The best bars and cafés Italy

This bistro was inaugurated in 2013 and, since its opening, it has earned its place in the hearts of Neapolitans. Its success is easily explained by its concept: a meeting place where to enjoy an aperitif, share small dishes with a good glass of wine, choose a cocktail from the long list or... play table soccer with friends. Every week, special events are organized: wine tastings, foreign-language conversation tables, or themed aperitifs to open up to new horizons and new encounters.

Within walking distance of Monumental Cemetery, a spectacular address that has something New York. On the top floor of the building of Enel, the Italian national society of electricity, two swimming pools, large terraces and a breathtaking view over the new skyline of Milan, in the direction of Porta Nuova. A very neat decor, vintage that design, a well-stocked cocktail bar and even a michelin-starred restaurant. An urban oasis where to stop at the time of the aperitif until late at night, to enjoy one of the new faces of Milan.

There's a striking contrast between the old dock, in which a large number of pretty gondolas are moored, and the 400^{m2 of} space in which the Venetian version of the famous American chain has been developed. The bar is on the second floor, the restaurant on the second, decorated with a fine collection of rock'n'roll objects (Madonna's sequined outfit, Bon Jovi's guitar and vinyl, etc.), all illuminated by Murano chandeliers. On the menu, a supercharged atmosphere and a little States on the plate: burger-frites, colorful cocktails, chicken nuggets and banana splits.

A small address just a stone's throw from the market, which embodies the spirit of Venetian-style on-the-go dining. No tables, just a counter with a display case where you can choose drinks and snacks to enjoy in the open-air lounge that is the Campo Bella Vienna. Here you are in the kingdom of polpetta, that fried beef dumpling that you can crunch into a tasty bite. Stuffed mini sandwiches with ham, tuna, red radish, cod and other tasty sauces round off the offer. Nice selection of beers and wines by the glass.

"Un Mondo di Vino" or "Un Mondo Divino"? It's hard to say! But here is another small wine bar that makes the last Venetians of the Serenissima happy. Enjoy the charming smiles of Cora and Raffaele, sip a glass of white wine and devour a skewer of fresh shrimp while contemplating the string of terracotta jugs hanging from the ceiling. After that, you'll finally recover from your long and delicious day of walking. The motto of the place is a program in itself: "A meal without wine is called breakfast".

An address not to be missed at Strada Farini, but not precisely for the great class of its fine vintages! At the Enoteca Fontana, you can sip your glass of lambrusco or malvasia for €1.50, sitting on a bench along large wooden tables that you are happy to share with other customers. The atmosphere is cheerful, noisy and relaxed. Possibility to eat a panino or a focaccia, all garnished with local charcuterie (the al culatello principle is delicious), or a dish of the day. A reference for small budgets. Pleasant terrace in summer.

Parisian style bistro superbly located on the canal side, with a large terrace with colourful tables and chairs lined up along the water. Forget the menu: the food is by no means exceptional and the portions are medium. On the other hand, for an aperitif accompanied by snacks, or for an evening drink while enjoying the evening breeze, the place is perfect. Varied choice of cocktails, wines and bubbles. The atmosphere is always festive and cheerful. Very busy in the summer, it can be difficult to find a table there.

Inaugurated in 1763, this coffee leaves the atmosphere of the Turin of yesteryear, when it hosted famous characters like Alexandre Dumas. Its specialty, the bicerin, is a coffee mixed with chocolate and cream.

A favorite. Tucked away in a historic palace a stone's throw from Piazza Carignano, il Circolo dei lettori is a real Turin gem. To get there, pass through the large gate on Via Bogino, enter the courtyard and turn left along the red carpet. Once you're on the right floor, you'll find yourself in a large space with several majestically decorated rooms. Here, you can talk literature, drink tea... The bar is inspired by Mordecai Richler's Barney's World.

Set high on a cliff, this luxurious hotel offers an unforgettable view of the Bay of Naples from its spacious terrace under a deep blue sky. The hotel is not for everyone, but we can only advise you to push the door of this former summer residence of a Russian prince for an aperitif. Comfortably installed in one of the armchairs on the terrace, facing the sunset, the magic should work! Piano concerts are regularly organised in the evening.

