
Gran Caffè Gambrinus
A legendary 19th-century Neapolitan coffee house, where history, art, and exquisite pastries create an unforgettable ambiance.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Gran Caffè Gambrinus

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A legendary 19th-century Neapolitan coffee house, where history, art, and exquisite pastries create an unforgettable ambiance.
"This historic cafe is a must-visit for its stunning decor and delectable treats, offering a true taste of Naples."
Avoid Peak Hours
Visit around 8:30 PM or avoid peak times to enjoy a more relaxed experience with no wait times.
Embrace the Experience
While prices are high, the unique historical atmosphere and quality make it a worthwhile splurge.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Italian Cafe
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Historic Elegance and Ambiance
Step back in time in this opulent 19th-century coffee house, adorned with statues, paintings, and frescos. A true literary and art salon.

Iconic Neapolitan Pastries
Indulge in classic Neapolitan sweets like Sfogliatella and Rum Baba, meticulously crafted and a perfect pairing with their rich coffees.

Literary and Celebrity Haunt
Experience a place frequented by literary giants like Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway, steeped in history and cultural significance.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Avoid Peak Hours
Visit around 8:30 PM or avoid peak times to enjoy a more relaxed experience with no wait times.
Embrace the Experience
While prices are high, the unique historical atmosphere and quality make it a worthwhile splurge.
Consider Takeaway
For pastries, consider taking them away to avoid potential lines, especially for bathrooms.
Order at the Counter
Be aware that ordering can be confusing with multiple counters and limited English spoken.
Tips
from all over the internet
Avoid Peak Hours
Visit around 8:30 PM or avoid peak times to enjoy a more relaxed experience with no wait times.
Embrace the Experience
While prices are high, the unique historical atmosphere and quality make it a worthwhile splurge.
Consider Takeaway
For pastries, consider taking them away to avoid potential lines, especially for bathrooms.
Order at the Counter
Be aware that ordering can be confusing with multiple counters and limited English spoken.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Gran Caffè Gambrinus offers a visually stunning and historically rich experience, with many praising its opulent decor and classic pastries. While the ambiance and desserts are highly appreciated, some diners note that the coffee can be overpriced and the service is not always friendly, with occasional confusion in ordering processes.
"This spot in the heart of Naples feels like a little time machine. The interior is super vintage and absolutely eye-catching. Great service, delicious products, and an amazing atmosphere.
That said, we were kept waiting in line even though there were free tables inside — which wasn’t very polite. Still, definitely worth a visit!"
Gökhan Güllü
"Great place but the indoor seating needs to be open sooner. Loved the chocolate croissant. We couldn’t go back the next day because the indoor seating wasn’t open before 9am. Also, because I couldn’t get in here I found a place next door with way better coffee. The Professoro Brand. So that’s was cool."
Rebecca Wagner
"The place is gorgeous. Waitstaff are not the friendliest but food and coffee are good. What i also found off-putting is how when they first open, you can only order the pastries and coffee. Can't order breakfast which is weird at 7AM .. since that is breakfast time."
Johanna Hernandez
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a historic 19th-century coffee house famed for its opulent decor, association with literary figures, and classic Neapolitan pastries.
Yes, prices are higher than average for Naples, but many find it worthwhile for the unique experience and atmosphere.
Popular choices include Sfogliatella, Rum Baba, Cannoli, Tiramisu, and expertly made espresso and cappuccino.
Visiting around 8:30 PM or avoiding peak hours is recommended for a more relaxed experience.
There is no strict dress code, but the elegant ambiance suggests smart casual attire.
Some reviews mention that breakfast items may not be available immediately upon opening; it's best to check their current policy.
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The Best Local Cafes In Naples, Italy
Just around the corner from the Piazza del Plebiscito is one of Italy’s most celebrated, historic coffee spots. The Gran Caffè Gambrinus retains the air of a literary salon and art gallery (works still adorn the walls), with marbled floors and high, art nouveau-style ceilings that, like sirens, have called the area’s most elite intellectuals, writers, artists and politicians since the mid-1800s. Gran Caffè Gambrinus is the perfect slice of Neapolitan posh and the ideal way to spend an afternoon in the city.
