Searching for the best coffee in Rome? I think I can help.
I recently spent a full month in the Eternal City. Hailing from New York City, finding the best coffee in Rome was non-negotiable and became a morning (and afternoon) ritual.
All told, I visited 25+ cafes in Rome and only a handful stood out enough to recommend. Read on for my personal list of the best coffee in Rome, hope you enjoy!
You might enjoy reading: 30 Remarkable Things to Do in Rome (Based on My Month-Long Stay)
Best Coffee Rome
Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria
Kicking off this list of the best coffee in Rome with my personal favorite: Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria. When I visited Rome in June, this was my go-to spot for coffee in Rome and I visited them daily (sometimes twice a day).
The staff were welcoming and warm, and the coffee was exceptional! I always ordered my coffee at the bar (keeps prices low and gets me in-and-out without delay) but the outdoor seating area seemed very lively too.
Forno Monteforte
One of my favorite things about visiting Rome is the coffee culture. You’ll find locals drinking coffee every hour of the day, popping from one cafe to the next. We decided to follow suit and swung by most cafes we passed whenever we were in need of a little energy boost.
And that’s precisely how we found Forno Monteforte, a beloved cafe in Rome serving great baked goods alongside strong coffee. The decor is so charming inside and the little window seats are particularly inviting.
La Casa Del Caffè Tazza D’oro
There’s no denying that La Casa Del Caffè Tazza D’oro is one of the most famous cafes in Rome. It’s so famous, in fact, that I visited it first time I was in Rome, without knowing anything about it beforehand. Confession time folks, before traveling became my career, I was the world’s worst planner.
Case in point: I visited Rome on two separate occasions, before traveling for work, and never once bothered to look up the best things to do in Rome. I knew about the Colosseum, sure, and St. Peter’s Basilica but knew nothing about the Vatican Museum until my third visit.
Amateur! But my point being: even with my lack of planning, I still managed to visit La Casa Del Caffè Tazza D’oro on both occasions. The reason is simple: this popular cafe in Rome is located a stone’s throw from the breathtaking Pantheon.
Whatever you do, don’t leave La Casa Del Caffè Tazza D’oro without ordering the granita (crushed ice coffee with whipped cream). It’s as delicious as it sounds!
Massive (tacky, if I’m being honest) gold lettering act as a flame for caffeine-deprived tourists as they make their way through long lines to see what all the fuss is about. If helpful, here’s an honest assessment: Caffè Tazza D’oro is great, but you can have equally great coffee in Rome without the super long lines.
The long lines at this historic Rome cafe take away from the overall experience. If it’s your first visit to Rome, I suggest braving the lines. But if you’re looking for a great cup, head to their calmer (smaller) locations or make your way to the other great cafes in Rome mentioned on this list!
Gran Caffè Rione VIII
We discovered Caffè Rione VIII innocently enough. We slept in one morning and couldn’t get into our usual spot (Roscioli Caffè) because the line was too long. Undeterred, we powered on and found Gran Caffè Rione VIII. We were warmly greeted the second we walked through the door and were promptly served a delicious cappuccino and espresso.
After our first visit, we couldn’t believe our luck! Enjoying some of the best coffee in Rome without crowds, are we the first to discover this gem? Well, spoiler alert: no. When we returned the next day we found ourselves in line for drinks, but we didn’t mind because the staff were equally as welcoming, even with the chaos of the morning coffee rush.
Faro – Luminari del Caffè
If you’re looking for third-wave coffee in Rome, you need not look further than Faro. Further removed from the city center, this place is still somehow flooded with locals and tourists alike most days.
Our friend recently returned from a trip to Rome and claimed this to be the best coffee in Rome. We wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so we swung by while exploring the neighborhood. We quickly noticed the cool hipster vibe to this place, probably as close as you can get to finding an Australian cafe in Rome.
We were promptly seated by the sweet staff and each ordered our beverage of choice (cappuccino and Americano). I was tempted by the tantalizing menu and ordered a vegetarian sandwich to split. Both the food and coffee were exceptional!
Faro definitely serves some of the best coffee in Rome, making it worth the small trek from the historic center.
Sant’Eustachio il Caffè
Yet another super popular cafe in Rome, Sant’Eustachio il Caffè is no secret. This cafe has been serving Romans since 1938, and many consider this some of the best coffee in Rome. As such, long lines and crowds are all but guaranteed.
If I’m being honest, I felt slightly overwhelmed during my visit because it was far too busy, this cafe in Rome isn’t even in the same timezone as peaceful! So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a second location while aimlessly wandering the charming streets of Rome.
My husband and I passed by a small cafe called Sant’Eustachio il Caffè and were slightly confused. There were no crazy lines and we could easily walk up to the bar for service. We each got our beverage of choice and promptly asked about the cafe, turns out this is a lesser-known outpost of the same cafe.
All told, even with crazy lines, if you’re searching for the most popular cafes in Rome during your trip, you can’t afford to miss Sant’Eustachio il Caffè.
Cafe Olimpia
Serving some of the best coffee in Rome in a casual setting, Cafe Olimpia was one of my favorite spots to get coffee in Rome. In fact, I went out of my way several times simply to pop into this charming cafe.
The staff were very kind and their reasonable breakfast deals kept us coming back. We usually split an Italian Breakfast between the two of us (it comes with one coffee beverage, orange juice, croissant and sandwich). We simply added an extra coffee drink to the order and called it a day.
The coffee is delicious and the breakfast items always hit the spot. Outdoor seating is provided and makes for some great people watching opportunities at this traditional cafe in Rome.
Barnum
Barnum was a few steps from our AirBnb, so naturally we visited often. The place is always packed with folks eating brunch (they have a great brunch menu), so we limited our visits to the afternoons for quick coffee breaks. The cafe is very charming, donning decor you would expect to see at a trendy cafe in NYC.
But the star of the show is the strong and smooth espresso being pulled by the second. You’ll rub elbows with locals and tourists alike, everyone eager to get their caffeine fix. I suggest ordering at the bar if you need a quick mid-day pick-me-up.
Barnum serves some of the best coffee in Rome at reasonable prices, making this an easy spot to recommend.
Libera Soon
Let’s wrap this list of the best coffee in Rome with one of the gems we found during out trip. Libera Soon caught my eye while I was hastily making my way to Navona Piazza. The place looked charming and the tea cups were too darling to pass up, so I made a mental note to swing by later.
My husband and I returned the next morning, first in line. We ordered our usual coffees and quick bites (croissant and quiche). Both the food and coffee were delicious and the charming decor was merely icing on the cake.
Best Coffee Rome (Post Summary)
In sum, here’s a roundup of the best coffee in Rome
- Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria
- La Casa Del Caffè Tazza D’oro
- Gran Caffè Rione VIII
- Faro – Luminari del Caffè
- Sant’Eustachio il Caffè
- Cafe Olimpia
- Barnum
- Forno Monteforte
- Libera Soon
Map of the best cafes in Rome, Italy
Cheers!
Antonina
What do you think?