Botanica Lab Cucina

This vegan restaurant offers a unique blend of fine dining or a bit alternative Italian cuisine with an emphasis on multi-course meals. The food is good, with thoughtful vegan dishes. However, the service could use some improvement. It’s clear that the staff may not be well-compensated, which could explain their reluctance to work beyond their scheduled hours. Unfortunately, this impacted my experience—when I tried to order another course just after 10:00 PM, my request was declined because it was a couple of minutes past their cutoff time. While I understand the need for schedules, I believe a bit of flexibility, especially within a 5 to 10-minute window, would greatly enhance the customer experience. Overall, it’s a nice place with good food, but the service could benefit from a bit more patience and understanding, especially during late-night dining.

Don’t come without reservations and if you’re considering booking a table, maybe reconsider. The guy working there was very cocky and rude. The girls seemed nice, albeit confused since the staff was very uncoordinated. After we were seated by a waitress, we got told off by the guy working there for “not telling them that we don’t have a reservation”, even though we had the same conversation 2 minutes before. Then we got approached by 3 different staff members to ask for our order, even though we already ordered. We only got deserts and drinks since their menu looked like a very generic vegan joint you can find in any major city in the world. Deserts were average and there were no Italian desert options (which is what we came for, since their google menu said they have vegan Panna cotta), drinks were below average. Nice decor but vibes were definitely off. There’s better vegan places in Bologna that don’t act like they have a Michelin star, while forgetting to bring a clean spoon.

Fast, polite service and incredible food. Had the gnocchi and pasta triangles the tartar and the chocolate cake which was all exquisite. 100% recommend for vegans but also non vegans: my mom loves cheese and LOVED the vegan Gorgonzola pasta triangles so it must be good !

This vegan restaurant has great presentation and impressive food. I ordered the artichoke, potatoes and crispy vegetables- defo too much food. All the plates I saw on other tables were well presented and everyone had great feedback on their meals. I’d recommend this to any vegan looking for a high quality meal in Bologna. The waitress also squeezed me in when I didn’t have a reservation so appreciate that :)

Tasty and innovative vegan dishes. We had the burrito, sweet potato millefeuille, green triangles and artichokes- all delicious, beautifully served, very generous portions and reasonably priced. The dessert we tried (tart Tatin) was not fantastic, but the mains were impressive. Our waitress was very kind. We liked the atmosphere, especially the outdoor sitting in a beautiful alley. The place got busy very quickly during lunchtime so best to reserve.

Stellar plant-based restaurant worth making reservations for in Bologna. We rarely find vegan restaurants of this caliber during our travels. Service was very good, food ingredients fresh and high quality, an intelligent menu and real skill in the kitchen on full display at Botanica Lab Cucina. We loved our meal here, enjoying the Stewed Artichoke, Plin pasta - filled with stew, topped with herbs and butter. Both were very good and worth repeat ordering. Most enjoyed plate on the evening however was the Pumpkin and Mushroom w/ almond granola and a smoked soy cream. Simply put, this was a delectable plant-based dish. Crispy "not fries" vegetables as well mixed salad were just fine and their Chocolate Only, a cashew parfait dessert was a tasty way to round off a most impressive meal. Will make it a priority to return to Botanica Lab Cucina the next time in Bologna.

All vegan, all delicious. Many reservations already when opening at 12:30. Main dishes 12-24€, good size. We wanted to taste different plates, so we ate three between us two.

Bologna, heatwave capital of the universe, sun pounding the cobblestone streets like a mad drummer on a relentless bender. At 1 PM, I stumbled into "Botanica Lab," a vegan hideaway, a refuge from the relentless inferno. The name, a promise of cool shade in a world turned to white-hot madness. It is an unassuming sanctum of greenery tucked away in one of many alleys of Bologna. The fresh air inside hummed with the low murmur of hushed conversations and the faint aroma of Italian spices. The walls, decorated with memories from the past, seemed to breathe, drawing in the night’s chaotic energy and exhaling calm. Inside, the dim light is a balm to my sun-scorched eyes. I collapsed into a corner booth, the wooden chair cool against my skin, and scanned the QR code menu. “Gnocchetti estivi”, it read, the words leaped off the page like a lifeline. I ordered, the anticipation a sweet agony. The waiter nodded, a silent understanding passing between us. The staff here, invisible sentinels of service, seem to understand the need for space, for quiet in a world gone mad with heat. They moved with a practiced grace, an unspoken language of care and precision. The dish arrived, a vision of verdant perfection. Plump wholesome gnocchi, soft pillows of potato, swathed in a rich and captivating, emerald pesto with the addition of crushed pistachos. I savored each bite, the coolness of the pesto a sharp contrast to the fiery world beyond these walls. The gnocchi are a revelation - tender yet firm, the perfect vehicle for the vibrant green sauce. Each forkful is a journey, a reminder that beauty can still be found in the midst of chaos. As I finished my meal, a glass of chilled Passito arrived. I took a sip, the crisp, fruity notes cutting through the richness of the pesto, a final flourish in this symphony of flavor. I leaned back, a contented sigh escaping my lips, and glanced around the room. Others were lost in their own culinary reveries, the heat outside nothing more than a distant memory. “Botanica Lab" is more than a restaurant - it is a haven, a place where the boundaries between sustenance and sanctuary blur. Here, in the heart of Bologna, I have found refuge, not just from the heat, but from the madness of the world. And in that moment, with the taste of pesto still lingering on my tongue, I am at peace.

I came to this restaurant by chance and even though I am not a vegetarian this restaurant was a discovery for me and the food was unexpectedly delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant.

It was nice to have so many vegan and gluten free options. The service was great! The food is good. I would recommend the spring rolls and sitting outside.

Deep in the heart of Bologna city center, I discovered a vegan haven. Not just vegetables, Italians applying their traditional flair to vegetables. The triangle pasta is hand-rolled by the chef, stuffed with macadamia nuts in a cheesy but not cheese sauce and layered with asparagus and peas and greens. Even the spritz is an elevation of my favorite Aperol Fizz- they make their own version. This is where to go if you want to demolish the baloney about Bologna.

In a city of meat, what a find. We started with the juice of the day which was watermelon, lemon, mint and so refreshing on a very hot day. My husband had a big salad and I had the Buddha bowl. Both were very tasty and a lovely change from all the prosciutto we have been eating. We really enjoyed it and if we were in Bologna longer, we would go a second time.

Located down a quaint side street, we ate on the patio that night and had a quintessential "Italy" experience. The server was a little overwhelmed with our group even though we called to make reservations. We had to move some tables on the patio ourselves so we would all fit, but it was ok. They brought out a small complimentary serving of their soup of the day which was delicious! It was some kind of pureed veggies. I ordered the mushroom gratin to start which was a bit different than I expected. More like stuffed mushrooms served atop a large cracker with some greens thrown in between. The mushrooms were excellent, the cracker was a little dry. Several of us ordered the triangles for our main which were beet-filled ravioli and very tasty. Definitely worth getting!