The Bologna Bar Celebrating Rossoblu Old and New (with a Touch of Italia 90)

Not many pubs have a Born In The USA Tour billboard, a Smashing Pumpkins poster and an old Ireland pennant all housed under the watchful eye of Freddie Mercury behind the bar.

Boca Juniors and Real Betis have a presence here too – just more little touches adding to the magic of one Bologna’s greatest boozers.

Located in the Cirenaica district in the city’s eastern suburbs, Bar Tito is off the beaten track and all the better for it.

Wandering through its doors is a bit like stepping back in time, the feeling of nostalgia heightened by 1980s music posters and Italia 90 memorabilia, including the instantly recognisable mascot, Ciao.

Look around the bar, however, and there are regular reminders that this is in fact the mid-2020s. And unsurprisingly, those reminders are all red and blue.

There is a Lewis Ferguson signed shirt, a scarf from the 2025 Coppa Italia final when Bologna ended a 51-year trophy drought and there’s a big screen broadcasting sports almost 24 hours a day.

Bologna fans gather here before heading to the Stadio Dall’Ara and Tito is the first and last stop on away day, a quick coffee and a croissant to kick off, before a pint of Guinness, Kilkenny or German lager (for €5-€6) as a nightcap following a day on the road.

Such is Tito’s popularity among those of a Rossoblu persuasion that Sky Sports Italia regularly do live updates from here with the bar as a backdrop.

A calcio-specific bar, which is curiously something of a rarity in Italy, Tito also counts members of the local Roma supporters club as regulars.

Small and cosy with limited standing room, you almost get the feeling you’re drinking – or eating one of the tasty sandwiches on offer for around €6-€7 – in someone’s living room. Which is one of the things that makes it so special.

Bologna fan Francesco Gentilini told us: “This is a beautiful place to hang out. You can have breakfast in the morning, a couple of beers in the evening. It’s a bar for people who like football, who like sport in general.

“If you come to Bologna and don’t have a ticket for the game or Bologna are playing away, come here. It may be packed but it will be good, especially if the weather is nice as you can watch the game even from outside.

“The owners are nice, so are the people here and there are football items from all over the world on the walls.”

Via Giuseppe Bentivogli 111c, 40138 Bologna.
Monday to Saturday: 7am to 11pm
Sunday: 6am to 11pm