So.... you and your partner are running around Bologna, getting romantic under porticos, shopping…read morefor leather, shopping for things, shopping, shopping, shopping. Then you almost walk into FP Pallotti Franco Never mind that you just had a satisfying lunch a few hours ago but, you're in Bologna where everything screams deliciousness. We ogled from outside, we saw specialty coffees being served, more importantly we saw an oasis of sweets. Had to come in here. And when I did oooooh, ooooh. I honed in on the desserts. We tried the panna cotta, chocolate/pistachio bonbon and a tortina. Loved the bites we had so much we vowed to come back. I think you will too. Visits: 1 Tip: Close to the University of Bologna, they close early like 7pm.

A little bit off the beaten track, but there is no place like it in Bologna for an early morning…read moreCappucino and Brioche. Offering a wide variety of pastries snacks and coffee specialities this small café on the Via de Borgo has it all. The staff are really nice and it's worth tracking down here for a good start to the day.

Having lived in Bologna, I would say m that there are a bunch of other aperitif places that serve…read morehigh quality snacks and drinks so this wouldn't be my go to recommendations. However, I'd recommend this place for travelers as it does have a good variety and is definitely aesthetically pleasing!!

I couldn't walk past Gamberini without taking a look inside. The cakes and fruit tarts displayed in…read morethe window were gorgeous! Berries, nuts, seeds, cream beckon you to try them...having just eaten I managed to stave off the temptation by getting only a couple cookies. Only to realize I'm not really a fan of the texture of the traditional cookies, they taste kinda like shortbread (which aren't my fave) bit too sandy for my preference. The jelly was good, the taste of the pistachio in the pistachio cookie was kinda light compared to my expectation. If I'm in Bologna again I'd certainly stop by and try some other items. The staff was courteous and the other pastries, desserts and chocolates looked delicious. Seating consisted of several smaller tables on the right side of the shop, it was pretty full on a weekday afternoon, which tells me it's a popular spot.

One of the most popular gelato spots in Bologna, but I thought Cremeria Cavour was better than this…read moreone. I appreciated how they had a lot more unique flavors, and I chose the speculoos and the classic pistachio. I thought the texture of the speculoos was a bit underwhelming and the flavor wasn't that precise either. The pistachio was solid, but nothing super memorable. either.

We walked past this gelato place, and in the name of science, we needed to test some flavors. This…read morewas the best gelato we found in Bologna, but the flavors were not quite as authentic as what we had in Florence. However, it was still very good and the staff has exceedingly friendly and helpful. I even was able to see them making the gelato in the back room. I would recommend this place for you to do your own scientific testing. There was no seating inside or outside, which would have been helpful as our gelato melted.

We read that is one of best gelatos in Bologna so we had to try it. It was worth the detour!…read more The shop is bright with a minimalist decor. It was very clean. There is a list of gelato flavors on the wall. It was hard to choose but chocolate is my go to. The chocolate was rich and super chocolatey! The pistachio was also very good. We were waited in fairly quickly with only one other customer in front of us. It pays to get gelato on the winter-no lines. The store had high top tables to stand at or seating upstairs.

This gelato shop is super cute and clean. They have so many flavors to choose from that its so hard…read moreto decide. There was a line, but the employees are really fast and get the line moving quickly. I had the pistachio and it was very creamy and delicious.

Got coffee in here, and it was alright, just normal. Nothing special nor anything bad about itread more

Beautiful bar. Wonderful coffee and pastries available. Kind and polite staff. They do serve…read moreaffogati in the summer months only.

The final thing on our Italian To-Do List was find a truly delicious cannoli. We'd tasted some…read morenot-great ones, but finally found what we were looking for just off the Università di Bologna campus, at a cute bakery that makes Sicilian pastries. It was heavenly - as was the Meringa (meringue). Amazing cannoli, charming atmosphere, and friendly people. It was a terrific addition to our quick visit to Bologna.

Fabulous and cosy place to enjoy a cup of tea or cappuccino. They even have something on the menu…read morefor gluten-free.