This trendy and cultural café exists in Ferrara, but also in Bologna and Reggio Emilia. Casual, contemporary, it adopts an indus style with large metal lamps under high ceilings, with a large welcoming counter. It is very bright on the corner of a street with large bay windows on the same level. With its motto "food for mood", it offers appetizing croissants in the morning, sandwiches made with gourmet ingredients at lunch, fresh juices, good coffee in the afternoon before the eveningaperitivo. Brunch on Sundays.

One of the most famous cafés in Naples, a myth! Created in 1860 by Vincenzo Appuzo, the establishment is in the age of Italian Unity! Strategically located between Via Chiaia, Piazza Trieste e Trento and Piazza Plebiscito, this café-gallery, of true splendour, decorated with golden stuccoes, paintings and large ice-creams, has welcomed kings, queens, intellectuals, poets, journalists... Even today, the most famous personalities, including the presidents of the Republic, do not fail to stop there to drink a coffee that cannot be ignored.

This is a trendy address in Trastevere that takes as much care in preparing its cocktails as it does in choosing its music, because here you can often attend concerts. The address is frequented by young Romans who appreciate the decoration of the place lined with posters of jazz and blues concerts and film references. The menu includes gourmet burgers, pasta, antipasti at low prices, and a classic cocktail menu. People come here to listen to live music and chat over a drink and a good plate.

Opened in 2011, the Florence Hard Rock Café will delight lovers of the genre. There is a pair of trousers that belonged to Michael Jackson and a jacket worn by John Lennon.

This restaurant is one of the most elegant in the city and occupies a beautiful vaulted room with exposed stones. Candles, white tablecloths and soft lighting guarantee a cosy atmosphere. The chef proposes an inventive and refined cuisine which does not hesitate to formulate surprising associations. The octopus rests on a cream of carrot and ginger, the gamba marries the burrata and liquorice, the pork is accompanied by myrtle. The airy and neat presentation of the plates takes nothing away from the pleasure. A very beautiful cellar allows the perfect match with the plate.

A great opportunity to sample the best the Lazio region has to offer. The atmosphere is warm and friendly in the minimalist dining room (tables and chairs in rough wood). We go there for an aperitivo accompanied by a good charcuterie platter, although the address also serves hot dishes, and they're delicious! Try the pasta carbonara in particular. Good selection of natural Italian wines. A must if you're looking for a wine shop serving good food in the Monti district.

Jazzy atmosphere in this very famous bar in Venice, located almost at the foot of the Rialto. We go there to drink beers and cocktails, to eat some simple snacks like sarde in saor or baccalà mantecato, to watch soccer games and to listen to good music... However, its particularity lies in something else: from the ceiling hang hundreds of... bras! A souvenir gift that satisfied customers of the establishment would hang themselves from the ceiling using a stepladder... Enough to maintain the marketing recipe of the place.

Another address of the famous Marchesi patisserie - the king of Christmas panettone - located on the first floor of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, in an exceptional setting. Prada, the most Milanese of fashion brands, bought the gourmet label and set it up right opposite its legendary flagship store. You can sit at the green marble counter to enjoy coffees, brioches and aperitifs in style, while the small tables overlooking the gallery are ideal for a light lunch. Marchesi, a safe bet since 1824.

One easily succumbs to the vintage yet modern decor of this former wine merchant (Moscatelli) who has joined forces with the nearby bakery (Pattini) to create something as welcoming as it is original. The restaurant serves tasty dishes of the day at noon, but it is at aperitif time that the sign gives the best of itself: good wines are drunk here accompanied by a rich apéritif buffet from 6:30 pm, topped with pizzas and focaccia straight from the bakery's oven.

In the heart of Milan's Chinatown, a characteristic old wine bar run by the Isola family since the end of the 19th century. The room is rather cramped, furnished with an infinite number of shelves on which a whole series of labels from all over Italy (but not only) can be found. There is very little seating as the service is done at the counter, but the pavement, with its veranda with tables and chairs, is always crowded with people with a drink in hand. The choice is surprising with more than 2,000 labels, among wines, beers and liqueurs.

