Bologna is a great spot for a bit of bar hopping. The center of town is dense and easily walkable from one end to the other. Perfect for a bar crawl.
We stayed at La Suite Rooms & Apartments. This set us up perfectly for a walkable barcrawl of a weekend in Bologna. It was as central as could be and (this might be the most niche shout-out I’ll ever make) there was no key to carry around, it was all code entry.
The wines in Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna, are unique to the region, as is so common in Italy. My perception of Lambrusco before visiting Bologna was completely different to when I left. The variance from one bottle to the next is unlike any other type of wine I have ever tried. Safe to say I now love Lambrusco!
Anyway, enough about my personal journey with Lambrusco, and onto the best bars in Bologna.
The best bar in Bologna for a market feast / The oldest bar in Bologna?
Just outside the very thick of the old market streets of Quadrilatero lies – allegedly – the oldest bar in the world. Hailing from London, where I regularly frequent bars over 500 years old, I just don’t buy that the oldest bar in the world is in Bologna. Regardless, Osteria del Sole is a must visit, especially if you’re peckish. When we went, most people in the bar were treating their tables as a picnic area. Every table had an incredible spread with wares from the market. We had a glass of Pignoletto (my first!), which was like a prosecco but made with grapes indigenous to Emilia Romagna. They were served in tiny glasses filled right up to the brim.
Best local’s bar
A classic Italian bar does it all. Espresso and pastry in the morning. Panini at lunch. Aperitivi pre-dinner. And beer and people watching all day long. Right in the heart of Quadrilatero, we sat on a ledge at Bar Ferri we drank bottles of Forst beer (our favourite!) while local Italian men ordered coffees and various drinks all day long, chatting to each other while their wives were surely slaving over something back home.
Best bar for the view (not the actual bar)
Sometimes, you have to compromise on bar ambiance, drinks offering, price, service, and well, everything – for the sake of nabbing a seat with a view. Bar Vittorio Emanuell was just that bar. Or at least it is one of the bars in Bologna’s most famous square where you can take in some of the city’s best sights. We overspent on a couple of bottles of beer for the sake of sitting in a beautiful corner of the Piazza Maggiore. It was worth taking in the incredible architecture and have a beer while overlooking the famous fountain of Neptune.
Best bar for every occasion
On the other end of the spectrum, you occasionally find a bar that is so great at everything including transitioning from day drinking to aperitivo to late night. We visited Camera a Sud more times than we would care to admit given we had only 48 hours in Bologna. We had our favourite Lambrusco of the whole trip there by the glass. Drinks were served with green olives, friselle, and chips. We enjoyed Campari spritzes in the sun, draft beers on sofas inside when it was raining, and glasses of wine in the evening. Camera a Sud is one of the best bars in Bologna for any time of day.
Best bar in Bologna for a taste of hipster chic
We were immediately drawn to Caffe Rubik. It was part old-school Italian bar, with modern touches including their trendy drinks menu. The old furniture out front is fun to sit on with an aperitivo. The crowd is young, lively, and local. You might be waiting a while for a drink though – no service without seats! One of the best bars in Bologna to hang out with the young local crowd.
Best bar for a selection of regional wines by the glass
Medulla Vini had an incredible curation of different wines, and a huge offering of wines by the glass specifically. Their menu was split by region in Italy, and the staff were very knowledgeable. Most people drinking out on the street rather than in the bar.
Best bar in Bologna after dark
Last and certainly not least, we had so much fun one late-ish night at Bebi. It was in the Quadrilatero market maze. The bar was tiny, walled with chipboard, and the ceiling was a giant mirror. We had a couple of beers and watched the regazzi get their spritz on while we sat on two tiny plastic stools in front of the bar.
