What to Eat in Bologna: 9 Must-Try Traditional Bologna Foods

Planning to visit the Food Capital of Italy, Bologna? If you’re wondering what to eat in Bologna and which Bologna foods you can’t miss, you’re in the right place.😍

As someone who grew up for three years in Modena — just 30-minutes away — I can tell you… Emilia Romagna’s food will make you want to move there.

Bologna, the region’s capital, is a vibrant city full of medieval architecture and some of the richest cuisine of Italy. It even has three different nicknames, one of which is La Grassa, “the fat one” — a nod to its rich food culture and typically-heavier dishes.

In this blog post I’ll be sharing 9 foods that originate from Bologna specifically and are must-tries!

Without further ado, here are all the local dishes you must eat in Bologna!😍👇

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Table of Contents

9 Traditional Dishes You Must Eat in Bologna, Italy

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Tagliatelle al Ragú Bolognese

A white bowl filled with cooked gluten free fusilli pasta topped with a brown meat sauce, Ragu Bolognese placed on a light-colored tablecloth. Tagliatelle al Ragu bolognese is a food you must eat in Bologna. — Gluten Free Pasta alla Bolognese (not Tagliatelle pasta, they only had GF Fusilli)

Tagliatelle al Ragù Bolognese is a dish that needs no introduction and is beloved all around the world.

Tagliatelle is a style of pasta fresca, pasta made with eggs, born in the Emilia Romagna region, and has a very similar look to Fettuccine. This pasta has a long ribbon-like shape and is the perfect pairing with Bologna’s star — Ragù alla Bolognese.

In the US, most people call this Spaghetti Bolognese, but as someone who grew up in this region and in the States, I can tell you this: the ragù in Bologna is on another level. It’s so spectacular, you will feel butterflies.

The Ragù Bolognese consists of different meats, including pork and beef, tomatoes, carrots, a splash of wine, and more. It is slow-cooked for hours until the meat melts in your mouth.

Tortellini in Brodo

If Tagliatelle al Ragù is the star, Tortellini in Brodo is the comfort dish!

Tortellini is a style of pasta fresca traditionally filled with meat and pinched into its unique shape.

These tortellini are then placed in a bowl with brodo, broth. Traditionally, Tortellini in Brodo are served with beef or chicken broth.

This dish feels like a warm hug, and is the perfect lunch or dinner in the wintertime.

Lasagna

Being the home of Ragù Bolognese, it only makes sense Bologna would also be the birthplace of lasagna!

This iconic dish is made with layers of thin pasta sheets, ragù bolognese, and béchamel, repeated several times, and then topped with Parmesan for a golden, flavorful crust.

If you’re vegetarian, vegetarian lasagna is also worth trying!

Tortelloni

Tortelloni are essentially big tortellini with a couple of key differences.

Instead of being served in broth, they’re paired with sauces — often something simple like butter and sage or a light tomato sauce — to let the filling shine.

The most traditional version is filled with creamy ricotta and spinach, though meat-filled variations also exist.

Balanzoni

A plate of green, heart-shaped ravioli with a light sauce sits on a white tablecloth, accompanied by a glass of water, a glass of red wine, and a container of grated cheese. — Photo Credit: © Olga Mazyarkina via canva.com

Balanzoni is another style of pasta fresca born in Bologna, and shares a few similarities with Tortellini and Tortelloni.

The difference is that the pasta dough for balanzoni is traditionally green due to the use of spinach in the dough. Furthermore, they usually have a filling of ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and either mortadella or pork loin.

The Balanzoni is pinched in a different style than the tortellini and tortelloni, creating an almost hat-like shape.

This style of pasta is usually served with just some butter and sage – keeping the focus on the flavors of this Bologna specialty.

Cotoletta alla Bolognese / Petroniana

As a quick Italian lesson, Cotoletta is the Italian word for breaded steak, the equivalent of “Schnitzel”.

In Italy there are a few different styles of Cotoletta, including the Cotoletta Milanese and the Bolognese.

The Cotoletta alla Bolognese is butter-fried, breaded veal topped with prosciutto crudo, parmesan cheese, and often a splash of broth to melt the cheese into the veal.

Mortadella

Mortadella is a cold-cut meat from Bologna and one of the city’s most famous local delicacies.

When compared to meats like prosciutto and salami, it has a softer and less salty flavor. The texture is more similar to ham or prosciutto cotto — it’s tender and silky.

One of the most iconic pairings with mortadella is pistachios and burrata cheese. It’s a heavy pairing, but one that is also to die for!😍

Mortadella is a must-try Bologna specialty you’ll see in markets and sandwich shops all over the city.

Sandwiches

A sandwich filled with sliced deli meat sits on a wooden plate with a “PAN8” flag. An orange drink with ice is in the background, and people are walking past outdoor café tables on a city street. — Gluten free sandwich, A Tal Deg, from Pan8 in the city center

The same way you must try Schiacciata in Florence, or Pizza al Taglio in Rome, in Bologna you simply must eat a panino, “sandwich”.

Sandwiches are a perfect grab-and-go lunch in Bologna’s city center, especially if you’re short on time.

While there are all sorts of incredible ingredients to choose from and try in Bologna, I strongly recommend trying at least one sandwich with mortadella, pistachio, and burrata.😍

😋 Are you celiac? I got you! Here are the 8 Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Bologna

Torta di Riso Bolognese

The Torta di Riso, “Rice Cake”, is a traditional dessert born in Bologna that dates back to the 15th century.

This dessert is also known as the “Torta degli Addobbi” because back in medieval times, due to the cost of ingredients, this cake was exclusively made for the Festa degli Addobbi, a religious celebration.

This cake has five main ingredients: rice, eggs, milk, almonds, and sugar. Some other typical ingredients are candied fruit and lemon or orange zest.

Bologna Food Guide FAQs

What is the famous food street in Bologna?

The most popular spot in Bologna for food is the Quadrilatero, where you have the oldest market of the city and all sorts of restaurants and trattorias.

What day is market day in Bologna?

Depending on which market you’re looking to visit, every day is market day in Bologna! The main markets, like the Quadrilatero’s Old Market and Mercato di Mezzo, are open every day (except Mercato di Mezzo which closes on Mondays).

Other markets, like the Mercato Ritrovato, Bologna’s farmer’s market is open on Saturdays and even Mondays in the summer. Here are all the different open days and operating hours for Bologna’s markets.

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Close-up of green spinach tortelloni pasta with sauce on a white plate. The image is overlaid with bold text about a food guide to Bologna, Italy, and mentions “9 Foods You Must Eat when in Bologna.”.

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Bologna Food Guide: What to Eat in Italy’s Food Capital