30 brunch worth the trip across Italy, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Italy guides.

Caffe Terzi ★ 4.6 · Bologna

Via Oberdan 10/D, 40126 Bologna BO

Caffe Terzi in Bologna's Centro Storico is the Manuel Terzi specialty espresso bar with a simple morning carte of cornetti and brioche, the long bar standing counter and the morning crowd.

Tip: Counter-stand only; arrive before 10:00 to skip the queue. Cash and card both fine.

Marchesi 1824 ★ 4.6 · Milan

centro-storico · Via Santa Maria alla Porta 11/a, 20123 Milano

Marchesi 1824 in Centro Storico is the Sunday-morning brunch option for purists who want the Milanese pasticceria experience at its most historical.

Pasticceria Poppella ★ 4.6 · Naples

sanita · Via Arena della Sanita 24, 80137 Napoli

Poppella in Naples' Sanita has run the family pastry counter since 1920, with the fiocco di neve (snow-flake cream brioche at 1 euro 50) the morning pastry that turned a quiet neighbourhood shop into a city-wide cult.

Tip: Open daily 07:00 to 22:00. Weekend queue can be 30 minutes; the Vomero branch at Via Belvedere 84 is calmer.

Pasticceria Attanasio ★ 4.6 · Naples

centro-storico · Vico Ferrovia 1/4, 80142 Napoli

Attanasio near Naples Central Station fries sfogliatelle since 1930 at 2 euros, the city's cheapest and best standing breakfast and the closest good pasticceria to the train platforms.

Tip: Closed Monday. Cash only at the counter. The queue moves fast; sfogliatella riccia sells hot from 06:30.

Ditta Artigianale ★ 4.5 · Florence

santa-croce · Via dei Neri 32r, 50122 Firenze

Ditta Artigianale in Florence's Via dei Neri runs a weekend brunch programme alongside the roastery and cafe, with eggs benedict, avocado toast and a daily-changing pastry case from 10:00 to 15:00 Sat-Sun.

Tip: Walk-in or book on the website. Specialty filter coffee from rotating origins; book seats by 11:30 on Sunday.

Atrium Bar at Four Seasons ★ 4.5 · Florence

santa-maria-novella · Borgo Pinti 99, 50121 Firenze

Atrium Bar at Florence's Four Seasons runs a Sunday brunch buffet inside the 15th-century Palazzo della Gherardesca cloister, with a €95 all-you-can-eat Italian-Mediterranean set including a Negroni.

Tip: Sundays only; book a fortnight ahead. The 15th-century cloister courtyard seats 60 in summer.

Pave ★ 4.5 · Milan

porta-venezia · Via Felice Casati 27, 20124 Milano

Pave in Porta Venezia is the natural brunch destination for the city's artisan-pastry crowd on weekends. The bomboloni, brioches and freshly baked cornetti fill the

Gran Caffe Gambrinus ★ 4.5 · Naples

toledo · Via Chiaia 1/2, 80132 Napoli

Gran Caffe Gambrinus on Piazza Trieste e Trento in Naples (1860) is the city's defining morning ritual, with the counter espresso and hot sfogliatella the Neapolitan brunch before brunch was a concept.

Tip: Standing at the counter is one-third the price of the seated terrace. Arrive by 09:30 on weekends before the tour groups.

Chalet Ciro ★ 4.5 · Naples

chiaia · Via Francesco Caracciolo fronte Via Orazio, 80122 Napoli

Chalet Ciro in Naples' Mergellina has faced the Lungomare seafront since 1952, with the rum-soaked babà gelato and fresh graffa (fried doughnut) the Sunday-morning ritual beside the Bay of Naples.

Tip: Open until 02:00 daily; the morning pastry rush is 08:00 to 10:00 before the promenade heats up.

Scaturchio ★ 4.5 · Naples

centro-storico · Piazza San Domenico Maggiore 19, 80134 Napoli

Scaturchio in Naples' Piazza San Domenico Maggiore has run the pastry counter since 1905, with the ministeriale (chocolate-rum disc) and the babà au rhum the Sunday-morning pastry ritual in the Centro Storico.

Tip: Open daily 07:00 to 21:00. The ministeriale is the must-order at 4 euros; pair with espresso for under 6 euros total.

