Cafes in Rome

Who says that you can’t have a taste of the good life or la dolce vita?  When visiting the “Eternal City” of Rome, one of the best ways to rest after hours of touring the city is by stopping at a gelaterie or an ice cream parlor, a pasticcerie or a confectionery shop, and authentic Rome cafes.

Italians are known for taking the time out to lovingly prepare the food that they serve in family-owned restaurants.  So while waiting for the pizza or pasta that you ordered to arrive, you can people watch or simply stare at the living, breathing museum that is right in front of your eyes.

At any time of the day, you can stop by any of the cafes in Rome – they’re practically located on almost every nook and cranny of the city.

Rome Cafes: A Crash Course on the ‘Coffee’ Terms Used in Italy

Now, whether it is your first time or tenth time to visit the wonderful city of Rome, you need to learn about the local terms used for coffee brews if you want to luxuriously sip a cup at a local caffe’.

Here’s a crash course on what some of the local Italian coffee-related terms mean:

- Caffe’ Ristretto is the Roman equivalent of the espresso which is highly aromatic, strong and very concentrated.
- Caffe’ Lungo which stands for ‘long coffee’ is a slightly milder version of the espresso.
- Caffe’ Americano is what you need to order if you’re used to the American brand of coffee.  This is Italian coffee poured over a large cappuccino cup, diluted with hot water.
- Caffe’ Corretto is liqueur-flavored coffee.
- Caffe’ Macchiato or ’stained’ coffee has a splash of milk.

Finally, there’s the beloved brew which is cappuccino, something that you can order at one of the many cafes in Rome.

A Glimpse at the Best Rome Cafes

Just as it is with every other popular getaways in the world, there are attractions in Rome which are frequented by the locals, by tourists and some places which seem to attract both crowds.

Now, if you’re looking forward to sipping some of the local Italian brews in style, here are some of the best cafes in Rome that you should visit:

1.  Antico Caffe’ Greco at Via dei Condotti
The rates here are quite pricey for the typical tourist – but the service and the place is definitely worth it.  From the marble tables to the velvet chairs, this is one of the three most ancient cafes in the world.

2. Rosati at the Piazza del Popolo
If you’re looking for a café which is a bit more trendy, the Rosati is the place to go.  The café and tearoom is trendy – and there’s a dining room on the second level.

3.  Tazza d’Oro near the Pantheon
Ask any local who’s a coffee aficionado and you’ll learn that this is where the best coffer in Rome is prepared.

Coffee lover or not, one of the best activities that you can get to do in Rome is still to sit by a café and slowly sip a steaming cup of caffe’ as you watch the world go by.