Photo: Wilfredor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The best-known coffee in Rome's historic centre is at Sant'Eustachio Il Caffè and Tazza d'Oro, both within two minutes' walk of the Pantheon. For gelato, Giolitti, open since 1900, is five minutes north of the Pantheon, and Gelateria del Teatro is on Via dei Coronari near Piazza Navona.
Where is the best coffee?
| Bar | Address | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Sant'Eustachio Il Caffè | Piazza Sant'Eustachio 82 | The gran caffè, served already sweetened since 1938. Say "amaro" if you take no sugar. |
| Tazza d'Oro | Via degli Orfani 84 | Espresso at the counter, or in summer the granita di caffè with cream. |
| Ciampini | Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina 29 | A cappuccino at a table on a traffic-free square in Campo Marzio. |
| Rosati | Piazza del Popolo 5 | Coffee and pastries in an Art Nouveau room from 1922. |
How do you order coffee in Rome?
Standing up, mostly. In busy bars you pay at the till first and take the receipt to the counter. Coffee drunk at the bar costs a fraction of the same coffee at a table, which is why Romans stand.
"Un caffè" is an espresso. Cappuccino is a morning drink; after lunch, a caffè macchiato is the Roman compromise.
Where is the best gelato?
| Gelateria | Address | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Giolitti | Via degli Uffici del Vicario 40 | Rome's most famous gelateria, in the same family since 1900. |
| Gelateria del Teatro | Via dei Coronari 65 | Inventive flavours made in a kitchen you can watch through the window. |
| Gelateria della Palma | Via della Maddalena 19 | An enormous choice, around 150 flavours. |
| Fatamorgana | Via Laurina 10 | Natural ingredients and unusual combinations, near Piazza del Popolo. |
How can you tell good gelato?
Look at the colours and the shape. Good gelato is kept flat in its tub, often under a lid, and its colours are soft: pistachio should be a muted green-brown, not bright green. Tall, glossy mounds are made to be photographed.
Sources
- Details change. Please confirm opening hours directly before you go.
