Best Food Tour in Bologna? Here’s Exactly What You’ll Eat

Why are there so many food tour options in Bologna? Will that one let me try tortellini in brodo? Is there a balsamic vinegar tasting? What about this one?

How many menus does it offer? It looks a bit expensive… I wonder if I’ll regret booking it.

If at least two of these questions are flying around inside your head, I’m here to let you know that you’re totally normal! I sat in front of my laptop browsing the same 12 tours for HOURS.

But then I finally decided on one, and by the time the tour ended, I couldn’t be happier that I had booked it. I got to eat 15 different things, sat inside Europe’s oldest tavern, and got local restaurant recommendations, all in under three hours.

To make sure you can make your choice confidently, I’m here to lay out the stops, tastings, and all the good vibes I got on this particular one that I joined.

Is this the best food tour in Bologna, among the many you have to choose from? That’s subjective, isn’t it? I had the best time on it. Will it be right for you, too? Let’s see. I’m holding no details back!

Tour Overview: What’s Included

Before we get into the details, let’s take a quick look at whether everything looks right to you.

I always recommend people book a food tour as early as possible in their trip for local insights. Bologna is not an exception.

• Length: 3 hours
• Group size: 4-10 people (Mine had just the four of us!)
• Language: English
• Best for: solo travelers, cultural foodies, pasta lovers, etc.
• What’s included: 9-10 tastings, 2 drinks, and local insights from the guide
• Cancellation policy: Cancel for free until 24 hours before the activity starts

One more clarification. This was NOT a sponsored experience. I booked this in order to get to know the Bologna food scene, with my own money, and would do it again.

Everything I Got to Eat

Answering the burning question first. “Which dishes are included on this tour?”

Here’s everything I got to try. It’s a hell lot of food. I wasn’t able to finish my pasta at lunch.

List of Dishes Tasted

• Tigella with white pesto
• Crescente (bread)
• Parmigiano Reggiano (24-month aged)
• Friggione
• Squacquerone
• Mortadella
• Salame rosa
• Parma ham
• Coppa estiva
• Balsamic vinegar
• A bottle of sparkling white wine
• Tortellini con crema di formaggi
• Tagliatelle al Ragù
• A glass of Lambrusco
• Gelato

Does that sound like enough food, context, and connection for you?

Stop-by-Stop: Everything We Ate on the Bologna Food Tour

I got a little too carried away inside the Basilica di San Petronio and had to run across Piazza Maggiore to meet our guide by the Fountain of Neptune at 9:55 AM.

She was holding an orange umbrella, as I was told at the time of booking.

There is no missing that umbrella. It was violently orange compared to Bologna’s muted architecture.

Our guide’s name is Sonia. She’s insanely friendly and was more than happy to entertain my Duolingo Italian skills. She said that there were only four of us on the tour that day, and my heart did a little dance.

The tour started at 10:03 AM, seven minutes before the planned time.

Sonia launched into some basic information about the city, the main sights surrounding us (Piazza Maggiore, Fontana di Neptuno, Basilica di San Petronio), and its slow food culture.

Then we set off into the Quadrilatero market zone, just off the main square.

Stop 1: Tigella at Bottega Ranocchi 1972

We first sat down at one of the high tables outside Bottega Ranocchi 1972.

We then learned about Mortadella and Salame rosa, the two most popular types of cured meat from Bologna. But those were not what we ate at the Bottega.

We each tried a Tigella. It’s a round bread about the same size as the palm of my hand, stamped with a flower.

Historically, the flower sign differed slightly depending on which local family made the bread. But the flower itself also symbolizes abundance in crops and farming.

It reminded me a bit of English muffins (much more delicious, though). But instead of jam inside, you get white pesto sauce, which has nothing to do with basil. The white pesto is made of lard and sausage.

And here’s a photo of me with Sonia, just so you know I didn’t lie about going on this whole thing.

Stop 2: Cheese Lesson at Ceccarelli Amedeo

Leaving the first bottega and turning the corner, we stopped just outside Ceccarelli Amedeo, a small shop selling cheese and pasta.

We didn’t eat any food here, but learned a ton about the pasta shapes of Bologna and the aging of Parmigiano Reggiano.

We were told to look for the abbreviation “DOP” on any cheese we wanted to buy.

It stands for Denominazione di Origine Protetta (Protected Designation of Origin). This means you get cheese that authentically belongs to the region, from cultivation to packaging.

Here’s the coolest part. We stopped in front of their pasta showcase to learn about the tortellini, tortelloni, balanzoni, gramigna, and more.

The owner kept apologetically having to block our view to scoop fresh pasta out for his customer. So at one point, he picked up some fresh tortellini and gave one to each of us.

Stop 3: Introduction to Mercato di Mezzo

We made another information-only stop in front of Mercato di Mezzo. Here, we learned how it has been the neighborhood market since medieval times.

Are you starting to wonder why we’re barely eating anything on a food tour? Hold on. It gets better.

Stop 4: Quality Ham Pick-up at Salumeria Simoni

A few doors down from Mercato di Mezzo, we made another stop at Salumeria Simoni, the best cured meat shop in town.