Marigold ★ 4.5 · Rome

ostiense · Via Giovanni da Empoli 37, 00154 Roma

Marigold in Rome's Ostiense district runs Saturday and Sunday brunch sets at €25 per head, with sourdough plates, granola bowls, eggs and the city's strongest cardamom-bun finish.

Tip: Book a week ahead for Sunday 11:00 brunch. Open Tue-Sun 08:30 to 18:00; closed Monday.

Caffe del Doge ★ 4.5 · Venice

Calle dei Cinque 609, San Polo, 30125 Venezia VE

Caffe del Doge near Rialto in San Polo is the SCA-trained specialty coffee bar with 14 espresso varieties and a quiet morning brunch room before the tourists arrive.

Tip: Open from 07:00; before 09:00 is workspace-quiet. Ask for the day's filter from the rotating origins.

Aroma Caffe ★ 4.4 · Bologna

Via Castiglione 25, 40124 Bologna BO

Aroma Caffe in Bologna's Centro Storico runs the modern weekend brunch from 09:00 to 15:00, with avocado toast, granola bowl and the V60 filter coffee from Aroma roasters.

Tip: Walk-in only; the weekend brunch fills after 11:00. The avocado toast is 12 euros and the brunch sets 18 euros.

Gelateria Stefino Bio ★ 4.4 · Bologna

Via Galliera 49/A, 40121 Bologna BO

Gelateria Stefino Bio in Bologna's Centro Storico is the 100 percent organic gelateria with the small-batch daily carte, the Bolognese gelato-in-brioche tradition and the granita carte.

Tip: The gelato-in-brioche is the morning order; cash and card both fine. The pistachio rotates Tuesday through Sunday.

Luminist Cafe Bistrot ★ 4.4 · Naples

toledo · Via Toledo 177/178, 80134 Napoli

Luminist on Via Toledo in Naples sits on the ground floor of the Banco di Napoli building (home of Gallerie d'Italia), a Michelin-recognised bistro serving the city's most polished brunch with French-influenced pastries and specialty coffee.

Tip: Open Monday to Sunday 08:00 to 19:00. The quietest window is weekday mornings; weekend brunchers fill it by 11:00.

Pianostrada ★ 4.4 · Rome

centro-storico · Via delle Zoccolette 22, 00186 Roma

Pianostrada in Rome's Centro Storico runs Saturday-Sunday brunch with the focaccia di Pianostrada, polenta-and-egg plates and a modern Roman menu in the walled-garden room.

Tip: Book three weeks ahead for the garden seats from May to September. Closed Monday all day.

Romeo Chef and Baker ★ 4.4 · Rome

prati · Piazza dell'Emporio 28, 00153 Roma

Cristina Bowerman's Romeo Chef and Baker in Rome's Aventino district runs all-day brunch with the savoury maritozzo, frittata plates, sourdough breakfast and the bakery-counter pastry case.

Tip: Open daily 07:30 to 23:00. Weekend brunch sets are 28 euros; book Sunday a week ahead.

Pasticceria Rosa Salva ★ 4.4 · Venice

Calle Fiubera 950, San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE

Pasticceria Rosa Salva on Calle Fiubera in San Marco serves the 150-year-old Venetian pastry brunch with baba and cornetti at the marble counter.

Tip: Closed Sundays at this branch; the Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo branch opens Sundays with more seats.

Torrefazione Cannaregio ★ 4.4 · Venice

Fondamenta degli Ormesini, Cannaregio 2804, 30121 Venezia VE

Torrefazione Cannaregio on Fondamenta degli Ormesini is the 1930-founded roastery with morning pastries and the Miscela del Ghetto espresso, the canonical Cannaregio brunch.

Tip: Closed Sundays. The Miscela del Ghetto blend takeaway bag is the souvenir; espresso at the counter EUR 1.20.

Forno Brisa ★ 4.3 · Bologna

Via Galliera 34/B, 40121 Bologna BO

Forno Brisa in Bologna's Centro Storico runs the weekend bakery brunch with the cornetto integrale, the sourdough bread, the daily pastries and the filter coffee bar from 08:00.

Tip: Five shops citywide; the Galliera flagship has the widest carte and the brunch crowd fills after 10:00 on weekends.

