After arriving in Bologna, we spent today on a small group food tour with Delicious Bologna, hitting all the major dishes and traditions the city is known for.

Espresso and Cornetto at Caffé Terzi

We started with a proper espresso and cornetto at Caffé Terzi, in the city center near the towers.

Watching the Tortellini Get Made

Next up was watching traditional tortellini making — stunning craftsmanship by the ladies at work. It was fascinating watching them craft these little delicious pasta lovelies, and the sheer speed at which they did it… wow.

The Quadrilatero District Markets

Then we moved into the street markets of the Quadrilatero district for a view of local life, along with some local salumi and dry Lambrusco.

Pasta Tastings: Tortellini in Brodo, Tagliatelle, and Green Lasagna

Next up was the traditional pasta tastings. First was the tortellini in brodo, then the tagliatelle with ragù bolognese, and the green lasagna bolognese. We could eat the tortellini in brodo every day — it was that good.

…now a little walk before gelato!

Aperitivo and One More “Snack” at Simoni

After such a great food tour through the morning and early afternoon, we could only manage an aperitivo on the rooftop patio of our hotel, then a “snack” for dinner back in the Quadrilatero district at Simoni, since we couldn’t get enough of the local meats and cheeses.

Quick Tips for the Delicious Bologna Food Tour

• Go in with an appetite — between the espresso, tortellini tastings, and market bites, this is a full day of eating, not a light sampling.
• Watch the tortellini-making closely — the speed and precision of the hand-craftsmanship is worth pausing for on its own.
• Save room for the pasta tastings — the tortellini in brodo, tagliatelle with ragù, and green lasagna come one after another.
• Head back to the Quadrilatero district after the tour — it’s worth a return visit for more local meats and cheeses, like we did at Simoni.