In Italy, coffee is more than just a drink; it's a daily ritual. The country's historic cafes bring this tradition to life. Some have been serving espresso for hundreds of years. Others welcome you with marble statues or frescoed ceilings, sometimes even with live music. If you're planning your next holiday, choosing the right Italy cafe can turn an ordinary morning into a lasting memory.
This guide highlights eight of the best cafes in Italy, from Venice to Trieste. For each spot, you'll find the location, what to order, and a helpful tip, so you know what to expect before you visit.
The 8 Most Beautiful Cafes in Italy
1. Caffè Florian, Venice
Image Source: Caffè Florian Official Website
Florian has been welcoming guests under the arcades of Piazza San Marco since 1720, making it Italy’s oldest continuously operating cafe. Inside, you’ll find rooms decorated with mirrors, gold accents, and painted scenes. A small orchestra often plays on the terrace in front of the basilica.
- Location: Piazza San Marco, Venice
- Opened: 1720, by Floriano Francesconi
- What to order: An espresso or hot chocolate on the terrace
Tribe Travel Tip: There’s a music surcharge when the orchestra is playing. If you arrive when the cafe opens, you’ll find the square almost empty.
2. Caffè Museo Atelier Canova-Tadolini, Rome
This is the most theatrical cafe in Rome, Italy. It was once the sculpture studio that Antonio Canova gave to his student Adamo Tadolini in 1818. Today, about 400 plaster casts, marble figures, and bronzes fill the rooms, and since 2003, you can enjoy your coffee among them.
- Location: Via del Babuino 150, between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo
- Opened: As a cafe in 2003, in a studio dating to 1818
- What to order: A cappuccino and a jam tart, surrounded by statues
Tribe Travel Tip: Coffee at the bar is reasonably priced, but sitting among the sculptures costs extra.
3. Gran Caffè Gambrinus, Naples
Image Source: Gran Caffè Gambrinus Official Website
Coffee is at the heart of Naples, and this Belle Époque Italy cafe near the Royal Palace has been a local favourite since 1860. Inside, you’ll find painted ceilings, gilded mirrors, marble, and the city’s famous flaky, ricotta-filled sfogliatella.
- Location: Via Chiaia, by Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples
- Opened: 1860
- What to order: A sfogliatella riccia with an espresso
Tribe Travel Tip: Naples is also famous for pizza, and the debate about the best pizza in Italy begins just a few streets away. Enjoy your coffee from Gambrinus, then visit a nearby pizzeria.
4. Caffè Rivoire, Florence
Image Source: Caffè Rivoire Official Website
Rivoire has been on Piazza della Signoria since 1872. Enrico Rivoire, who made chocolate for the Savoy royal family, started it. Their thick hot chocolate is made from a secret recipe, and the terrace faces Palazzo Vecchio.
- Location: Piazza della Signoria, Florence
- Opened: 1872
- What to order: The cioccolata calda (thick hot chocolate)
Tribe Travel Tip: Tables facing the square cost more, but the view of Palazzo Vecchio at sunset is worth it.
5. Caffè Al Bicerin, Turin
Image Source: Caffè Al Bicerin Official Website
This tiny, wood-paneled cafe has hardly changed since 1763. It’s the birthplace of Turin’s signature drink, the bicerin, which is made by layering hot chocolate, espresso, and cream in a small glass, never stirred. Cavour often visited, and Umberto Eco even set part of a novel here.
- Location: Piazza della Consolata, Turin
- Opened: 1763, by Giuseppe Dentis
- What to order: A bicerin, of course
Tribe Travel Tip: There are just eight tables, so visit on a weekday before 10am to avoid waiting in line.
6. Caffè Pedrocchi, Padua
Image Source: Caffè Pedrocchi Official Website
Pedrocchi was designed in 1831 by architect Giuseppe Jappelli and became known as the "cafe without doors" because it stayed open all day and night until 1916. Its signature drink is mint coffee, served with cream and cocoa, and without a spoon.
- Location: Via VIII Febbraio, Padua
- Opened: 1831
- What to order: The caffè alla menta (mint coffee)
Tribe Travel Tip: Padua is only about 30 minutes from Venice by train. Don’t stir the mint coffee, as it will upset the balance of flavours.
7. Pasticceria Marchesi 1824, Milan
Image Source: Pasticceria Marchesi 1824 Official Website
This is one of Milan's oldest pastry shops and is now owned by the Prada group. The location inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II stands out with pistachio-green walls, floral silk, and velvet armchairs. It's easily one of the prettiest cafes in Italy and perfect for a break while shopping.
- Location: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan
- Opened: 1824
- What to order: An espresso with a slice of panettone or a box of pralines
Tribe Travel Tip: The Galleria location is the most photogenic, while the original 1824 shop on Via Santa Maria alla Porta offers a quieter atmosphere.
8. Antico Caffè San Marco, Trieste
Image Source: Antico Caffè San Marco Official Website
This literary Italian cafe opened in 1914 and features a Viennese Secession style with brass lamps, marble tables, and coffee-leaf designs. James Joyce, Italo Svevo, and Umberto Saba were regulars here. Now, it also serves as a bookshop, so you can enjoy a good read with your coffee.
- Location: Via Cesare Battisti 18, Trieste
- Opened: 1914
- What to order: The locally roasted house Arabica blend
Tribe Travel Tip: Trieste is known as Italy's coffee capital. While you're here, take a short James Joyce walking tour through the old town.
Which Italy Cafe Should You Visit?
In Italy, the best cafes usually fill up in the late morning and again around sunset. If you go early, you’ll find quieter tables and great light for photos.
Cafe | City | Opened | Known for |
Caffè Florian | Venice | 1720 | Oldest cafe in Italy, orchestra terrace |
Canova-Tadolini | Rome | 2003 | Coffee among Canova's sculptures |
Gran Caffè Gambrinus | Naples | 1860 | Sfogliatella, Belle Époque halls |
Caffè Rivoire | Florence | 1872 | Thick hot chocolate, Signoria view |
Al Bicerin | Turin | 1763 | Birthplace of the bicerin |
Caffè Pedrocchi | Padua | 1831 | Mint coffee, "cafe without doors" |
Marchesi 1824 | Milan | 1824 | Galleria setting, panettone |
Caffè San Marco | Trieste | 1914 | Literary bookshop cafe |
*Check the opening hours of the cafes from their official websites before planning your visit.
Planning Your Italy Holiday
You could plan an entire Italian holiday just by visiting these cafes. Venice, Padua and Trieste are all close together in the northeast. Turin and Milan make a good pair, while Florence, Rome and Naples are lined up through the centre and south. Most Italian cafes only take about an hour to enjoy, so you can fit them into your morning without losing much time. If you prefer to have your cities, schedules, and cafe stops planned for you, Holiday Tribe can organise land-only Italian holidays with all these details in mind. Your holiday advisor can fit these cafes into an itinerary that matches your pace and travel dates.