Caffe Rubik ★ 4.3 · Bologna

Via San Giorgio 5/A, 40121 Bologna BO

Caffe Rubik in Bologna's Centro Storico runs the modern weekend brunch from 09:00 to 15:00, with eggs benedict, avocado toast and the V60 pour-over from the in-house roasters.

Tip: Walk-in only; the weekend brunch fills after 11:00. The brunch sets are 18 euros and the avocado toast 12 euros.

La Menagere ★ 4.3 · Florence

san-lorenzo · Via de' Ginori 8r, 50123 Firenze

La Menagere in Florence's San Lorenzo runs an all-day breakfast-to-brunch programme inside a 19th-century housewares shop, with eggs, pastries and a weekend buffet at €28 per head.

Tip: Open daily 07:00 to midnight. Book the back dining room two days ahead for weekend brunch.

Santarosa Bistrot ★ 4.3 · Florence

san-frediano · Lungarno di Santa Rosa, 50124 Firenze

Santarosa Bistrot in Florence's San Frediano runs a garden brunch programme inside the Arno-side park, with a focaccia carte, eggs benedict and a Sunday aperitivo set from 10:00 to 15:00.

Tip: Walk-in only on weekdays; weekend brunch books out by 11:30. The garden seats 80 in summer.

Amble ★ 4.3 · Florence

santa-maria-novella · Piazzetta dei Del Bene 1, 50123 Firenze

Amble in Florence's Santa Maria Novella corner runs an all-day breakfast and weekend brunch carte inside a Renaissance courtyard, with sourdough, eggs and the in-house bakery's daily focaccia.

Tip: Closed Monday. The courtyard seats 25; weekend tartines sell out by 12:30.

Caffe Gilli ★ 4.3 · Florence

centro-storico · Via Roma 1r, 50123 Firenze

Caffe Gilli in Florence's Piazza della Repubblica is the city's oldest breakfast room since 1733, with the morning brioche-and-cappuccino set, the daily pastry case and a weekend brunch carte added in 2020.

Tip: Counter price is half of table service. Open daily until midnight; brunch carte 10:00 to 12:00.

Santarosa Bistrot ★ 4.3 · Florence

san-frediano · Lungarno di Santa Rosa, 50124 Firenze

Santarosa Bistrot in Florence's San Frediano runs a daily bakery-led breakfast in the Arno-side park, with a focaccia carte and sourdough breakfast plates from 08:00 to 12:00 every day.

Tip: Open daily 08:00 to 23:30. The bakery slows from 13:00 onwards.

Caffe Mexico ★ 4.3 · Naples

centro-storico · Piazza Dante 86, 80135 Napoli

Caffè Mexico in Naples' Piazza Dante has poured the city's strongest espresso since 1956, with the pre-sweetened cup the local tradition; five locations across town, the Piazza Dante original the most atmospheric morning stop.

Tip: Espresso 1 euro 20 at the standing counter; order 'amaro' for no sugar, 'normale' for the pre-sweetened local cup.

Barnum Cafe ★ 4.3 · Rome

centro-storico · Via del Pellegrino 87, 00186 Roma

Barnum Cafe in Rome's Centro Storico runs weekend brunch with avocado toast, poached eggs and sourdough plates, with a strong filter coffee and natural-wine list by the glass.

Tip: Book Sunday brunch a week ahead. The brunch set with coffee and juice runs 22 euros per head.

Le Cementine ★ 4.2 · Bologna

Via Belvedere 3/A, 40121 Bologna BO

Le Cementine in Bologna's Bolognina is the modern third-wave cafe with the cement-tile floor and the daily-changing weekend brunch from 09:30 to 15:00 with eggs and sourdough.

Tip: Walk-in works; the weekday lunch sets run 12:00 to 15:00 at 12 euros and the brunch on weekends fills after 11:00.

Neighbourhood Coffee ★ 4.2 · Bologna

Via San Felice 64, 40122 Bologna BO

Neighbourhood Coffee in Bologna's San Felice quarter is the modern specialty roaster with a weekend brunch carte of avocado toast, brunch bowls and the V60 filter from in-house beans.

Tip: Walk-in only; the weekend brunch fills after 11:00 and the brunch sets are 16 euros. Closed Monday.