Vineria Favalli In Bologna

A wine shop I stop in often. They have extremely interesting wines, and I often don't know them, but they're always great discoveries. I've only ever had appetizers, so I can't comment on the food.

A great wine bar, friendly owners, simple fare – the wines lean towards natural wines, but traditional estates can also be found on the shelves. Bravo!

On a busy Friday night, I managed to nab the last table outside Vineria Favalli in a cobbled roadway behind Bologna’s Quadrilatero market – and I loved the atmosphere and energy. It was the perfect spot to people watch and enjoy Bolognese life. I returned a few days later with some friends and could only get a seat inside in the back room which is almost entirely devoid of atmosphere – so my advice is arrive early, especially on weekend evenings (and my score on atmosphere is for an outside table). Wines on offer by the glass were excellent – I enjoyed a skinsy vermentino from Liguria. Deep-fried zucchini flowers were OK and fellow guests were friendly. Some tables were given taralli as a free cicchetti with their drinks – I was not on either occasion and I think this may be a locals vs tourist thing! I’m sure if you ask they’ll give you some though.

Hard to pin down. The staff are like a social cooperative, but if you drink while you're at the bar, you inspire trust, because it means you believe in what you're selling. Only one type of beer, but it's a wine bar and the wines are good. The mini crescioni are good. Best in the summer, under the porch.