Antico Caffe Greco: Rome’s Oldest Coffee Bar

Via Condotti is one of Rome’s most exclusive streets. Lined with designer shops leading up to the Spanish Steps, the elegant road is also home to Rome’s oldest coffee bar – Antico Caffe Greco.

Decorated with oil paintings, gilt mirrors and plenty of red velvet – Antico Caffe Greco does feel somewhat like a period cafe.

But having been open since 1760, the traditional feel of the coffee bar is authentic.

The stylish interior and cafe culture once drew intellectuals and artists.

The prime location in an area once known as being an expat neighborhood meant that the tables were filled with the likes of Goethe and Byron.

Today, Antico Caffe Greco is still an elegant stop for an Italian coffee. Sure, the location next to the Spanish Steps and the history associated with the cafe can mean that it draws tourist crowds. However, you can just as likely to see chic sales associates from Fendi elbowing for room at the bar as you are to see international visitors in shorts and t-shirts.

The high end address also comes with higher prices.

Carefully consider if you really want to sit down in the hollowed halls of the cafe because the final bill for table service will add a significant charge.

But the prices are somewhat justified by the setting and the bowtied baristas.  If you stand to enjoy your coffee and cornetto at the banco, the morning meal will only set you back €3 – €3.50

And one last pro tip? The cost of the coffee might be worth it to use one of the city’s prettiest bathrooms. Toilets in Rome can be totally gross, which makes Antico Caffe Greco’s spotless marble affair even more impressive.

Antico Caffe Greco

Via dei Condotti, 86
Rome, Italy (Centro Storico)

Open 9 am – 9 pm everyday

 

9 thoughts on “Antico Caffe Greco: Rome’s Oldest Coffee Bar

  1. Ron says:

    Wow ! Great style !

    “Thou art indeed a world, O Rome; and yet were Love absent,
    Then would the world be no world, then would e’en Rome be no Rome…”

  2. Laura says:

    On my last trip to Rome, I started my day here several times. The front of the café, in front of the pastry display, was always crowded and the line for service was long. Meanwhile, the tables were mostly empty. For me, it was worth it to pay extra just to enjoy my breakfast and my surroundings in peace. 🙂

  3. Sammy says:

    I visited this week and enjoyed its beauty but couldn’t afford anything but a trip to the bathroom. It was indeed pretty and immaculately kept but still didn’t have a toilet seat!

  4. Gysh says:

    Hi there!
    I would love to purchase 1 Coffe Cup Centenario (small) from Cafee Greco as a farewell gift for my boss.
    She really loves the coffee there but we are staying in Asia hence I would like to get it for her as a memorable gift.
    May I know whether the cafe sells the cups to Asia customers via international shipping?

    Thanks!

  5. Anita says:

    I LOVE Cafe Greco. I like to take friends to McDonald’s and then Cafe Greco. It makes for a great comparison!!!
    Anita

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