10 Best Food Tours of Bologna

Italian cuisine is known worldwide. And, within it, Bologna has its own name. The delights of its table go far beyond that sauce or that mortadella with the name of the city as its surname. There are flavors and aromas that you can only enjoy in Bologna and what better way to get to know a part of its essence than with a gastronomic tour.

Moreover, renowned restaurants and small taverns await you in Bologna where you can taste the most authentic gastronomy. If you want to enjoy one of the best things to do in Bologna, take note of these gastronomic tours that I propose.

Bologna is a wonderful monumental city. Its porticoes are a World Heritage Site and it has no less than 40 kilometers of arcades! Among them, and also in the narrow streets of the historic center, there are hidden places where you can taste some of the best typical products and dishes of Bolognese gastronomy.

These guided tours usually include a very varied tasting: typical breakfast, aperitif in the Quadrilatero (one of the most lively areas of Bologna), lunch in a typical tavern and, for dessert, a traditional Italian ice cream.

There is also time to stop in the stores and markets in the center. There you can buy some of those delicacies from Bologna or its surroundings: mortadella Bolognese, artisan pasta, local cheeses, Modena vinegar or Parma ham, among many others.

With a guided tour you will not only get a great taste in your mouth, you will also learn the history of these dishes and products and some anecdotes. You will even be able to take home a recipe to make when you return home. This is, therefore, one of the best tours in Bologna.

In Bologna, having an aperitif in the evening is almost an institution. This tour is perfect to enjoy this small culinary pleasure.

With the help of an expert guide you will discover why the Quadrilatero district is one of the favorite places for locals to have a drink and also which are the favorite tapas for it.

I already tell you that, if there is a star product as far as the appetizer is concerned, it is the tigelle or crescentine, small buns that are filled with local sausages or cheeses. It is the snack that is taken in those terraces or tables that the establishments of the center take out to the street. It is usually accompanied by a spritz, a cocktail made with white wine and sparkling water or tonic.

On this tour you can also visit the Quadrilatero market, one of the most traditional markets in Bologna. Here, of course, you can find and taste some other flavors of Bologna, not only cold meats, but also fruits, wines or balsamic vinegars from the area.

Can you imagine being the guest of honor in a Bolognese house? No, you don't need to know the host. There are gastronomic tours that offer you to sit at the table as one of the guests and be part of an Italian meal as delicious as it is traditional.

If besides eating like a king you like to be in the kitchen, this is an experience you can't miss. Italian cuisine is a true art: the measurements, the mixing of ingredients, the kneading of the pasta or the exact cooking point require enormous precision. If you feel like it, you can work as a chef and help prepare the food that will be served at the table.

Collaborating in the preparation of the menu you will not only have a good time. You will also learn the secrets of those typical dishes of Bolognese gastronomy and take away the recipe, for example, of the famous sauce that accompanies pasta or tiramisu.

Bologna is not only synonymous with good food. It is also synonymous with good wines.

To give you a small idea of the importance of its wineries, suffice it to say that it was the Etruscans who introduced the cultivation of vines in these lands. This region produces wines with denomination of origin, especially Lambrusco.

If you like oenology, a guided tour of one of the wineries in the area will be one of the most enriching experiences you will enjoy in Bologna. You will have the chance to learn how the wines are made and, of course, participate in a wine tasting.

But as wine and food go hand in hand, you will also learn a lot about food and wine pairings if the visit also includes the tasting of some typical products. The mixture of aromas and flavors, in some cases, is really surprising. All this makes it one of the best things to do in Bologna at Christmas.

Bolognese gastronomy is savored in a special way in the osterias. What are they? Small taverns where simple dishes are served. In Bologna you will find many of them, especially in the old town. Stopping in some of them to savor those typical appetizers, have lunch or dinner, will make you feel like a local.

They are establishments where you not only eat well, but also at an affordable price. And all this despite the fact that some of these osterias are famous in the city. The most renowned is the Osteria dell'Orsa. In this establishment you can taste the authentic Bolognese cuisine.

But with the explanations of a guide you will get to know many others, such as Sfoglia Rina or Osteria del Sole. This one is special for several reasons, among them, that it was founded in 1465 and is therefore the oldest in Bologna or because they only serve drinks, the food is up to you.

Osteria del Sole does not offer meals, but in those that do, what can you order? From tortellini to lasagne, cold cuts or grilled meats. All this, without forgetting typical Bolognese homemade desserts such as pinza Bolognese, which is a kind of gypsy's arm, or rice cake.

Think making a pasta dish is the easiest thing in the world? You're wrong. One of the best ways to realize this and, by the way, learn more about Bolognese cooking is to participate in a hands-on class with a renowned chef. You'll learn how to stuff tortelloni with a Parmesan cheese paste, braised pork and mortadella from Bologna. All seasoned with a touch of nutmeg.

You will also learn how to prepare tagliatelle al ragù, that is, accompanied by a sauce made with veal, vegetables, tomato, wine and spices. And, by the way, you will discover some little secrets to make the pasta al dente or to accompany it in a thousand different ways.