Coffee in Naples: the historical cafes
Gran Caffè Gambrinus opened in 1860 near via Toledo and the immense Plebiscito Square: it is the only true historical cafe in Naples that has survived until the present day. Known in ancient times as “cafe of the seven doors” because of its many entrances, it is home to many statues, paintings and marvellous frescos created by the best Italian artists of the time. Popular with distinguished patrons such as Gabriele D’Annunzio, Oscar Wilde, Guy de Maupassant, Émile Zola, Jean Paul Sartre, Benedetto Croce (and many more), this literary cafe, finely decorated in liberty style, fathered the concept of the caffè sospeso (or “suspended coffee”), the kind gesture that involves paying for a coffee and leaving it for the less fortunate.
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The most popular café in Naples and one of Italy’s most elegant dining rooms, Gran Caffè Gambrinus is worth visiting for the décor alone, festooned with marble, decadent stuccos, low reliefs and tapestries, plus art from famous Neapolitan landscape painters. Since 1860, the venue has been a popular haunt for distinguished guests from Empress Sissi of Austria to Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and Jean-Paul Sartre, plus countless tourists. Inside, the front of the building is home to a bakery offering goods to take away, but the dining room and its ambience are the real reason to come, especially considering the prices aren’t particularly democratic (especially for Naples’ standards).
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Located at the intersection of Piazza Plebiscito, classy via Chiaia and the royal palace of Naples, with its own Teatro San Carlo opera house, the historic cafè has been a haunt for intellectuals, politicians, and bon vivants since 1860. Reminiscent of the elegant Belle Epoque coffee houses of Vienna or Paris, illustrious Italian celebrities––like poet Gabriele D'Annunzio and philosopher Benedetto Croce, as well as international personalities such as Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway––shaped the country's culture while munching on buttery tea-time biscotti.
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There is no better place to start an espresso tour of Naples than at the Gran Caffe Gambrinus, arguably the centre of the Neapolitan love of caffe. Gambrinus sells chocolates, gelato, pasticceria, beer among other things, but right at the centre of its operation is a long Italian style standing espresso bar. As with all neapolitan cafes the list of coffee based drinks is rather large, there’s a lot of signature style coffee drinks here in Naples, but wanting to get at the heart of neapolitan espresso I ordered ‘due espressi’, that’s two espressos.
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I’m intentionally starting you off with this famed coffee stop because you’ll want to hit it up immediately after landing in Naples. It’s vivacious, ornate and will vastly immerse you in the Neapolitan culture upon thrusting open its gorgeous glass doors. There’s a few different ways you can work the plan here – you can opt for the authentic Italian experience and stand at what’s assured to be an overflowing, quick-service espresso bar, or request a table in the restaurant’s full service dining room for a slower introduction to the city.
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This iconic 19th-century coffeehouse is more than worth a visit in its own right, but the classy spritzes they serve give yet-another reason to stop by. It’s served as a meeting point for cool cats and literary icons over the decades, including Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and Jean-Paul Sartre, and today the Gran Caffè Gambrinus still retains a certain air of literary opulence. Sit inside to fully appreciate the gold-filled Art Nouveau interior with its grand stuccos, statues and paintings by late 19th-century Neapolitan artists.
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It’s the mother of all Neapolitan espresso and pastry shops. Initially founded in 1860, this historic cafe, located near the Royal Palace and the Teatro di San Carlo opera house, treats the concoction of a steaming cup of espresso as artistically as Michelangelo did when he created David. The pastries here are just as delectable as the coffee, with beloved Neapolitan sweets like the babà (rum soaked sponge cake), pastiera (Easter grain pie) and multiple varieties of the aforementioned sfogliatella.
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Nestled amidst the bustling streets of Naples, Gambrinus is a heavenly haven for caffeine connoisseurs and pastry enthusiasts alike. Step into this delightful café, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee dances whimsically with the scent of delectable desserts, as if they were competing in a fragrant tango. With a history as rich and decadent as its treats, Gambrinus beckons you to savor their sumptuous creations while immersing yourself in a truly vibrant Neapolitan atmosphere.
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Gran Caffè Gambrinus, een toeristische bestemming op zich, is een grandioos koffiewinkel ooit bezocht door sterren als Oscar Wilde en Ernest Hemingway. Prijzen zijn hoger dan de gemiddelde bar, maar het is de moeite waard alleen al in de setting - glinsterende kroonluchters hangen aan het plafond terwijl kunstwerken uit de Belle Epoque langs de muren lopen. Probeer het klassieke Napolitaanse ontbijt - bittere espresso en een rijk, boterachtig sfogliatella gebak.
