 |
EATING AND DRINKING |
|
 |
Hotels in Bologna |
|
 |
|
Eating
and
drinking
are the mainstays of Bolognese social life. Eating especially is important to the Bolognese: the city is known as "La Grassa" ("The Fat"), the result of a rich culinary tradition, and the emphasis on food here can be taken to extremes. People travel a long way to eat at the top restaurants, which are said to be the best in Italy, and even the simplest restaurants and the many
osterie
often serve dishes of a very high standard. Certainly the lack of a fancy menu or elaborate decor shouldn't rule out further investigation, and you should endeavour to try some local specialities while you're here. Handmade lasagne, tagliatelle and tortellini (small, shaped pasta with a stuffing of ham, sausage, chopped chicken, pork and veal, eggs, nutmeg and parmesan) are excellent and regarded with great affection by residents of Bologna, to the extent that elaborate stories explain their origin: the first tortellini are said to have been made by a Bolognese innkeeper trying to re-create the beauty of Venus's navel.
Restaurants
Anna Maria
, Via Belle Arti 17a (tel 051.266.894). A favourite with the orchestra from the Teatro Comunale nearby; the
sfogline
(pasta-makers) work out front at lunchtime. Especially worth trying are the
tortellini al gorgonzola
...
read more >>
Osterie
Birreria del Pratello
, Via del Pratello 24a. Bustling, pub-like osteria serving a good range of German beers. Food available. Closed Sun.
Il Cantinone
, Via del Pratello 56a. A lively
enoteca
offering a dozen or more...
read more >>
Snacks, bars, cafés and ice cream
Altero
, Via dell'Indipendenza 33; Via Ugo Bassi 10. Part of a mensa-style chain, and the best place for pizza by the slice.
Caffè Commercianti
, Strada Maggiore 23c. Atmospheric and very central snack and cocktail bar. Open every...
read more >>
| 
Looking for cheap or discount hotels? Want to find special internet only room rates? EZTrip.com has great hotel specials, including discount hotels in Anaheim, Hawaii, New York, London, Memphis, Paris, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto - anywhere you want to go! For the best hotel discounts click on 
Copyright Rough Guides Ltd as trustee for its authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved.