The best trattorias in Bologna
An appetising date with Emilian tradition
Bologna: the beating heart of one of Italy’s most vibrant regions, a renowned university hub steeped in history and culture, framed by rolling hills best explored on a classic Vespa. Above all, it is a city defined by a centuries-old gastronomic tradition passed down through generations, where genuine produce, local aromas and handmade techniques come together to create comforting home cooking just as it used to be.
You can still experience that authentic, welcoming atmosphere in the city’s trattorias. Once humble stops for simple meals, today they serve rich, generous flavours where respect for tradition meets culinary flair. These spots win over diners with retro charm and thoughtful details meant to be savoured slowly. Here is our selection of the best trattorias in Bologna for an authentic regional culinary tour.
Trattoria di Via Serra
Via Luigi Serra 9/b
Quality produce and a warm welcome: these are the secrets behind the success of Trattoria di Via Serra, born from the passion of owners Flavio and Tommaso. Both love honest, spontaneous cooking and have turned a 35-seat room framed in warm wood into the setting for a truly appetising menu. The dishes take shape around strictly local ingredients from nearby dairies and farms just outside the city, delivering authentic regional flavours across fresh pasta, meats and cheeses. Traditional cooking to enjoy with gusto.
All’Osteria Bottega
Via Santa Caterina, 51
A true ode to Emilian cuisine, this historic dining room is cherished by local Bolognesi for serving the great traditional classics in a setting where wood and attention to detail meet family warmth. The menu moves between homemade pasta, regional meats, cured cuts, fresh cheeses, handmade desserts and an excellent wine list. Take a seat at one of the wooden tables, take in the aromas filling the room, and wait for a steaming plate of tagliatelle or lasagne packed with genuine flavour.
Vagh in Ufezzi
Via de’Coltelli, 9
A historic spot dating back to the ‘900 that, after a long succession of culinary ventures, saw the arrival of Vagh in Ufezzi in 2015 — a name taken from the Bolognese dialect expression once used by grandparents to describe slipping off to the tavern. A destination to rediscover authentic cooking through a varied menu that also features slow-cooked, intricate recipes: rare traditional dishes made with fresh seasonal produce. From crescentine to stews, Antonella and Mirco welcome you among vintage photographs and large wooden tables in the heart of the historic city centre.
Dal Biassanot
Via Piella 16/a
Tucked beneath the city’s trademark porticoes, trattoria Dal Biassanot (named after the Bolognese dialect for night owls) is an authentic spot where regional traditions meet fresh pasta rolled strictly by hand al mattarello. The menu features flame-grilled meats, homemade desserts and a well-stocked cellar spotlighting fine local labels. Three rustic dining rooms welcome regulars and travellers amidst terracotta floors, dark wood ceilings, red-and-white chequered tablecloths and a lovely summer veranda.
Trattoria Zita
Via Emilia Ponente, 68
Founded back in 1940 by Zita Santunione from Spilamberto near Modena, this trattoria preserves an all-female legacy, run today by Silvia and Cristina Setti. A benchmark for Emilian dining, it delves into regional tradition with honest, approachable cooking: pasta rolled by hand or extruded with a bronze press, and strictly seasonal vegetables. A menu organised by the day of the week lets you sample craft cooking made with meticulous care, paired with a fine glass of local wine in a cosy room of brick, wood and ceramics.
Trattoria da Me
Via San Felice, 50
A culinary story that began in 1937 was revived in 2015 through the passion of Chef Elisa. This family venture blends Emilian flavours with her father’s Sicilian heritage, filling the rooms of Trattoria Da Me with colours, aromas and inventive twists on historic recipes. Fresh eggs and soft wheat flour create pasta rolled with a rolling pin just like nonna used to make. Settle into the dining room, styled in light wood and pastel tones, and take your time over this delicious menu.
Al Cambio
Via Stalingrado, 150
Here, Emilian culinary tradition is served with flawless technique and deep knowledge of ingredients, orchestrated by maître d’ Pietro Pompili and chef Daniele Benassi. The refined dining room pairs antique wood with elegant table settings, where steady research complements historic regional recipes in a menu that balances simplicity with precision. Do not miss the roasted Mora Romagnola pork ribs, the meatballs stuffed with tortellini filling, or an irresistible bowl of steaming tagliatelle alla bolognese.
Da Bertino
Via delle Lame, 55
Named after founder Bertino, who opened this dining room in 1957 after searching for his dream job, Da Bertino is devoted to simple, wholesome cooking rooted in Bolognese tradition. It quickly grew into one of the city’s most respected food destinations. The family team warmly welcomes diners into a rustic, retro room filled with wood and framed paintings, serving tortellini in brodo, boiled and roast meats, and homemade desserts prepared by Bertino’s daughter. A comforting meal wrapped in authentic home-style hospitality.
Trattoria Bertozzi
Via Andrea Costa, 84/2/D
Trattoria Bertozzi was born from the love of Bolognese cooking shared by two friends who opened their doors in 2007. The dining room offers simple, home-style warmth for authentic lunches and dinners, driven by a menu featuring produce from the surrounding region and ingredients from the Bolognese hills. Salumi, cheeses and seasonal vegetables sit alongside traditional fresh pasta and expertly cooked meats, all served over terracotta floors and crisp white tablecloths for a true taste of culinary history.
Diana
Via Volturno, 5
Delighting local palates since 1909, Diana celebrates authentic Emilian cooking in an understated, timelessly elegant setting. The menu honours time-tested recipes, where the iconic carrello dei bolliti, steaming lasagne and tortellini in brodo take centre stage on neatly laid tables with crisp china bearing the restaurant’s name in green. Packed with genuine flavours and aromas, Diana offers a classic tête-à-tête with historic Bolognese cooking.
