World Foodie Guide

Zanarini, an elegant cafe and pasticceria, was very close to where we were staying in Bologna, Italy, so we would walk past it several times a day.

It always looked so inviting, whether in the morning for a quick breakfast, a coffee break, lunch or aperitifs in the evening with limitless buffet snacks. As it was open from 7am to 10pm daily, we were able to see through its large windows what treats were on offer at various times of the day. The window displays of cakes and desserts looked particularly spectacular. And on the first floor, there is a tea salon, where you can also have lunch and aperitifs.

But we were always conscious of having to save ourselves for all the lunches and dinners that we had booked, and there was literally no space in our stomachs for little extras, which was a real shame as Zanarini is a delightful haven, especially for gourmets.

It’s light and spacious, so there’s plenty of space to stand even if it’s busy. It’s also in an excellent location, at the corner of Piazza Maggiore and Via Farini – a perfect place to rest tired feet after a day of sightseeing or shopping…

We did manage to go twice, once for coffee, and the second time for a quick breakfast before heading to the airport. An espresso is a mere 1.20 Euros, but my cioccolata panna, hot chocolate with cream, was a more costly 5.50 Euros. Although I don’t usually like drinking thick Italian hot chocolate, this was really lovely, especially with plenty of cream added to it.

You can choose to stand around the bar counter, or sit down looking out onto the Piazza. It doesn’t cost any extra to sit down at a table or on the stools by the windows. Everywhere you turn, temptation beckons in the form of cakes, desserts, savoury pastries and sandwiches. And in the evening when it’s time for aperitifs, platters and platters of delicious snacks are laid out, of which you can eat as much as you want.

I had had my eye on a brioche vuota (1.20 Euros) for days, and finally managed to sample it on the second visit, the last morning in Bologna. It’s similar to a bombolone, which is a custard-filled doughnut.

The brioche outer part was light and fresh, with a dusting of icing sugar, while the custard inside was delightfully thick, but not too much so. It wasn’t too sweet either, and was a perfect pastry, for any time of the day. If we hadn’t been in a hurry to get to the airport, I would have stayed for a bombolone too.

At Zanarini, as is the case at most of these cafe/bar places, you decide what you want, pay in advance at a cash till section, then go to the bar or food counters with your receipt and order.

If only we had had more time in Bologna! Of course the city is full of little bars and cafes and cake shops, and next time I could do a tour of just these places and never feel hungry. But I could just as happily have camped out at Zanarini from morning til night, in order to try all the delicacies on offer. It’s a lovely place to hang out and just relax, whether for a few minutes or to linger over a tasty treat.

Have a look at the summary of our trip and other restaurant recommendations in Where To Eat In Bologna…

10 – Perfection, 9.5 – Sensational, 9 – Outstanding, 8.5 – Superb,
8 – Excellent, 7.5 – Very Good, 7 - Good, 6.5 - Above Average, 6 – Average

All the Italy restaurant reviews on World Foodie Guide

Contact Details:
Caffe’ Pasticceria Zanarini
Piazza Galvani 1 (on the corner of Piazza Maggiore and Via Farini)
Bologna
Italy
Tel: +39 (0) 51 2750 041
http://caffezanarini.com
Open 07.00 to 22.00 daily

Helen Yuet Ling Pang @ World Foodie Guide

Tags: Bologna, cafe, Caffe Pasticceria Zanarini, dining out, food, Italian, Italy, restaurant review, restaurants, travel, traveleating