Caffè Zanarini — Restaurant in Bologna

GREAT COFFEE ! Soon after we arrived at our Airbnb apartment in Bologna on Fri, Sept 29th my wife and I headed out to grab some cash from an ATM. Along the way we had a good look for potential dinner and breakfast places. Across from the ATM we noticed this impressive looking cafe. A quick look inside was enough to confirm it for our cappuccino spot the next morning. AND WE DID ! On Saturday morning we made the 10 minute walk over here for a light brekkie. A sweet cashier named Luna took our order for 2 x Double Shot Cappuccinos ( in their cute little cups ) and 2 x Ham & Cheese Croissants. We paid upfront and sat at a high community bench table at the rear of the cafe. Within a few short minutes our 2 Cappuccinos were placed on the espresso bar counter by Grazia the barista....plus 2 small glasses of Sparkling Water ( palate cleanser ). I had to tell Grazia we don't drink Sparkling Water ( very popular in Italy ). OKAY ! Grazia happily replaced them with small glasses of Still Water ( as they call it ). Our rich tasting cappuccinos tasted fabulous..hard to beat an invigorating coffee early in the morning. Shortly after our Ham & Cheese Croissants arrived and they tasted quite good. This is a pretty flash looking espresso bar / cafe with a huge outdoor dining area. I went for a walk to find the men's restroom...it was upstairs. WOW ! There was a beautiful dining room on the upper floor.....classic Italian style. I took a bunch of pics after using the restroom. Before we left I asked Luna the cashier about dining upstairs. Luna said they serve good pasta and more. When we expressed interest in good pasta dishes Luna quietly told us about her fav pasta restaurant...we hit it that evening and it was sensational ! On Sunday, Oct 1st my wife and I walked the short distance here for our morning coffees. We arrived around 7am and waited a minute or two for them to open. A cashier took our order for 2 x Double Shot Cappuccinos and a sweet pastry for my wife. We were asked if we wanted small glasses of Sparkling Water or Still Water ( to cleanse the palate )...we said still. Our Cappuccinos in cute little cups were placed on the espresso counter within a few minutes. Nothing like a rich tasting cappuccino to get your motor runnin' first thing in the morning. My wife enjoyed her sweet pastry with her invigorating cappuccino. This was the start of a very busy day for us....our last full day in Bologna. THIS WAS...

This place doesn’t even deserve one star I went in alone and when I first sat down the staff acted friendly and quick but the moment I was seated they vanished I decided to wait and see how long it would take It took over 40 minutes just to place a simple order

Yes it was a bit busy but that’s no excuse People who arrived after me were already eating while I was still sitting there being ignored I raised my hand clearly Two staff members looked straight at me and still did nothing Worse they stood inside whispering to each other while glancing at me like I wasn’t supposed to notice

It honestly felt humiliating and borderline discriminatory It made me incredibly uncomfortable and angry Eventually someone else came over and apologized but at that point it didn’t mean anything I had gone in just to have breakfast but ended up waiting more than 50 minutes for food By then it wasn’t breakfast it was a wasted morning and my whole day’s schedule was ruined

I don’t care how good the food might be for others No one should be treated like that especially when they’re alone The only remotely decent moment was when the staff member at the end processed my payment politely Too little way too late I won’t ever be coming back

If you can’t handle the number of guests then reduce the number of tables You’re overreaching and it clearly shows Knowing your limits and running things properly is part of being a good...

⭐ One Star – A Bitter Taste at Cafe Zanarini Despite its elegant setting in Piazza Galvani, our visit to Cafe Zanarini was marked by inefficiency and indifference. We waited approximately 10 minutes in a queue near the terrace before being seated. Once at our table, we endured another 20 minutes of being ignored—until a waiter mistakenly tried to serve us a cake we hadn’t ordered. We seized that moment to request the menu, which thankfully arrived promptly. But after an additional 15 minutes of being overlooked, we decided to leave.

I can’t comment on the food or drinks, because we never got that far. What I can speak to is the lack of service, which was disorganized and inattentive from start to finish. With over 250 reviews under my belt, one-star ratings are rare—but this one is unequivocally deserved. The experience left a bitter taste, and unfortunately, not the kind that comes...