Osteria dell’Orsa is One of Bologna’s Most Visited Restaurants… Here’s Why

Even by Italy’s lofty standards, there is no culinary experience quite like Bologna. There is a reason why the capital of Emilia Romagna is known as ‘la grassa‘, or ‘the fat one’.

Not be the most endearing nickname but it speaks to the role food plays in the city, the number of eateries dotted around town and the stunning quality available.

It’s nigh-on impossible to go hungry in Bologna, particularly in the old town where there seems to be restaurants, delis and osterie around every corner.

Lewis Ferguson, the Bologna captain, told us about his favourites in the city while our Airbnb host recommended Osteria dell’Orsa, tucked away in Via Mentana, one of the many winding backstreets close to the university area.

“Don’t be put off by the queues and don’t be put off by its appearance,” was his advice. Could this really be one of the most visited restaurants in the old town, an Instagram must-see?

The answer, as it happened, was a resounding yes. There was indeed a queue outside as locals and tourists waited patiently for a spot and a busy waiter took down names on a notepad.

As luck would have it, we barely had time to line up when a table for two became available.

Once in, the majority of seating is on long wooden benches either side of old-fashioned tables. If you are looking for a luxury dining experience, this is not the spot. But then, it is an osteria and it lives up to its name, deriving from oste, Italian for ‘host’ or ‘innkeeper’.

Osterie originally served primarily wine and allowed customers to bring their own food, mostly cheese and bread. The concept has evolved but traditional osterie today remain establishments with a limited menu, focusing on local and seasonal offerings.

Osteria dell’Orsa does just that. A Bolognese institution since it opened in 1979 when the owners bought out the Dal Francese pub, the venue hosts jazz and punk nights in the downstairs area, which has been converted to a dining room over the past two decades.

Whether it is a platter of local cheeses or cold cuts as a starter for €10 and €15 respectively, accompanied by a serving of tigelle – a type of small, round bread typical of Emilia that is always served warm – to a bowl of pasta, the food speaks to Bologna’s culinary tradition.

All the vegetables are so-called ‘0 km’ and come from organic farming, while all the pastas are handmade in Bologna. The wine is simple – red or white – and is served in carafes. Like the rest of the menu, it is local, coming from Imola, a town 40km from Bologna and home of the San Marino Grand Prix.

So good was the pasta that we treated ourselves to tagliatelle al ragu on both visits in 2025. And the second time we were lucky enough to sit by the kitchen and watch one of the chefs work his magic.

If you can, grab the same spot. If you can’t, sit anywhere. You won’t regret it.

Address: Via Mentana, 1f, 40126 Bologna BO

Opening hours: 12.15pm-10.30pm every day