If, in addition to eating well, you like to visit the local markets to discover their typical products, you can take a tour of Bologna and learn about its history through its markets. The most famous is the one in the Quadrilatero district. It is the oldest in the city, since its origins date back to the Middle Ages.

Today it is a renovated market where you can find high quality products. And not only in it, in the surrounding alleys there are countless specialty stores where the inhabitants of Bologna continue to do their daily shopping.

The other renowned market in Bologna is the Mercato di Mezzo. It was the first covered market in the city and is worth a stop not only for its historical value or for the variety of products it offers. This market also organizes interesting activities such as talks and wine tastings.

The Mercato Delle Erbe is also home to a good number of stores where you can buy fresh produce. In addition, the Mercato Delle Erbe has a good number of establishments where you can have an aperitif or even a meal. And, like other markets, the food court does not close until midnight.

Bologna has many treasures to see: the porticoes, the University, the Archiginnasio or the towers of Garisenda and Asinelli. And it also has countless establishments where you can taste the culinary delights of the region. If you do not have much time to visit the city, this experience is one of the most complete.

A guided bike tour allows you to discover in just two hours all these monumental jewels of the city and stop to taste some typical snacks. At the same time, you can recover your strength to continue enjoying the monuments and the best museums of Bologna.

It is also a good plan to do with children because they will not get tired during the tour of the city. Of course, do not forget to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Also note it as one of the best things to do in Bologna in spring and autumn, since the pleasant temperatures invite you to stroll around the city in bicycles.

Bologna is one of the towns that make up this region of northern Italy. A region that stands out for some of its typical products. This is a tour that allows you to learn where they are produced, how they are made and also how they are used in the traditional cuisine of Emilia Romagna.

What does the guided tour include? On the one hand, a visit to a factory producing the famous Parmesan cheese, including a tasting. On the other hand, the tour includes a visit to a factory producing balsamic vinegar from Modena. And the tour is completed with a stop at one of the wineries that produce the delicious wines of this region.

This tasty route can have some variants, for example, to visit a factory of Parma ham, another of the most famous products of the region. In any case, it is important to keep in mind that these are tours of several hours. A good option if you have time and feel like enjoying one of the best day trips from Bologna.

What better way to end any tour of Bologna than with a typical dessert. If you have a sweet tooth, don't hesitate to take a sweet tour of the city. I recommend starting with Majani. This chocolate shop is an institution in the city. You won't be able to resist their chocolate tortellini, or their chocolates, or their pralines...

Trying an ice cream is one of the best things to do in Bologna in summer, but also at any other time of the year. The reason? That this city is home to some of the most renowned artisan gelato shops in Italy. And you know that in this country ice cream is one of the stars of its gastronomy.

But Bologna's ice cream tradition is special. Here you can taste creamy ice cream of every imaginable taste. A real temptation and a delight for the palate. And they are so important that they even have their own museum, the Gelato Museum Carpigiani. Here you can learn about the history of this sweet, see original machines and even learn how to make ice cream.

And not only ice cream, if your thing is pastries, there are also gastronomic tours that include cooking classes to learn how to make another Italian classic: tiramisu.

When going on a gastronomic tour of Bologna, it is important that you keep in mind some important questions about food and customs in the city. They will help you enjoy every bite:

• Bolognese gastronomy is nicknamed the "grassa". It is no coincidence, it is as delicious as it is caloric. If you don't want to put on too much weight, it's best to eat in moderation.
• Although the most typical dish is tagliatelle al ragù, don't resist trying other popular dishes such as tortellini in broth or cotoletta, which is a breaded veal cutlet fried and seasoned with ham and Parmesan cheese.
• In Bologna, lunch is eaten around one o'clock and dinner around eight o'clock. However, you will find places where the kitchens have much longer opening hours, perfect if you have plans to enjoy Bologna at night.
• The ice creams in Bologna are special for their creaminess and delicate flavors. You will immediately notice that they are not as cold as others you have tasted. That's the secret to get that special texture.
• Don't be reluctant to have the appetizer. As I mentioned, in Bologna it is more than a tradition. It is celebrated around seven in the evening. You only pay for the drink and you can choose from an endless number of more or less elaborate tapas. With a couple of drinks you can have dinner without much trouble. Typical places are the Café Zamboni. Tamburini.
• In Bologna you can eat very well and at very affordable prices, even in the center. Keep in mind that it is a university city, so there are plenty of osterias and trattorias with good value dishes.
• If you are looking for something quick, many establishments also offer take-away food. In the Mercato di Mezzo, for example, there are a number of places to buy authentic delicacies.
• To accompany your meal with a typical drink, order a spritz, but if you don't like bitter flavors, opt for a local wine or a craft beer.

One last tip: if you want to get a complete overview of Bologna's gastronomy, FICO is the perfect place to do so. It is a theme park dedicated exclusively to Italian food. Here you can learn how Bolognese sauce, dried pasta or local craft beer are made, among many other interesting things.