Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Italy

"Giolitti is a stickler the old school, both in terms of the menu—yes, that’s a banana split you’re seeing—and the space itself (beige wood, beige walls, lots of marble). The crowds though, tell us that we’re onto something special. They’re jostling for space at the bronze-and-glass gelato counter, waving to get the baristas’ attention at the espresso bar, or scooping up the last of the cassata (Italian ice cream cake) while sitting at the canopy-covered tables outside."

"Giolitti is said to be the oldest ice cream parlor in all of Rome, dating back to the late 19th Century. It is also one of the most popular. Situated a few blocks east of the River Tiber, Giolitti gives passersby a taste of new and innovative gelato flavors in an Old Rome setting."

"While this isn’t technically a coffee bar, Giolitti serves some of the best cappuccinos and espressos in the city and you can also order gelato while you’re there."

"A Roman tradition, Sant’ Eustachio is tucked in a tiny piazza near the Pantheon. Grab an espresso to gear up for your adventures in this area. Local tip: A really cool thing to see nearby (other than the Pantheon) is the Biblioteca Angelica, one of the oldest public libraries in Europe and a stunning place to soak in some history."

"Let’s begin our coffee trip to this historical bar, located in the city center, near Pantheon and Navona Square area. Sant’Eustachio bar is an ancient coffee shop that started operating under the name of “Caffè e Latte” back in 1800. Nowadays owners’ aim is to offer a high-quality service, using South America coffee beans."

"Café Sant Eustachio Rome is known for its bustling café culture, and this is simply one of the best there. Great coffee, a great location next to the Pantheon, a cozy atmosphere, and unique coffee combinations!"

"Stopping in for a drink at Etabli feels like a low-key party in someone’s living room: bold, mismatched seating (including a set of very well lived-in armchairs), whitewashed walls with bookshelves built right in, wrought iron lamps swinging from an exposed-beam ceiling—the perfect antidote to Rome’s hectic city center. Most nights, there's live music on the grand piano; and in winter there's a fireplace. You'll know the serious regulars because they'll be using the bar's loyalty card."

"This bar a few minutes from Piazza Navona is a staple on the Roman nightlife scene, but it actually stays busy from early morning. A coffee bar with chess players by day, the crowds gets younger by the time aperitivo rolls around. Pay for your drink first, and then take the receipt to the barman to watch your cocktail being created with a little bit of flair."

"Let’s proceed towards Spanish Square: a few meters away from the beautiful iconic Spanish Steps, located along the centrally located shopping street called Via Condotti, Antico Caffè Greco is for sure a must – do stop to explore coffee tastes. Caffè Greco the oldest one in Rome and among the Italians, only Cafè Florian in Venice is older than this. The Cafè is named in this way, due to the belief that its founder was Greek (the word Greco in fact is the Italian translation for Greek)."

"Stunning to behold, it’s been on the Via dei Condotti (one of the fanciest streets in the city) since 1760, and is the oldest bar in Rome. Among the figures who have enjoyed an espresso here are Goethe, Byron and Keats, just to name drop a few. Local tip: Try to visit when it’s less crowded, around opening and closing time, so that you can really take a good look around and soak in the literary vibes."

"It is hard to believe this, but Caffè Greco is really ancient. It was opened in 1760, thus proudly taking place of the second oldest bars in Rome (the first one is Caffè Florian in Venice). Though it might get little pricey, for obvious reasons, you definitely should try their tiramisu and feel the atmosphere of this monumental bar."

"The Canova Tadolini Museum is a combo restaurant and museum in one. The restaurant is adorned with sculptures and artwork from Neoclassical sculptors Antonio Canova and Adamo Tadolini in what was Canova's former studio space. The museum's restaurant is known for serving traditional Roman classics, like spaghetti alla carbonara and tonnarelli cacio e pepe."

"The Basilica of San Clemente is named after St. Clement, who was the third pope after St. Peter. Located just a few blocks from the Coliseum, the present church is built over four layers of buildings, including other churches, beginning with a Christian home that was destroyed in 64 during a fire most closely associated with the Emperor Nero. At one time, the church was a pagan temple; it also has been both an Augustinian and Dominican facility, and today is operated by Irish Dominicans."

"This is one of the lesser known churches in central Rome but is just as opulent and historical as the likes of St. Peter’s Basilica. Listed as a Basilica Minor, the church is actually split into three distinct sections that span a time frame of some two thousand years. The original basilica was created in the 2nd century and the current form was completed in 1123 AD."

"Despite being one of the most unique churches in Rome, this still remains one of the lesser visited ones. The 12th century basilica was built on top of the 4th century one; which in turn was built on top of a 1st century Pagan site. The church was used by Christians when being Christian was still outlawed in Rome."

"It may seem unusual to include a cemetery in a list of secret gardens in Rome. But I also know many people enjoy taking some quiet time in cemeteries. I often see people sitting on the benches in the nearby Protestant Cemetery."

"Found near the Forum, in Piazza del Campidoglio, the museums consist of two imposing buildings: the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo, linked by the Galleria Lapidaria tunnel. The museums were born when Pope Sixtus IV bequeathed bronze statues to the citizens of Rome in 1471, making these the oldest museums in the world. Amongst paintings and sculptures by the greatest artists, you’ll find a few unique treasures, such as the original sculpture of the Capitoline Wolf, the 1277 Ritratto di Carlo I d’Angiò di Cambio, the first sculpture of a living person, and the enormous equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius."

"Step back in time at the Capitoline Museums, found in the Colosseo district just outside the Colosseum, in order to explore some of the best Greek and Roman artifacts in the city. The Museo Capitolino is housed in a 17th century structure based on a sketch by Michelangelo, and it is home to works like the Dying Gaul and the enormous statue of the emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback, both of which are made from bronze. Its most famous work however is probably Lupa Capitolina, a sculpture of Romulus and Remus under a wolf."

"The Capitoline Museums in Rome is actually a single museum that houses a collection dedicated to both art and archaeology. The museum's origins date back to the 15th century and Pope Sixtus IV, who donated ancient bronzes and set them upon Capitoline Hill, which is how the museum came to be. The Capitoline Museums were opened to the public in 1734 by Clement XII. As a result, the Capitoline Museums now own the honor of being the world's first-ever museum."

"In the late spring and summer there are expanses of bright fuchsia bougainvillea hedges growing on ancient walls. If you are traveling with kids there is small playground next to the ruins of ruins of the ancient baths of Trajan and there is often a afternoon pick-up soccer game next to the Fascist era fountain decorated with copies of amphorae. This park is also where you can find Nero’s golden house the Domus Aurea."

"If you want to visit the Colosseum with kids, you can reward them with a visit to the Parco del Colle Oppio playground. The entrance to this little park is just across the street to the North East of the Colosseum. It’s a great place to let the kids run around or to sit down for lunch and rest your feet."