La Prosciutteria Bologna is Comfortable Sitting at Europe’s Top Table

“Opening our doors in Bologna was a true milestone for us – it meant arriving in the heart of the land of cured meats and the good life. It was like completing a culinary Master’s degree or playing in the Champions League of charcuterie.”

It’s a strong message from La Prosciutteria’s website but this gem of a bar in Bologna has gone beyond simply competing at the top table. This is the Real Madrid of cured meats.

Located right in the heart of the city, La Prosciutteria is a favourite for locals and tourists who want to tuck into a rustic Italian aperitivo experience.

The first thing you notice on approaching through the narrow streets of the Quadrilatero neighbourhood is that this venue feels like a time capsule. The sign above the door evokes images of the late 1800s – the elaborate wooden shape and the complex font spelling out La Prosciutteria. Then there’s the old-fashioned demijohns standing either side of the door.

But nothing can quite prepare you for what’s inside. Think rustic wood, marble counters and hundreds of hams hanging from the ceiling. It’s informal, cosy, often quite lively but never too noisy.

Great as the atmosphere is, it is merely a backdrop to the main event – the meat and cheese counter. La Prosciutteria is famous for its taglieri, and brands it “the most famous in Italy”.

Taglieri is Italian for chopping boards, cold cuts or cheese platters – or a combination of both – served on rustic wooden slates.

Expect a mix of Tuscan and Emilian cured meats such as prosciutto, salame and finocchiona along with local cheeses, honey, jams, and various crostini or bruschettas and their trademark schiacciata – a kind of delicious flatbread typical of Emilia-Romagna and Liguria.

A small platter of freshly sliced ham will set you back €6, while one featuring six different cheeses or cold cuts comes in at €15. Unsure? Ask for the cut of the day.

Wash it all down with a local wine such as Lambrusco or Sangiovese, which start from €4 per glass and €12 per bottle for the house red. Don’t expect table service either. Order everything at the bar, get a ticket and bring your food and drinks back to where you are sitting.

Every table is different and purchased at flea markets across Italy, while chairs are made out of old wooden crates used to carry fruit and veg around local markets.

Top tip: La Prosciutteria does not take reservations and operates on a first come, first served basis. If you go during peak aperitivo hours, roughly between 7pm and 9pm, expect a bit of a wait. Less so in the winter months.

Address: Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 19/a, 40126 Bologna. Open seven days a week 11am to 11pm.