Where to sit, sip and slow down in Rome.
Coffee shops, bakeries with seats and the places Rome lingers in over a cortado.
Sant'Eustachio Il Caffe in Rome's Centro Storico has roasted espresso over a wood fire since 1938. Order the gran caffe speciale. Booking recommended.
Signature drink: Gran Caffe Speciale
Tip: Order at the cassa first, then take the ticket to the bar. Two euros at the counter, four at the tables.
Tazza d'Oro in Rome by the Pantheon has roasted espresso since 1944. Located in Centro Storico. Order the granita di caffe con panna. At Via degli Orfani 84.
Signature drink: Granita di caffe con panna
Tip: Order the granita di caffe con panna in summer; counter-stand espresso year-round. Closed Sunday.
Roscioli Caffe in Rome's Centro Storico is the espresso-and-pastry counter from the Roscioli family. Order the espresso, maritozzo con panna.
Signature drink: Espresso, maritozzo con panna
Tip: Open from 07:00; the maritozzo sells out by 11:00. Bar-stand espresso is the steal at 1.50 euros.
Caffe Canova Tadolini on Via del Babuino is the 1818 sculptor's atelier turned cafe-museum since 2003, with the four Tadolini generations' busts.
Signature drink: Espresso, cappuccino
Tip: Cafe open daily 08:00 to midnight; standing-counter espresso is the steal at 1.50 euros, the Paolina room charges three times more.
Barnum Cafe in Rome's Centro Storico is the third-wave coffee room serving filter, V60 and flat whites alongside brunch plates and a small natural-wine list.
Signature drink: Filter coffee, flat white
Tip: Open 09:00-23:00. Brunch on Sunday is the busiest slot; book or arrive before 11:00.
Faro in Rome's Prati district is the third-wave specialty-coffee bar pouring filter, V60 and espresso from single-origin beans roasted on-site weekly.
Signature drink: Filter coffee, flat white
Tip: Open 08:00-19:00. The Friday brew bar tastings at 18:00 are free; the filter pour is the order.
MAE Brunch and Specialty Coffee in Rome's Prati district off Via Cola di Rienzo is the slow-brunch room pouring V60, flat white and cold brew from rotating.
Signature drink: V60 pour-over, flat white
Tip: Open Tue-Fri 08:00-15:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-15:30. Walk-ins only; the corner table fills first at 09:30 weekends.
Casa Manfredi Teatro in Rome's Ostiense district by Piramide is Giorgia Proia's modern pasticceria-cafeteria with the city's defining almond croissant.
Signature drink: Specialty espresso, cappuccino
Tip: Open daily from 07:30. The 1.50 euro cornetto at the counter is the value entry; arrive before 11:00 for almond croissants.
Necci dal 1924 in Rome's Pigneto district is the historic cafe with a tree-shaded terrace, the all-day espresso-to-aperitivo room and a long natural-wine.
Signature drink: Espresso, aperitivo
Tip: Open 07:00-02:00 daily. The Pasolini-history terrace is the spot for sunset aperitivo with a glass of Cesanese.
Sensorio Coffee Lab just north of Piazza del Popolo is the 2023-opened house-roasting bar pouring single-origin espresso, batch brew and hand-poured filter.
Signature drink: Single-origin pour-over, batch brew
Tip: Open 08:00-16:00 Mon to Fri, 09:00-16:00 weekends. The pour-over flight is the order; pastries and brunch run all day.
Tram Depot in Rome's Testaccio district is the 1903-built tram-yard cafe with outdoor tables, the all-day espresso-and-aperitivo bar and live music at sunset.
Signature drink: Aperitivo, granita di caffe
Tip: Open daily 07:00-02:00. The 19:00 aperitivo with a granita di caffe is the summer ritual.
Bar del Fico in Rome's Centro Storico is the piazza-side all-day cafe and aperitivo room with the city's most photographed fig-tree terrace and a long.
Signature drink: Espresso, aperitivo
Tip: Open daily 08:00-02:00. The piazza terrace fills first; book aperitivo for groups of six or more.
Ciampini in Rome's Centro Storico is the 1947-founded piazza cafe with gelato counter, the lunchtime carte and the espresso ritual on Piazza San Lorenzo.
Signature drink: Espresso, gelato, cocktails
Tip: Open daily 07:00-23:30. The piazza terrace fills at lunch; the gelato counter has 24 daily flavours.
Antico Caffe della Pace in Rome's Centro Storico is the 1891-founded literary cafe with marble counters, the famous wisteria-fronted terrace and a late-night.
Signature drink: Espresso, cocktails
Tip: Open 09:00-02:00. The wisteria terrace blooms in April and May; book a fortnight ahead for those weeks.
Panella in Rome's Esquilino quarter is the bakery-cafe with marble counters, daily pizza bianca and pizza rossa by weight and the busiest. At Via Merulana 54.
Signature drink: Espresso, cornetto, pizza bianca
Tip: Open 07:00-22:00 daily. The pizza bianca lunch counter is the working-quarter steal at three euros per slice.