We still didn’t eat anything, but Sonia picked up a massive bag of goodies that the shop seemed to have prepared for her.

Now, I was starting to notice another small bag she had been holding since our first two stops. The suspense builds up.

Remember the introduction to Mortadella and Salame rosa at the first stop?

Here, we got to see what they looked like in the store fridge! Mortadella is basically what the rest of the world calls Bologna or Baloney. It’s much better here, of course.

Stop 5: Introduction to Paolo Atti & Figli Panficio

Almost right opposite of Simoni, we stopped at the oldest bakery in town, not to eat, but I recommend marking it on the map, so you can come back on your own later.

The place sells a ton of delicious local pastries.

Standing right outside the shop window where several products were on display, we were introduced to Crescente, which is basically Bologna’s focaccia bread.

Sonia also pointed out different local sauces like Ragù, Friggione, and the sweet mustard used to make the local pastry.

She then popped into the shop quickly as we continued to window shop. Within less than a minute, she came back out with another big bag of Crescente. Now she’s holding at least 4-5 bags of food with both hands.

Having taken the city walking tour the day before, I was sure I knew where we were headed next.

Stop 6: Sit-down Meal at Osteria del Sole

As expected, we made our way back to Bottega Ranocchi, where we first stopped for Tigella, but this time, we’re waiting to go into the bar opposite it.

Osteria del Sole, in operation since 1465 (yes), is the oldest osteria in Europe and is considered a hyper-local spot in Bologna.

How local is it? Well, there’s nothing telling you what it is, only one sign above the door that says “vino.” Another handwritten sign by the door says, “If you’re not drinking, stay outside.”

The fun part about Osteria del Sole is that they only sell drinks, so it’s not BYOB, but BYOF (Bring your own food)!

All the goodies Sonia had been carrying around the market are finally going to be tasted here with a bottle of house sparkling white wine.

Our little tour group had a hearty chat for about an hour over a table full of Crescente, Parmigiano Reggiano, Friggione, Squacquerone, Mortadella, Salame rosa, Parma ham, and Coppa estiva (a cut of cured pork from the back of its neck).

This was where I learned that:

• Mortadella tastes best with 24-month-aged Parmigiano Reggiano.
• Parmigiano Reggiano with a drop of balsamic vinegar is even better.
• Pair Squacquerone with a piece of Parma ham to enhance both tastes.

And of course, the more wine refills, the more fun the conversation got! 🤣

Stop 7: Two Towers of Bologna

Now we made our way from the Quadrilatero area to our lunch spot closer to the University of Bologna (since 1080).

We passed by the two towers (of Mordor and Isengard… just kidding) of Bologna, and had a bit of time to take a good shot of them while we waited for the pedestrian light.

Stop 8: Pasta for Lunch at Le Moline

For about 10 minutes, we walked from the central area towards the university campus.

We stopped for lunch at Le Moline, although how much room I had left for lunch, I wasn’t sure. My mind was ready, though!

We took a seat at one long table, looking directly back at the door, and a nice quote above it that I wholeheartedly agree with. “He who only drinks water has got a secret to hide.”

For lunch, we had a split pasta on one plate, tortellini con crema di formaggi (tortellini with cream of cheese), and tagliatelle al ragú, with a glass of Lambrusco.

Stop 9: Gelato at Gelateria Gianna

After lunch, we took a different route back to the two towers area, passing by Piazza Giuseppe Verdi and several university buildings. We stopped for some gelato to finish the tour at Gianna.

Remembering how gelato sometimes leans a bit stickier in the States, I asked Sonia what an authentic gelato should feel like (before I got my cup of gelato).

She said, “It’s supposed to be light and fast-melting. If it’s sticky, then it becomes cake, you see.”

Gelateria Gianna is famous for its salted pistachio gelato, and another flavor that I just realized I completely forgot what it was called. But it had Nutella in it.

That one was a bit too sweet and intense for my taste. The salted pistachio was delicious!

Final Verdict: Is This Bologna Food Tour Worth It?

I’m belting out a big, fat “YES” to my fellow cultural travelers, solo travelers, and foodies.

For three hours, you’ll learn so much not just about the Bolognese cuisine and culture, but also a bit about the city’s history in general.

Getting to try 15 local menus in less than half a day is also considered a very solid deal, especially if you have a limited time in Bologna.

While I had more time, I used the recommendations I got from Sonia to build my own list of businesses I want to go back to.

Want the same experience? You can book the exact tour I took below.

Your foodie journey doesn’t end with this tour. Bologna’s the food capital of Italy, after all! Here are my favorite local dishes you should try, and my favorite places to eat.

If you haven’t decided where to stay, check out the best walkable areas to base yourself in. You won’t even need a bus ride!

Bookmark my Italy Cultural Travel page for more guides on Bologna, as well as Florence.

Want someone else to plan the trip for you? I offer itinerary planning and review services!

Get Ready For Your Trip to Italy

Below are resources to help you get ready for your trip.

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Stay connected in Italy with this eSIM
• Must-have Apps: City Mapper, Google Maps, WhatsApp

Grab My Trip-Planner Template

To help streamline your planning process, I’ve decided to share the template I’ve created and have personally used to plan my own trips. You can grab a copy of it for free below!

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