Piedmont food:
Turin - Torino Historic cafés

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.

Caffe Al Bicerin Torino Turin Caffé Al Bicerin - Photo: City of Turin Kit

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.

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!

Bicerin Torino Turin Bicerin - Photo: City of Turin Kit

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

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.

Caffè Fiorio

Via Po, 8
Tel. 011-8173225
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.

Cafe Platti Torino Turin Caffe Platti - Photo: City of Turin Kit

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 Miretti

C.so Matteotti, 5
Tel. 011-533687
Small but elegant café famous for its excellent ice cream.

Caffè San Carlo

Cafe San Carlo Torino Turin caffe San Carlo - Photo: City of Turin Kit

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 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.

Caffe Torino Turin Caffe Torino - Photo: City of Turin Kit

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

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.

Pepino

Caffe Pepino Torino Turin Caffe Pepino
Photo: City of Turin Kit

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.

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.

Courtesy of Comune di Torino & Torino Convention Bureau

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