A drink on the beach in Florence? No, it's not a joke, but just the Easy Living association which animates the banks of the Arno in summer and takes advantage of the only small sandy strip in the city, near Piazza Giuseppe Poggi, to offer a large number of attractions and theme evenings. Some local artists come to paint during the day, and yoga classes are often offered. In the evening, an outdoor bar provides customers with cocktails and pizzas. A very special atmosphere, like nowhere else in Florence.

We were already talking about Necci dal 1924 in the restaurant section but it is such a good address in Pigneto that it is also one of the most popular bars in the city! The local Romans, young and old, come to drink a glass of wine quietly settled in the courtyard, under the trees, or a digestive after dinner on hot summer evenings. It's quiet and lively at the same time, while being a little away from the activity of via del Pigneto. A timeless lozenge, a little candy.

Both a pub and a restaurant, this tavern offers pizzas and giant salads made with deliciously prepared vegetables. The address is really worth discovering. Under the stone vaults, the place is sieved, a candle lights each table surrounded by colourful straw chairs, old tools decorate the walls and hang from the ceiling. Everything is cosy, warm and original. In good weather, the terrace invades the street and participates in its animation. Also a large wine and beer list, of course, for before, during or after the meal!

A superb terrace overlooking Venice and its lagoon, a fresh and modern interior where the tones recall the water and sky of the Serenissima, here is the bar of the Marriott Hotel on the Isle of Roses south of the Giudecca. But what a joy to take the hotel's private (and free) shuttle bus from St. Mark's, and arrive here at cocktail hour. The crowds and their hustle and bustle seem far removed from this finely tuned setting. On summer evenings, a DJ sets the mood while you sip a glass of prosecco and look out over the horizon.

Cremona's gourmet rendezvous since 1947, a patisserie and tearoom like you'd see in a children's book, with pink and white woodwork and shelves full of cakes sculpted from sugar and cream. Irresistible fruit, custard and chocolate cakes, delicious torroni (nougats) with almonds and pistachio, chocolate-covered Christmas panettoni and a multitude of sweets and cookies made with the finest ingredients. Small cafeteria serving exquisite cappuccini, coffees and brioches.

Shop for high quality food products. On sale, gourmet delicacies from all Italian regions: Parma and San Daniele hams, troffie with pesto, Piedmont hazelnuts... There are also preserves of all kinds and even cheeses and milk products with the possibility of vacuum packaging. Some daily dishes to be eaten on the spot for lunch, but above all pleasant little outdoor tables to drink your aperitivo in complete serenity, tasting the products of the house served with sympathy.

Now in legend, this is one of the addresses that has helped to build the history of Milan's nightlife. Inaugurated in 1907, the interior of the bar has preserved the period counter and beautiful Liberty style woodwork. Open from breakfast to the last drink of the evening, it is at aperitif time that the address is in full swing, with friendly bands of young people (executives or students from nearby universities) very busy sipping spritz, negroni or a pint of beer on the terrace, all accompanied by a nice plate of appetizers.

This is a trendy but relaxed address, hidden in the shade of a quiet little square (piazzetta), between Arno and Borgo Santi Apostoli Street. On the terrace, the colourful recovery chairs, all different, attract the eye and curiosity. To fill up with vitamins, their fresh fruit juices, generous smoothies, should delight you. Otherwise, you can eat excellent sandwiches (to compose yourself), freshly prepared salads or sip a spritz or other cocktail away from the hordes of tourists.

The temple of Sicilian sweet treats in Rome. Cannoli (cookies stuffed with ricotta cream), savory marzipan, cassate (marzipan cake with candied fruit), almond or pistachio gelati... We're crazy about them! There's a choice of tasting at the counter, where the coffee is excellent, or table service in the small tearoom. It's also a great place to have breakfast in the center of town: cappuccino and cornetto are a must!

Here you are in Stefano Monti's den, with his famous white lacquered piano on the water's edge. This Venetian, with a wealth of experience acquired in Parisian, Carioca and Monegasque piano bars, will make you spend a pleasant evening with subtle notes of jazz and sparkling glasses of champagne, far from the hustle and bustle of the Rialto, which is only 50 meters away. You can also book a table for lunch or dinner and enjoy Venetian dishes, sushi platters and even oysters from Normandy.

