Main dining room with wooden panelling, wine shelves and tables set with white cloths
Bologna · Bolognese regional cooking

Ristorante Da Cesari, Bologna

A family-run Bologna restaurant near Piazza Maggiore, serving regional cuisine in a place that began as an osteria.

Photo © Ristorante Da Cesari

  • WhereVia de' Carbonesi 8Historic centre, near Piazza Maggiore
  • CuisineBolognese regional cookingCured meats, fresh pasta, roast meats, cheeses
  • Opening hoursLunch 12:30–14:30
    Dinner 19:30–22:30
  • ContactOfficial websiteOfficial website ↗

Why go

About Ristorante Da Cesari

Da Cesari began as an osteria and wine shop at the start of the twentieth century. The Cesari family has run it since 1955, first under Ilario and, from 1962, under Paolino and his wife Irene. It grew into a long-standing meeting place for Bologna families, and today it also welcomes visitors from around the world who come to see the city.

The restaurant stands in Bologna's historic centre, close to Piazza Maggiore, and cooks the regional dishes of the area. The menu moves from cured meats and egg pasta to roast beef, scaloppine and cheese, with several plates changing by season. Seating is split between a main room of 60 places and a private room of 40, and the wine list is a selection by Paolino Cesari.

Signature dishes

What to order at Ristorante Da Cesari

Dishes from the official menu.

Tortellini in beef broth

Tortellini in brodo di manzo

Tortellini in beef broth

Small stuffed pasta served in a beef broth, a classic Bologna comfort dish. Order it for the simplicity of the broth and the filled pasta, which the kitchen also uses for its meatballs.

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

Tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce

Ribbons of fresh pasta served with the classic Bolognese meat sauce. A straightforward way to taste the regional cooking this restaurant serves, and the first dish listed among the pasta courses.

Ravioli Verdi di coniglio al burro fuso e ricottina di capra affumicata

Green ravioli with rabbit, melted butter and smoked goat ricotta

Green pasta parcels filled with rabbit, finished with melted butter and smoked goat ricotta. A less common choice on the menu for anyone wanting something beyond the familiar meat sauces and broths.

Tenerina al cioccolato fondente

Dark chocolate tenerina

A dessert built on dark chocolate, listed first among the sweets on the menu. It also appears in the three-part dessert tasting alongside the panna cotta and the zabaglione semifreddo.

Photo © Ristorante Da Cesari

Menu at a glance

Ristorante Da Cesari menu

A few dishes from each part of the official menu.

Starters

  • Pig head sausageLa coppa di testa
  • Culatello di Zibello DOP with S. Ilario butterCulatello di Zibello DOP con burro di S. Ilario

Fresh pasta

  • Tagliatelle with Bolognese sauceTagliatelle alla Bolognese
  • Tortellini in beef brothTortellini in brodo di manzo
  • Green gramignone with sausage sauceGramignone verde al ragù di salsiccia

Meat and vegetables

  • Scottona beef tartare with little saladBattuta di scottona con insalatina
  • Grilled scottona beef fillet with roasted potatoesFiletto di manzo scottona alla griglia con patate al forno

Desserts

  • Panna cotta
  • Dark chocolate tenerinaTenerina al cioccolato fondente
Full menu on the official site ↗

Services and dietary options

Good to know at Ristorante Da Cesari

  • Vegetarian dish
  • Private room
  • Seasonal dishes
  • Organic red wines

Gallery

Inside Ristorante Da Cesari

Tables set with wine glasses and the Cesari sign in the window
Dining room

Photo © Ristorante Da Cesari

Red-fronted entrance of the restaurant covered with ivy
The entrance

Photo © Ristorante Da Cesari

Dining room with wine bottles on shelves and copper pots
Main room

Photo © Ristorante Da Cesari

Row of wine bottles on a wooden shelf
The wine shelves

Photo © Ristorante Da Cesari

Close view of wine bottles along a wooden shelf
Wine selection

Photo © Ristorante Da Cesari

Practical information

Ristorante Da Cesari: address, opening hours and contacts

Address

Via de' Carbonesi 8, 40123 Bologna

Emailcesarissrl@gmail.com
Contactda-cesari.it ↗

Opening hours

Hours from the official website:

Day Lunch Dinner
Monday 12:30–14:30 19:30–22:30
Tuesday 12:30–14:30 19:30–22:30
Wednesday 12:30–14:30 19:30–22:30
Thursday 12:30–14:30 19:30–22:30
Friday 12:30–14:30 19:30–22:30
Saturday 12:30–14:30 19:30–22:30

Location

Directions ↗Open in Google Maps ↗

Getting there

How to get to Ristorante Da Cesari

From Piazza Maggiore

On foot: 320 m, about 5 min walk.

From Bologna Centrale station

On foot: 1.8 km, about 28 min. By taxi: from the official rank at the station, metered fare (CoTaBo +39 051 372727 · CAT +39 051 4590).

From Bologna Airport

Marconi Express monorail to Bologna Centrale in under 8 minutes (single €12.80), then about 28 min on foot. Or a taxi from the airport rank, metered fare.

By car

The historic centre is a camera-controlled limited-traffic zone (ZTL): park outside it, and walk.

Straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors); walking times are approximate. Marconi Express time and fare from the operator.

Around the restaurant

Near Ristorante Da Cesari: sights, and hotels

Straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Questions

Ristorante Da Cesari: frequently asked questions

What are the opening hours?

The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday for lunch from 12:30 to 14:30 and for dinner from 19:30 to 22:30.

Is the restaurant open on Sundays?

No, it is closed on Sundays.

Are there vegetarian options?

The menu lists a vegetarian dish of cabbage flan, aubergine parmigiana and courgette flower, which is seasonal. Several starters and pasta dishes are also meat-free.

How many guests can the restaurant seat?

There are 60 seats in the main room and 40 in a private room.

Is there a wine list?

Yes. The list is a selection by Paolino Cesari, with white, red, sparkling, champagne and dessert wines from Emilia-Romagna and other Italian regions.

Does the menu change with the seasons?

Yes, several starters, pasta dishes and mains are marked as seasonal, such as those with porcini, artichokes, asparagus, pumpkin and truffle.