Italy · best-of list
The 18 Best Bars & Cafés in Italy
All 18 bars & cafés our route editors picked in Italy, across 14 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect bars, cafés and tasting rooms, with Val d'Orcia contributing the most (3).
Our curated picks
18 bars & cafés in Italy, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Val d'Orcia 3 picks
Cantine Contucci
Val d'Orcia · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Ancient cellars under Piazza Grande, making Vino Nobile for centuries.
Tip: Walk-in tastings available.
Photo: Cantina Contucci · Google
Castello Banfi
Val d'Orcia · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Large Brunello estate with tastings, a glass museum and restaurant.
Tip: Book tasting and lunch together.
Photo: grazi debbané · Google
Fortezza di Montalcino
Val d'Orcia · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
14th-century fortress with an enoteca for Brunello di Montalcino tastings.
Tip: Climb the ramparts after a tasting.
Photo: Gregor Valeruz · Google
Chianti 2 picks
Castello di Verrazzano
Chianti · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Historic castle winery with tours and tastings above Greve.
Tip: Book a tour with lunch.
Photo: Eva B. · Google
Castello di Volpaia
Chianti · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Medieval village winery near Radda with cellars in old churches.
Tip: Book tastings ahead.
Photo: Nmasti · Public domain
Taormina 2 picks
Bar Turrisi
Taormina · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Quirky Castelmola bar known for almond wine and terrace views.
Photo: Tábit Adél · Google
Benanti Winery
Taormina · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Family estate on Etna's slopes offering tastings of volcanic Nerello Mascalese.
Tip: Book tastings ahead.
Photo: Benanti Viticoltori - Tenuta Monte Serra · Google
Amalfi 1 pick
Pasticceria Pansa
Amalfi · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Café-pastry shop on Piazza Duomo since 1830, known for candied lemon peel and delizia al limone.
Photo: Pasticceria Pansa Amalfi · Google
Bolzano 1 pick
Kellerei Bozen
Bolzano · On our Dolomites High Road route
Bolzano's cooperative winery with a modern cellar and shop for Lagrein and St. Magdalener.
Tip: Book a guided tasting; shop open weekdays.
Photo: Cantina Bolzano · Google
Cortina d'Ampezzo 1 pick
Enoteca Cortina
Cortina d'Ampezzo · On our Dolomites High Road route
Long-running wine bar in the center with a big Italian list.
Tip: Good for an aperitivo before dinner.
Photo: Enoteca Cortina · Google
Florence 1 pick
Le Volpi e l'Uva
Florence · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Small wine bar by Piazza de' Rossi pouring Tuscan wines by the glass.
Tip: Order crostini with the wine.
Photo: Le Volpi e l'Uva · Google
Palermo 1 pick
Taverna Azzurra
Palermo · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Old Vucciria tavern pouring cheap local wine to a crowd spilling into the street.
Tip: Busy after 9 pm.
Photo: Taverna azzurra · Google
Positano 1 pick
Franco's Bar
Positano · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Terrace bar at Le Sirenuse with sunset views over the dome and sea.
Tip: No reservations; arrive before sunset for a seat.
Photo: Espresso Bolognese (EB) · Google
Ravello 1 pick
Sal De Riso Costa d'Amalfi
Ravello · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Café of pastry chef Salvatore De Riso on the Minori seafront, below Ravello.
Tip: Walk down the old staircase path from Ravello (about 45 min) and bus back.
Photo: Rita Placidi (Rita) · Google
Siena 1 pick
Pasticceria Nannini
Siena · On our Tuscany Hill Towns route
Siena's classic café for espresso, ricciarelli and panforte.
Tip: Stand at the bar for coffee like locals.
Photo: Massimo Visconti · Google
Sorrento 1 pick
Fauno Bar
Sorrento · On our Amalfi Coast Escape route
Classic café-bar on Piazza Tasso for an aperitivo and people-watching.
Photo: Oliver Soop · Google
Syracuse 1 pick
Planeta Buonivini
Syracuse · On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route
Planeta's Noto estate offering Nero d'Avola and olive oil tastings.
Tip: Book ahead; tastings are seasonal.
Photo: Planeta Buonivini · Google
Val Gardena 1 pick
La Cërcia
Val Gardena · On our Dolomites High Road route
Ortisei wine bar with a deep list and South Tyrolean snacks.
Tip: Seasonal: winter (late Nov-Mar) and summer only, from 16:00. Book ahead.
Photo: Andrea Minghetti · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the bars & cafés in Italy?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 18 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Italy has the most bars & cafés on this list?
Val d'Orcia has the most (3 of 18), followed by Chianti (2) and Taormina (2).
More lists for Italy
Best bars & cafés nearby
Destinations on this list
- Val d'Orcia 3 on this list
- Chianti 2 on this list
- Taormina 2 on this list
- Amalfi 1 on this list
- Bolzano 1 on this list
- Cortina d'Ampezzo 1 on this list
- Florence 1 on this list
- Palermo 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.