Osteria del Sole

The basics

One of the few traditional “osteria” wine bars still operating in Bologna, Osteria del Sole is a popular stop on food and wine tours in Bologna. Stock up on local cheeses, charcuterie, and other goodies at the market stalls and food shops in the surrounding Quadrilatero market district, then look for the small door along the tiny Vicolo Ranocchi marked with a “vino” (wine) sign. Grab a spot at one of the mismatched tables inside or in the interior courtyard, order a drink, and soak in the atmosphere of this Bologna institution.

Things to know before you go

• Patrons are not allowed to bring their own wine or other drinks but are expected to bring their own food.

• To occupy a table, you must purchase a drink; there is a minimum charge per person to reserve a table.

• Children can enter the osteria, so this wine bar is an excellent place for a family-friendly sack lunch with wine for the grownups (and water for the kids).

• There is a step at the entrance to Osteria del Sole, so it is not accessible to wheelchairs.

How to get there

It’s easy to miss Osteria del Sole, set along the pedestrian Vicolo Ranocchi in the Quadrilatero market area, a short walk from the central Piazza Maggiore. Vicolo Ranocchi is just one block long and runs between Via Pescherie Vecchie and Via degli Orefici, so keep your eyes peeled for its unassuming white glass-paned doors.

When to get there

The wine bar is open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 9:30pm. The atmosphere is most lively during the lunch and dinner hours when locals and visitors fill the table with their sack lunches and order rounds of wine. The bar also comes to life during the pre-dinner “aperitivo” time, around 6pm.

The best bites in Bologna’s Quadrilatero market district

In food-centric Bologna, the historic Quadrilatero market district is ground zero for finding the best gourmet delicacies in the city. Set off the city’s main centralza Maggiore, this compact area is stuffed with specialty delis, fresh pasta shops, butcher stores, bakeries, and market stalls selling everything from produce to fresh fish. Stop into landmark shops like Drogheria Gilberto for balsamic vinegar, Salumeria Simoni for prosciutto ham, La Baita Vecchia Malga for parmesan cheese, and Paolo Atti & Figli for fresh pasta and bread—then bring your spread to nearby Osteria del Sole for a picnic lunch.