The population of Italy is around 60 million, and if you ask Italians where to find the best espresso, you will likely get 60 million different answers. Coffee bars are ubiquitous in Italy, and virtually every street corner, main square, and tiny lane is home to at least one, each with its loyal clientele. “When I’m leading food tours in Rome,” says Minchilli, “one of the questions I get asked the most is ‘Where can we have the best coffee in Rome?’. The truth is, I never know what to say because I have been going to the same three coffee bars my entire life, and the people who work there have seen me grow up. I could never switch bars because it would be like stabbing a family member in the back.”
If you’re not lucky enough to have a lifelong favorite, however, try these landmark coffee houses that are considered the flagships of Italy’s coffee culture:
Caffè Florian - Venice: This lavish coffee house set on St. Mark’s Square was opened on 29th December 1720 and is believed to be the oldest in Italy. Sip your espresso in the frescoed indoor dining rooms or at an outdoor table to soak up the same Venetian atmosphere once enjoyed by Lord Byron, Goethe, and Rousseau.
Zucca in Galleria (Caffè Miani) – Milan: Verdi, Toscanini, and Puccini would gather here for a drink after a performance at the nearby La Scala Opera House. Inaugurated in 1867, this art nouveau bar is a Milanese landmark. Sidle up to the beautiful inlaid wood bar to throw back an espresso like a local, or take a longer break to admire the original chandeliers and mosaics.
Caffé Gilli - Florence: The most storied café in Florence recently caused a stir by updating its beloved art nouveau interiors, but locals still insist that this 300-year-old coffee house serves the best espresso in the city. Often crowded with tourists in the summer, it remains a favorite gathering place for Florentines.
Tazza d’Oro and Sant’Eustachio - Rome: Rome has two rival soccer teams and two rival cafés, and Romans have been known to come to blows over the merits (and shortcomings) of both. These two beloved coffee shops sit just a 5-minute stroll apart and were opened within a few years of each other; they both roast their own beans and the quality of their espresso is—dare I say it?—equally outstanding. Tazza d’Oro is also famous for its icy caffè granita topped with rich whipped cream, while Sant’Eustachio has retained an authentic neighborhood bar vibe despite its fame.
Caffé Gambrinus – Naples: Fiercely protective of its coffee culture, Naples has launched a separate bid for UNESCO recognition of “the culture of Neapolitan espresso coffee.” Nowhere is this passion more palpable than inside this belle èpoque downtown caffè. Down your Neapolitan espresso and then leave an extra euro for “il caffè sospeso” (a “suspended coffee”, or a prepaid espresso for someone in need), one of the city’s many coffee-centered local traditions.