lighting meet deep mixology expertise, combining spirits and inventive ingredients in striking glassware. The attention to detail plays with a petrol-blue palette, blending wood and velvet furniture, heavy contrasting drapes, minimalist designer lamps and brass accents that echo the large counter, backed by a back bar packed with labels that take you on a tour of the world. Let the intriguing cocktail names spark your curiosity, and sip slowly.
Casa Minghetti
Piazza Minghetti 1/A
Set in the splendid Piazza Minghetti, this elegant cocktail lounge – with a generous terrace for warm days – is a treat for all the senses. From the outside it resembles a private townhouse, with an imposing doorway welcoming guests into a warm, inviting room filled with wooden furniture, faceted mirrors, large windows and vintage curios that evoke a comfortable domestic charm. The varied cocktail list at this bar and light-bites spot places flair and experimentation front and centre, guaranteeing pleasant surprises at every round.
Emporio Armani Caffè
Galleria Cavour
Inside the historic Galleria Cavour, the city’s premier luxury shopping arcade, the signature touch of Italian designer Giorgio Armani echoes throughout his Caffè, defined by an understated palette of natural tones. Minimalist furnishings shape a striking setting where wood and metal interact seamlessly, setting the mood for a cosmopolitan gathering all day & night long. The drinks programme ranges across the globe with signature cocktails featuring inventive flavour pairings, designed to be sipped slowly during a glamorous tête-à-tête.
Camera con Vista
Piazza Santo Stefano
A design-led retreat in Piazza Santo Stefano, set within historic Palazzo Isolani: this is the dream of Matteo, an antique dealer, and Rebecca, an interior designer, who created Camera Con Vista as a space dedicated to Bolognese bienvivre. A bar area inspired by 19th-century apothecary shops showcases the mixology of bartender Davide de Rose, creator of a sophisticated drinks list that pairs international classics, vodka and gin with Camera Con Vista’s signature cocktails inspired by a journey around the globe – or rather, around the glass. Take in the grand ceiling chandelier, surrounded by candelabras, antique wood and wall mirrors.
