Via Cesare Boldrini 5
The staff is very nice, the food is delicious and the atmosphere is cosy. At the entrance there's the (real) pizza oven with pizzaboy.
Website
Via delle Belle Arti 14
This is a centre that offers interesting workshops and courses. Just contact them to subscribe yourself for a course, prices are very low and the atmosphere is open and sympathetic.
Vicolo Broglio 1/F
This bar is under the ground and has a slightly alternative public and music. The atmosphere is relaxt and later in the evening people dance.
Vicolo Broglio 1/E
Located in a dark basement this is an alternative club, sometimes with concerts. To enter you need to be a member of the ARCI circle (you can sign up as a member at the entrance, it is useful for other places as well, see their website).
Website
Riva di Reno 77/A
On the east side of Piazza Maggiore these streets are full of shops with the types of food mentioned in the title. Even if you don't like vegetables or fruit or fish or who knows what, have a look here and see if you really don't want to give it a try.
Via Caprarie, Via Pescherie Vecchie
In summer there's a jazz 'festival' meaning you can sit outside on a hot summer's night and enjoy live jazz music and feel happy. But also when it's not this restaurant makes you feel indulged, while enjoying a nice dinner, good wine and live jazz artists. Check the website for the program.
(Don't confuse this restaurant with the other one, 'Bravo café', across the street, that one is no good).
Website
Via Mascarella 4/B
In summer on some evenings they play old movies on a screen at Piazza Maggiore. The chairs are often fully occupied but you can also bring your own or just go sit at the terrace and enjoy the movie with a good drink.
You can find information on the website of Cineteca di Bologna looking for 'sotto le stelle del cinema'.
Bologna also has the so called 7 secrets. There's no consensus about what makes them up exactly (so in the end there're more than 7), but here is a selection:
1) The arches in piazza Maggiore that transport sound (whispers) from one corner to the other.
2) The statue of Neptune that from a position in front of the library Sala borsa appears to have an erection (which is in fact his tumb)
3) The window in Via Piella through which you can see "little venice"
4) From the Porta Saragozza to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca there are 666 arches..
5) At the beginning of Via dell'Indipendenza from Via Rizzoli you can see a couple of paintings on the ceiling. One of them of cannabis with the words; "panis vita, canabis protectio, vinum laetitia". It's also in the mosaic on the floor.
6) On top of the highest tower of the 2 towers there is a broken vase.
7) The legend of the three arrows in a house near Piazza Maggiore..
You're not supposed to climb the tower before you are graduated because otherwise it is believed that you won't graduate. Once Bologna was full of towers of all families that every time wanted to build the highest tower. These however are 2 of the very few left and have the same problem as the tower in Pisa. The view is great and you can see the hills around Bologna that you forget are there when you're in the city.
Under the city of Bologna lies a river (which also makes Bologna horribly humid and hot in summer). It's maybe hard to believe but in Via Piela you can see the window that proves there really is one. Better yet is to discover the subterranean Bologna, by boat or on foot. There's a whole maze of tunnels under the city that have lots of history. You can choose between several tracks but you have to call to reserve. Just go to the Tourist Information Office at Piazza Maggiore for more info because they're still working on their English web page.
The prices here are quite high but if you want to indulge yourself, go here for a lunch or just some sweets and coffee. It has a girly interior and makes you think of a doll house. The quality is okay and it is also suitable as a place to spend some time in the few armchairs or couches.
Via Santo Stefano 1
Every 2 years this event takes place in Bologna and it is something to see. It's a parade in which everyone can participate (par tòt parata means 'parade for everyone' in Bolognese dialect). On the facebook page you can see when the next one is.
Right on Piazza Maggiore is the library. It opened in 2001 in an old palace with a long history. It's a nice space and in parts of the floor they have glass tiles so you can see the old roman structures. You can become a member if you're staying for over 3 months, but it's also possible to just go there and read books, newspapers, magazines, watch films, listen to music etc.
Website
Bologna is quite known for the fairs. Often every B&B in Bologna is full booked because there is one going on. Some are very interesting and worth visiting. Look at the website for the calendar.
This is the way the old osterias were. Bring your own food, socialize with strangers and drink drink drink. This is one of the few osterias left (since 1465!!) that still follows this concept; so bring your own food and enjoy!
Vicolo Ranocchi 1/D
Check the events in program on these websites, not all of them are in Bologna itself;
The website is not the best and there's no English version, but here you can insert your route and see which buses to take.