This cocktail bar is the meeting place for trendy young people, a rather underground trend, in the Trastevere. An essential place to observe Roman life. The evening begins at the aperitif time with the unforgettable drink + buffet formula. The latter is slightly less provided than elsewhere but remains very correct. The room with its industrial look is quite nice and the establishment has a large terrace without any facilities which, on summer evenings, invades the entire square and the stairs. Good trendy music and a very relaxed atmosphere.

Known as "Al Pesa" by many Venetians who have made it one of their favorite meeting places, Al Pesador enjoys a dream location on the Grand Canal. It also belongs to the brotherhood of the local osterie , which means that it is a friendly place where you can come to relax after work, for a drink, for dinner or to end the evening. The decor and the food (the homemade cichetti and crostini are a treat, as is the wine) are 100% Venetian while the music is more international pop oriented.

A historic establishment in Chiavari and a gastronomic landmark not to be missed, the Gran Caffè always offers top-quality pastries, in particular its sorrisi (smiles), delicious chocolate and meringue pralines filled with liqueur. Theaperitivo is equally gourmet, with plenty of bite-sized treats to sample. Halfway between patisserie, bar, restaurant, boutique and wine shop, this is a place where you can enjoy a meal from breakfast to dinner! The boutique offers a wide selection of cookies, chocolates and liqueurs.

A tiny café with a nautical decor overlooking the pretty fishing port of Boccadasse. Greatly appreciated for its morning cappuccino and filled croissants, it's in the evening that the address is in full swing. Ideal for sipping a glass of vermentino at aperitif time, accompanied by a piece of focaccia with cheese and cold meats. As the interior is more a large corridor with a counter than a real dining room, the clientele quickly spills out onto the beach, making Boccadasse a large open-air bar.

Opened a few years ago as a cocktail bar with a limited range of snacks, today it's a well-equipped kitchen that offers both aperitifs and dinners an excellent culinary experience. Extravagant cocktails whet the appetite for dinner, accompanied by tapas-style appetizers. It's said that some of the best gin and tonics in Rome are served here. The restaurant's menu includes octopus, ravioli with burrata and tomato, and the inevitable tiramisù. Quite a program!

This small, friendly bar could well become your favourite stop during your stay in Lecce. Conveniently located along one of the main streets in the historic centre, between piazza Sant'Oronzo and piazza Duomo, it is a great place to come at any time of the day: for a delicious breakfast of pastries and fresh fruit juice, for a sandwich at lunchtime or for a glass of wine with a snack. The coffee is delicious, as are the pastries: try the pasticciotto, the speciality of Salento.

Elegance and tradition meet at Caffè Svizzero, housed in an ancient palace near the port. Many consider it to be the most beautiful café in Cagliari and it is true that the glossy woodwork, glittering windows and marble floors are impressive. You can have a coffee on the beautiful glass terrace or nibble a panino, have a drink with tapas or order a plate of pasta in the dining room. Pleasant welcome, in English if necessary, and family atmosphere. It's a bit like the Café de Flore in Paris.

Founded by a Greek trader, hence its name, it is the oldest coffee in Rome and probably the most famous. All artists and intellectuals met there. Stendhal, Wagner, Goethe, Keats, Berlioz and Andersen, who lived above, frequented it. And, later, it was the emblematic coffee of the dolce vita. Today, there are more tourists than Romans there. With its purple drapes, golden mirrors, marble tables and velvety armchairs, the place has the charm of an outdated era that no one has ever known before..

This café is one of the main hubs of dorsodurian nightlife. The local young night owls love to party in this simple bar, which has a really nice atmosphere. The recipe for success is unchanging: a student crowd + young tourists + free wifi and, last but not least, the best music compilations of the moment. It's a place to laugh, dance, chat, have a drink and a bite to eat in a neo-bohemian spirit. Spritz and prosecco open the evening, but many also opt for cocktails.

For those who love Italian black coffee, this is the place to be. In this small, colorful and retro store, Venetians stop to sip their coffee before going shopping. A few tables line the wall of the narrow alley while inside, regulars crowd the bar. You will have the choice between an infinite number of origins and blends: coffees from Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Cuba or Ethiopia to name but a few... Meanwhile, snacks and pastries are sold for those who are a little hungry.