Gran Caffè Gambrinus on Piazza Trieste e Trento in Naples has poured espresso since 1860, the city's belle epoque salon where Oscar Wilde, Hemingway and Mussolini all drank coffee.
Tip: Standing at the counter is the local way; sitting at a marble table runs three times the price. Try the cioccolata calda in winter.
Address: Via Chiaia 1/2, 80132 Napoli, Naples
Gambrinus in Naples is the historic literary cafe with the city's first marble counter (1860). Pair the espresso with a hot sfogliatella riccia and people-watch the Toledo crossing outside.
Signature drink: Espresso, sfogliatella
Tip: Pay at the till first, then take the receipt to the bar. Counter price 1.50 euros vs 4 euros for a seated terrace table.
Gay-Odin in Naples on Via Toledo has run the city's defining chocolate counter since 1894, with the forest chocolate log (foresta) and the dense cioccolata calda the winter ritual.
Signature drink: Cioccolata calda, foresta
Tip: Eight Naples locations; the Via Toledo flagship is the oldest. The foresta chocolate log retails at 30 euros per kilo.
Caffè Mexico in Naples' Piazza Dante has poured the city's strongest espresso since 1956, with five locations across town and the trademark pre-sweetened cup the local rule.
Signature drink: Espresso, caffè zuccherato
Tip: Order the caffè 'normale' (already sweetened) or 'amaro' (no sugar). Standing room only at the original Piazza Dante counter.
Gambrinus in Naples is the historic literary cafe with the city's first marble counter (1860). Pair the espresso with a hot sfogliatella riccia and people-watch the Toledo crossing outside.
Signature drink: Espresso, sfogliatella
Tip: Pay at the till first, then take the receipt to the bar. Counter price 1.50 euros vs 4 euros for a seated terrace table.
Scaturchio in Naples' Piazza San Domenico Maggiore has run the pastry-and-coffee counter since 1905, with the ministeriale (chocolate-rum disc) the house signature alongside the sfogliatella.
Signature drink: Espresso, ministeriale
Tip: Open daily 07:00 to 21:00. Ministeriale is 4 euros at the counter; sfogliatella riccia 2 euros 50.
Moccia in Naples' Chiaia (with the Vomero branch) has run the pastry-and-coffee counter since 1936, with the sfogliatella riccia and the babà au rhum the local order.
Signature drink: Espresso, sfogliatella riccia
Tip: Open Tue-Sun 07:00 to 21:00; closed Monday. The sfogliatella sells out by 11:00 on Saturdays.
Gay-Odin in Naples on Via Toledo has run the city's defining chocolate counter since 1894, with the forest chocolate log (foresta) and the dense cioccolata calda the winter ritual.
Signature drink: Cioccolata calda, foresta
Tip: Eight Naples locations; the Via Toledo flagship is the oldest. The foresta chocolate log retails at 30 euros per kilo.
Poppella in Naples' Sanita has run the family pastry counter since 1920, with the fiocco di neve (snow-flake brioche with cream filling) the dish that turned the bakery into a 2014 cult hit.
Signature drink: Espresso, fiocco di neve
Tip: Open daily 07:00 to 22:00. The fiocco di neve at 1 euro 50 is the only order; queue can be 30 minutes on weekends.
