The Award-Winning PRIVATE Food Tour of Bologna: 6 or 10 Tastings

Advertised as six food and drink tastings. We had three food tasting (cannelloni, ham and cheese). We had one glass of Prosecco, which the guide wanted me to pay for originally. It did include vinegar tasting but I wouldn’t regard that as one of the six. Considering the cost and the delicious food you can get in Bologna at reasonable prices then don’t waste your money on this. I’ve asked Viator on two occasions what the tour should have included but no response! Worth noting that we are not hard to please, hence this was genuinely very poor and we were all disappointed!

We absolutely loved our tour and we loved doing it with Guiseppe. He was so knowledgeable and sweet! The food he chose was the best food we have had in Italy so far!

Request for Refund – Disappointing Food Tour Experience in Bologna Unfortunately, the experience fell far short of our expectations and was not reflective of the quality or authenticity we had hoped for—especially given the price ($250) and the strong culinary reputation of Bologna. Our guide arrived an hour late, which we were understanding about given his doctor’s appointment. However, the tour itself was underwhelming: The food selections were disappointing: the first stop offered dry, bland tortellini and meatballs that seemed like frozen appetizers from a fast food Italian counter. (First shop in the Market on the right, after you walk in the door) At the meat shop, we were given a few slices of prosciutto and ham with plain bread—nothing that felt curated or special. We were then taken to an uncomfortable location with “no video” signs on the door, where we felt distinctly out of place. We were served a very small glass of what seemed like very cheap wine. The highlights of the tour—visiting the balsamic vinegar store and the gelato shop—were led not by the guide but by store staff and vendors. The guide offered only minimal commentary and required prompting for basic context or history. Overall, the experience felt disorganized, lacked depth, and failed to showcase the rich culinary culture we traveled to Bologna from Milan to experience. It did not reflect the value promised by the tour description or the premium price point.($250 for 2 ) We were very much looking forward to this experience, and it’s disappointing to feel that our time and money were not well spent. Given the issues above, I believe a refund is warranted.