What Italians call a ‘bar’ is generally both a café and somewhere to buy alcohol. Many are also licenced as tabacchi, so conveniently sell bus tickets, stamps and phone cards too.
Whether you want a little nip of grappa in your coffee to take the chill off a winter morning (called caffè corretto, or ‘corrected coffee’), a glass of wine with your lunchtime panino, an afternoon beer, or an evening spritz with some excellent snacks – an Italian bar is your go to. On my last visit to Bologna – one of Italy’s most food-loving cities – I had an evening free at the end of my food & wine tour and took myself on a Bologna bar crawl. Here’s what I discovered and consider to be among the best bars in Bologna, for coffee or something more substantial. They’re all a short walk from Piazza Maggiore in Bologna’s historic centre too.
Gran Bar
Gran Bar, just around the corner from Piazza Duomo, is a fascinating mix of caviar and champagne alongside lottery tickets and disposable cigarette lighters – as it’s also a tabacchi like many Italian bars. It’s unpretentious, full of locals (especially inside) and great value with three complimentary mini mortadella panini and a bowl of crisps arriving with a €6 glass of local pignoletto.
Vineria Favalli
This is a great spot to people watch and soak up the atmosphere and energy of Bologna at night, provided you can nab an outside table in the flagstone-paved roadway behind the Quadrilatero (inside seating lacks atmosphere and isn’t worth it). Busy staff sometimes discriminate between locals and visitors, but use your best Italian, smile sweetly, and if they “forget” to give you the complimentary taralli with your drink just ask nicely.
I Conoscenti
This elegant bar/restaurant, in an historic palazzo a short walk from Piazza Maggiore, is my favourite Bolognese bar for a quiet contemplative drink. Perch at the bar, enjoy the upbeat music, and ask the knowledgeable friendly staff for a wine recommendation (perhaps a glass of pet-nat pignoletto). Excellent olives and delicious vegetable chips are complimentary and there’s a short bar menu of great eats, including tasty battuta.
Osteria del Sole
This bar, in a laneway just off the main street of the Quadrilatero, opened in 1465! In the tradition of early enoteche it still serves only wine, no food (patrons bring their own). At night the street is heaving and it’s almost impossible to get to the door, and by day it’s packed too. So arrive early for a glass of pignoletto at the bar with the locals, then leave the tables for the tourists and go elsewhere in the Quadrilatero to eat (like Baita below).
La Baita
Whenever I’m in Bologna, I’m drawn to this casual bar/eatery in an ancient deli at the heart of the Quadrilatero market. A table upstairs is best for lunch, but for a coffee or glass of wine I prefer an outside table where I can enjoy the market’s bustling atmosphere. Either way, take time to browse the amazing display of salumi, formaggi and other gourmet goodies inside.
Bar Romano
I love an early morning coffee at an outside table of this bar in a laneway off Piazza Duomo, between the imposing Basilica and Palazzo dei Notai with its crenellations and Gothic windows. Coffee is excellent, service is friendly and prices are very reasonable. Arrive early when it’s just you, the pigeons and maybe a couple of locals, and soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful piazza in the early morning light. That’s living like a local!
Caffè Termini
Caffe Termini is a caffè rather than a bar, serving only coffee, tea and a few sweets – no alcohol, soft drinks, or panini. Ex-sommelier Manuel Terzi takes his coffee so seriously that it’s worth a mention here. Most bars offer espresso or cappuccino, maybe macchiato or ristretto if you’re getting fancy. At Termini it’s a question of beans from Peru, Rwanda, Ethiopia or India – and would you like those Indian beans robusta or arabica?
Published 27 Jan 2026