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The Gran Cafè Gambrinus is a very famous Neapolitan historical venue, whose birth dates back to the 1860, which housed presidents of the republic, poets, artists and other important personalities in its liberty style tearoom. Not just a coffee temple but also available for a tea experience. I sweets offered are part of the Neapolitan confectionery: babà, caprese, Neapolitan pastiera but also reinterpretations like the black babà and the sweet of San Gennaro.
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Naples may be best known for its pizzerie, but it’s also home to one of Italy’s most celebrated literary cafes. Established in 1860, Caffe Gambrinus was a meeting place for writers and philosophers such as Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and Jean-Paul Sartre to discuss ideas over its signature Nocciola. It occupies a imposing Belle Epoque building facing the Piazza Trieste e Trento and the famous Piazza del Plebiscito, home to the Royal Palace of Naples.
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A Grand Dame that stands out in the slew of Naples cafes, Gran Caffe Gambrinus is must at any time of day. At breakfast, it’s a rare chance to treat yourself to an elite and upscale experience mornings rarely bring – alongside a decent measure of Naples history. Sip on Neapolitan espresso coffee in the elegant halls of the cafe, and you’ll see why every Italian President that’s ever visited Naples comes here for a coffee.
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Like Piazza del Plebiscito, Mount Vesuvius, and Maradona's iconography, Gran Caffè Gambrinus is integral to Naples. Since 1860, it has held the title of the city's most famous bar, a gastronomic institution where sipping an espresso like D'Annunzio or Marinetti used to in its golden era. As you turn the corner onto Via Chiaia, whether or not you're in the mood for a cup of coffee is insignificant.
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Gran Caffè Gambrinus is an icon of Naples, a place where art, culture, and gastronomy blend perfectly. Founded in 1860, this historic café is not just a place to enjoy excellent coffee and sweets but also a meeting point for intellectuals, artists, and historical figures. Its unique atmosphere and privileged location make it the ideal place to start the day with a traditional Neapolitan breakfast.
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Gambrinus is Naples' oldest and most revered café, serving superlative Neapolitan coffee under frilled chandeliers. Oscar Wilde repelled some here and Mussolini had some rooms closed to keep left-wing intellectuals out. The prices at the table are high, but the aperitif nibbles are decent and sipping a spritz or a tasty hot chocolate in its belle-époque rooms is something worth savouring.
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Coffee’s Historical entity since 1016 and decorated like Art Nouveau style, this cafe was the meeting point for authors and international actors of the Belle Epoque. During the Italian Fascist period, intellectuals against this movement used to gather there for a coffee and talk about the society. This Caffè is a lovely place where I particularly enjoyed their ristretto.
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Gran Caffé Gambrinus is located near the Piazza del Plebiscito and is a perfect spot to take a break from touring. It is an iconic and historic café that has been a cultural institution in Napoli for over 150 years. Stepping into the café is like stepping back in time to the Belle Epoque era, with its ornate décor, high ceilings, chandeliers, and beautiful furnishings.
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Gran Caffè Gambrinus is a historic Neapolitan caffé near Piazza del Plebiscito and the Royal Palace. They are known for their decadent pastries, especially sfogliatella which is a flaky pastry filled with sweet ricotta and citrus zest. The ambiance at Gambrinus is elegant as well as nostalgic, with ornate decor that reflects its rich history dating back to 1860.
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Gambrinius is one of the most famous coffee shops in Naples. Founded in 1860, this spectacular Art Nouveau coffee house has been a part of local culture and tradition for more than a century. It has been at the center of the intellectual, political, and creative life of the city, hosting luminaries like Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, and Bendetto Croce.
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I love visiting elegant cafes throughout Europe — but I was surprised to learn that one of the best was in Naples!. Gran Caffè Gambrinus is located right on Piazza del Plebiscito and feels like another world. You walk into the cafe and are spellbound by its crenellated walls with gold trim, statues on display in the alcoves, and elegant chandeliers.
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There is no doubt that Gambrinus is a great part of the history of Naples. At the time of the Neapolitan and international intellectual elite, it was one of the best examples of an Italian literary café, inspired by other European literary cafés. Its history started with the Unification of Italy in 1860, when the Gran Cafè was opened.
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During your stay in Naples, be sure to visit one of the oldest bars in Italy – Gran Caffè Gambrinus, founded in 1860. This is where you can enjoy a delicious coffee with hazelnut cream – caffe nocciola (2.50 euro at the counter)!. It was one of the best dining experiences for me, and the cafe itself has a really impressive interior!
