The best aperitivo in Bologna
- Category: Eat
Happy students, curious tourists, tired workers: everybody wants to have aperitivo.
But what is exactly aperitivo? And which are the best places to have it in Bologna?
But what is exactly aperitivo? And which are the best places to have it in Bologna?
What is aperitivo?
The word aperitivo has different meanings. These are the ones you should be aware of:
- A time of the day
If you say: 'Let's meet for aperitivo!' you mean that you'd meet your friend just before dinner. Time can change according to where you are, in Bologna it's from about 6 pm to 8 pm. - A kind of drink
Ask a barista for an aperitivo and you'll get a low alcoholic sweet drink. It can be a cocktail or a liquor. Spritz is the most famous, vermuth was the origin, Aperol, Campari, Crodino or Cynar the classics. - A way of eating
There's no aperitivo without food. Even a few chips and olives or something more.
Amongst students, aperitivo means a cheap dinner where you pay slightly more for the drink (6 to 8€) and then you have an all-you-can-eat buffet to attack. Most of the time the quality of the food is poor: lunch leftovers, overcooked pasta, and salty appetizers to make you drink more. Quality aperitivo exists, but you always pay what you get.
The best places to have aperitivo in Bologna
Aperitivo in summer at Le Serre dei Giardini Margherita
MAMbo Caffè
The Museum of Modern Art isn't only a must-visit during your stay. Just next door this fashion bar with vintage sofas is my first choice for aperitivo. Good selection of pure-origin coffee. Sunday brunch from 12:30 to 3 pm.
MAMbo caffè
Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, 14/E, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 649 3896
mambo-bologna.org
Serre dei Giardini Margherita
THE place to have aperitivo outdoor. Drink a spritz sit between rosemary and sage in the renovated greenhouses.
After aperitivo, you should have a proper dinner at the Vetro restaurant.
Serre dei Giardini Margherita
Via Castiglione, 134, 40136 Bologna
Tel. +39 370 333 6439
leserre.kilowatt.bo.it
The Museum of Modern Art isn't only a must-visit during your stay. Just next door this fashion bar with vintage sofas is my first choice for aperitivo. Good selection of pure-origin coffee. Sunday brunch from 12:30 to 3 pm.
MAMbo caffè
Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, 14/E, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 649 3896
mambo-bologna.org
Serre dei Giardini Margherita
THE place to have aperitivo outdoor. Drink a spritz sit between rosemary and sage in the renovated greenhouses.
After aperitivo, you should have a proper dinner at the Vetro restaurant.
Serre dei Giardini Margherita
Via Castiglione, 134, 40136 Bologna
Tel. +39 370 333 6439
leserre.kilowatt.bo.it
Bizarre cocktail bar near Mercato delle Erbe
Mercato delle Erbe
One of the best food markets in Bologna is a place for shopping in the morning and eating and drinking in the evening.
Find a table inside to enjoy a slice of pizza at Mozzabella, a gourmet piadina at Sfarina or a fish tagliere at Vini e Sapuri.
Just outside in Via Belvedere you can get a drink at Bar Senza Nome or the best cocktails of Bologna at Bizarre.
Mozzabella
Via Ugo Bassi, 23, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 484 1969
Sfarina
Via Ugo Bassi, 23, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 269282
sfarina.it
Vini e Sapuri
Via Ugo Bassi, 23, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 320 189 1408
www.viniesapuri.com
Bar Senza Nome
Via Belvedere, 11, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 392 516 2896
Bizarre Tel.
Via Belvedere, 4/a, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 347 097 7547
www.bizarrebologna.com
One of the best food markets in Bologna is a place for shopping in the morning and eating and drinking in the evening.
Find a table inside to enjoy a slice of pizza at Mozzabella, a gourmet piadina at Sfarina or a fish tagliere at Vini e Sapuri.
Just outside in Via Belvedere you can get a drink at Bar Senza Nome or the best cocktails of Bologna at Bizarre.
Mozzabella
Via Ugo Bassi, 23, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 484 1969
Sfarina
Via Ugo Bassi, 23, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 269282
sfarina.it
Vini e Sapuri
Via Ugo Bassi, 23, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 320 189 1408
www.viniesapuri.com
Bar Senza Nome
Via Belvedere, 11, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 392 516 2896
Bizarre Tel.
Via Belvedere, 4/a, 40121 Bologna
Tel. +39 347 097 7547
www.bizarrebologna.com
Modo Infoshop and LOrtica in Via Mascarella
Mercato Albani
Another market, but far from the movida of Mercato delle Erbe. A long hallway with food stalls and a few bars that at night become alive. At Sbando you can choose from a good list of wines and pay for small tapas (1€ each).
Do you want to know more about local wines?
Join our Bologna wine tasting and our sommeliers Davide and Lorenzo will make you taste the best Lambrusco and Pignoletto you could ever meet.
Sbando
Via Francesco Albani, 40129 Bologna
Tel. +39 375 502 7838
Another market, but far from the movida of Mercato delle Erbe. A long hallway with food stalls and a few bars that at night become alive. At Sbando you can choose from a good list of wines and pay for small tapas (1€ each).
Do you want to know more about local wines?
Join our Bologna wine tasting and our sommeliers Davide and Lorenzo will make you taste the best Lambrusco and Pignoletto you could ever meet.
Sbando
Via Francesco Albani, 40129 Bologna
Tel. +39 375 502 7838
Camera a Sud
Via Mascarella and University area
The street of jazz is in the middle of the University area.
Get a drink and read a book at the Modo Infoshop bookshop.
Sit outside at LOrtica for a Bologna craft beer amongst students.
A few meters and you get a good example of street food in Bologna: take away pizza at Pizzartist and a glass of wine at Rubik or Camera a Sud.
Modo Infoshop
Via Mascarella, 24/b, 40126 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 587 1012
LOrtica
Via Mascarella, 26/B, 40126 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 587 6455
www.lortica.org
Caffè Rubik
Via Marsala, 31/D, 40126 Bologna BO
Tel. +39 051 014 0660
www.cafferubik.com
Camera a Sud
Via Valdonica, 5, 40126 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 095 1448
www.cameraasud.net
The street of jazz is in the middle of the University area.
Get a drink and read a book at the Modo Infoshop bookshop.
Sit outside at LOrtica for a Bologna craft beer amongst students.
A few meters and you get a good example of street food in Bologna: take away pizza at Pizzartist and a glass of wine at Rubik or Camera a Sud.
Modo Infoshop
Via Mascarella, 24/b, 40126 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 587 1012
LOrtica
Via Mascarella, 26/B, 40126 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 587 6455
www.lortica.org
Caffè Rubik
Via Marsala, 31/D, 40126 Bologna BO
Tel. +39 051 014 0660
www.cafferubik.com
Camera a Sud
Via Valdonica, 5, 40126 Bologna
Tel. +39 051 095 1448
www.cameraasud.net
Get the best from your aperitivo time in Bologna
Ok, so I've shared my favorite places to have the best aperitivo in Bologna.
But would you like to dig deep inside the local food scene?
Join our Bologna food tour at sunset to taste mortadella, homemade pizza, artisanal gelato and more.
[photos: Lorenzo Burlando, Bizarre Cocktail Boutique, Camera a Sud]
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