Came here by the end of November 2025 and it was cold and we were hungry. We ordered the bread…read moresandwiches and they were amazing, the crust was crispy, the bread were freshly made, the fillings were delicious. The whole combo tasted amazing. It was so amazing that we came here multiple times. Would definitely recommend to anyone going to Bologna! The prices are incredible for the quality and the service is quick and friendly. Whenever I return to Bologna, this place will be at the top of my list!

Salumeria Simoni is located on Via Drapperie, a narrow street where there are restaurants,…read morebutchers, fresh seafood shops, and cheese shops. There are many places with tables outside, but I feel that Simoni is the best, plus it's always the busiest. I came here for a cold beer and some lunch and decided on Simoni, as they had a table outside available, but before I sat, I walked inside the store and looked at all the food, the hams hanging on the wall, it was wonderful! I was quickly seated and given a menu. I ordered a cold beer right away and perused the menu. My server brought me a cold beer and asked me if I was ready to order. I decided on the Charcuterie and Cheese, which had a selection of meats and cheeses as well as some bread. I was concerned if it would be enough for me. Well, this large plate of meat arrived and suddenly I was concerned if I could eat it all! I was worried for nothing, I devoured some of the best Italian meat and cheese that I have ever had. The Mortadela was especially tasty. Service was great, food was phenomenal, and it was so nice to sit there on the street watch all the people walk by. I can highly recommend Simoni, but be careful if you go by yourself! You will be full!

Surprisingly disappointing. There is a lot of really good…read moregelato to choose from in Bologna. Like, a *lot*. This, surprisingly, is not one of them. Or, to be a bit more precise, sample all the gelato, and if you find one with the right texture/flavor, go for it. But be sure to sample, because quite frequently the gelato is older and/or crystalline, which is basically a waste of your money. (Then again, the good stuff *is* good, so if you can't be bothered to walk to the next good gelateria...)

Giancarlo (owner) is the Italian nonno I wish I had. He speaks a little bit of English, but we both…read morespeak gelato fluently so it worked out. We stayed in Bologna for two nights, and we went here both nights. We've been fortunate enough to make this our fourth trip to Italy, so let's just say my husband and I have eaten our fair share of gelato. The shop is clean, bright, and modern while his prices are reasonable. I think it was 2.50 euros for a small and you can get two flavors. My favorite thing about this gelateria though is that he doesn't just do gelato. There are two fridges worth of delicious gelato ice cream sandwiches, cakes, gelato bars, etc. I actually go to gelaterias for the gelato made treats rather than gelato itself. I liked everything I got, but I was especially wowed by the orange cake. I'm not a big citrus-flavored-dessert person, but this had me wanting more. It was light and reminded me of a creamsicle--yum! If you're lucky, you will get to meet Giancarlo who has a welcoming smile that makes you feel better to be supporting his gelateria.

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.

It's "Colazione da Bianca", which means "Breakfast at Bianca's", but they won't get offended if you…read moreswing by for an afternoon tea or coffee. This place has the Central Perk kind of vibe, for the Friends aficionados out there, a cafe where you feel like spending a good hour chatting with friends while also indulging a bit. The pastry and tart selection is definitely rich, the tea selection a bit on the low end, but acceptable. We had cappuccino and a selection of mignons, but I feel that the food is actually a secondary item, the atmosphere takes the cake, no pun intended. The place can get crowded, but there's a fast enough turnover so that the wait is never longer than 10 minutes. All credit cards are accepted, as long as you spend over €10. Add a couple of cookies and you're there already, because the pricing is also very NY-esque. The difference is that you have no skyscrapers around, but you're smack in the center of Bologna, walking distance to the major attractions. If you need to get that extra dose of caffeine after that dish of tagliatelle, or just rest after a day of strolling around, Bianca is a welcome oasis of sweet coziness.

This place has the most amazing dessert I have ever tried here in bologna. My friend says she's…read morebeen conquered every time she comes here. The caffè deca is not worth it though, next time I'll just try one of them herbal teas...