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Visit Turin:
Arch. Baroque
Arch. 1800s-today
Turin Art
Turin cafés
Turin Design
Olympic Turin
Olympic Mountains
Turin - The Markets
Turin the nightlife
Get in and around
Turin food and wine
Turin travel guides
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Caffé Al Bicerin - Photo: City of Turin Kit
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Turin - Torino Historic cafés
“What news from the cafés today?” King Vittorio Emanuele
II would often ask his counselors when he wanted the low-down on the
political situation. If we’re going to be honest, a chapter of Italian
history was actually written in Turin cafés. Cavour was a
patron of Caffè Fiorio, but Massimo D’Azeglio, Giolitti and
Einaudi preferred Baratti&Milano.
De Gasperi used to wind
down at Caffè Torino. Alexandre Dumas was a habitué of
Bicerin (the “snifter”), Guido Gozzano liked the Art
Nouveau rooms in Mulassano, but Platti was
Cesare Pavese’s favorite.
Things haven’t changed much and the historic cafés are the
heart and soul of Turin tradition and culture: a safe bet for tasting some
special subalpine pastries in oh-so-chic style.
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Historic cafés
Al Bicerin
Piazza della Consolata, 5
Tel. 011-4369325
The specialty of the house is the "bicerin", a chocolate beverage
mixed with coffee, hot bitter chocolate and milk cream. Don't leave
town without having tried it.
Caffe' Baratti & Milano
Piazza Castello, 29
Tel.
011 440.71.38
Located at the entrance to the Galleria Subalpina, this café
conserves the elegance of fin de siècle atmosphere and is the
perfect stopover for an aperitif. The refined restaurant serves
lunch from 12:30 to 14:30.
Caffè Elena
Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 5
Tel. 011-8123341
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Bicerin -
Photo: City of Turin Kit
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This historic café once was the haunt of the writer Cesare
Pavese and the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Tables are set
under the porticoes with a view of the square. Besides its
well-stocked wine cellar, this popular café offers a wide
selection of aperitifs and appetizers.
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Caffe Platti - Photo: City of Turin Kit
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Caffè Platti
C.so Vittorio Emanuele II, 72
Tel. 011-5069056
Established in 1875, this café has conserved its original
furnishings. Pavese and Einaudi were frequent guests, and
today's clientele still draws from the city's upper classes.
Light lunch with fixed menu is served from 12:00 to 14:30 and
dinner is served à la carte from 19:30 to 24:00.
Caffè Fiorio
Via Po, 8
Tel. 011-8173225
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Established in 1780, the café was popular with artists and
politicians such as Rattazzi, D'Azeglio and Cavour. Nicknamed
"café of the pigtails", it was also frequented by gentlemen
aristocrats and high military officers during the 1800s. The
rooms still conserve the elegance of times past. Light lunch
also served.
Caffè San Carlo
Piazza San Carlo, 156
Tel. 011-5617748
The first Italian café to use gaslight that illuminated the rich
plasterwork and statues decorating the rooms. At the time,
chroniclers called it "a palace", where Risorgimento patriots and
statesmen met. Bar service. outdoor café.
Caffè Miretti
C.so Matteotti, 5
Tel. 011-533687
Small but elegant café famous for its excellent ice cream.
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caffe San Carlo -
Photo: City of Turin Kit
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Caffè Mulassano
Piazza Castello, 15
Tel. 011-547990
Established at the turn of the century, it was popular with the
nobility from the royal court and the artists from the nearby
Teatro Regio. An ideal place for a cup of coffee or hot cocoa
and a look at the beautiful wood and marble furnishings. Its
original owner created sandwiches that eventually made his
establishment famous.
Caffè Neuv Caval 'D Brôns
Piazza San Carlo, 157
Tel. 011-545354
Elegant café serving aperitifs and coffee, with a choice
selection of pastries, appetizers and sandwiches. A winding
staircase leads to the upper floor restaurant with view of the
square and outdoor café.
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Caffe Torino - Photo: City of Turin Kit
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Caffe' Torino
Piazza San Carlo, 204
Tel. 011-545118
One of the city's most elegant gathering places, with outdoor
tables under the 17th century porticoes surrounding the square.
The elegant interior decor dates from the turn of the century.
Light lunch served.
Confetteria Stratta
Piazza San Carlo, 191
Tel. 011-547920
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Established in 1836, the confectionery made by Stratta is famous
in Italy. Its show windows display the traditional products of
piedmontese confectionery. Favorites include caramels,
gianduiotti and filled chocolates. No bar service.
Confetteria Avvignano
Piazza Carlo Felice, 50
Tel. 011-541992
Typical Turin confectionery shop established in 1883,
beautifully decorated with lacquered and golf leaf furnishings
dating from 1926. A wide variety of choice products such as "Droneresi"
(meringue filled with rum-flavored chocolate) and "Baci di
Cherasco" (bitter chocolate filled with hazelnut creme). No bar
service.
Pepino
Piazza Carignano, 8
Tel. 011-542009
Established in 1903, the café is located in the square in front of
Palazzo Carignano, the seat of the first Italian parliament, and the
historic Teatro Carignano (pedestrian zone). It was the preferred
café of the House of Savoy. Today, its outdoor tables offer a
welcome place to enjoy a quick lunch, ice cream or cake.
Courtesy of
Comune di Torino &
Torino
Convention Bureau
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Caffe Pepino
Photo: City of Turin Kit
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(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
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