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Located near Piazza del Plebiscito, Gran Caffè Gambrinus is an iconic historical café known for its elegant ambiance and traditional coffee experience. It has been serving coffee since 1860 and offers a wide selection of coffee beverages, pastries, and desserts. Gran Caffè Gambrinus address: Via Chiaia, 1-2, 80121 Naples, Italy
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The most famous bar in Naples and amongst the top ten in Italy, Il Gran Caffè Gambrinus is elegant and refined. It is clear that this is a bar from a different era, and the prices are not comparable with any of the others on this list. There’s a Tea Room, Coffee Room, bar area, patisserie and very grand central seating area.
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Established in 1860, Gran Caffé Gambrinus is one of oldest bars in Naples. Please be sure to participate in caffe sospeso (suspended coffee) when you visit Gambrinus (where they claim it was invented) or any coffee shop in Naples. You pay for a coffee in advance for someone in need and place the receipt in the moka pot.
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While not strictly a bar, I couldn’t write a blog about where to get a drink in Naples without mentioning Gran Caffè Gambrinus. Facing Piazza del Plebiscito, the Caffe has been a meeting place for intellectuals for nearly 200 years. It counts Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde and Jean Paul Sartre among its former patrons.
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We went to the famous Gran Caffe Gambrinus, one of the most famous places in Naples. Opened in 1860, the Gambrinus has long been the premier spot for artists and intellectuals to gather. The Italian President always enjoys a coffee at Gambrinus while in Naples, as have many famous intellectuals, including Oscar Wilde.
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Experience an opera performance in one of the most beautiful opera houses in Italy. We have the current schedule of the San Carlo Opera House for you and are happy to organize a music tour with premium tickets and a nice program for 3 days with city tour, gourmet dinners and an apertivo in the artist caffé Gambrinus.
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Situated on the edge of the piazza del Plebiscito, this café is a real institution in Naples!. institution in Naples!. Its art nouveau style interior is decorated in a very original decorated in a very original way; the place even has a bar in glowing wood extending from one end of the place to the other.
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Top choice is the oldest cafe in Naples, with a Liberty-style interior from the 1860s, the elegant Gran Caffè Gambrinus, Via Chiaia 1, in Piazza Trento e Trieste ((tel) 081-417582). Another very popular spot is La Caffetteria, Piazza dei Martiri 25 ((tel) 081-7644243), top choice for evening aperitivi.
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A visit to Naples isn’t complete without a stop at Gran Caffè Gambrinus. Located in Piazza del Plebiscito, this historic café dates back to 1860. Boasting an opulent ambience and delectable treats, it’s no wonder Italian Presidents have long made this a mainstay on their agendas when visiting the city.
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For a classic Italian cafe experience, be sure to check out Gran Caffè Gambrinus in Naples. This cafe has been around since the 1800s and is a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike. The cafe is located in the heart of Naples and is a great place to people-watch and enjoy some delicious espresso.
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Along with being one of the most important coffee shops in Naples, Caffe Gambrinus is also a museum. It was founded in 1860 and still maintains all its original, elegant decoration to this day. Along with their famous espresso, the sfogliatella served here is also a really popular, delicious choice.
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Historic bars, such as Caffè Gambrinus and Caffè dell'Elefante, are places where time seems to have stopped. Here, master baristas transform selected coffee beans into a creamy, intense espresso, served in delicate cups, often accompanied by a small glass of sparkling water to cleanse the palate.
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No trip to Napoli is complete without a visit to the Belle Èpoque Gambrinus. You can order your coffee on the go while standing up at the bar. However, I highly suggest indulging in the luxurious seated ritual of sipping afternoon coffee and nibbling on a sweet when visiting Gambrinus.
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Many prestigious Neapolitan pastry shops, such as the historic Caffè Gambrinus, offer their own version of this typical dessert which has spread to such an extent that today it is also possible to buy pastiera online and send it to relatives and friends, perhaps as a Christmas present.
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The last restaurant in Naples on this list is Gran Caffè Gambrinus, a 19th-century coffee house that is well-loved by locals. Founded in 1860, this coffee house is located near the Teatro di San Carlo opera house and also serves some delectable pastries.
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Gran Caffè Gambrinus opposite the Royal Palace of Naples is another institution, serving coffee, gelato and elegant desserts since 1860. As popular with locals as tourists, it’s worth paying the higher price to sit back and enjoy the Neapolitan chaos!
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If you’re looking for an iconic spot to enjoy sfogliatelle in Napoli, Caffè Gambrinus is the perfect choice. Established in 1860, this historic cafe has been serving locals and tourists alike with impeccable pastries and beverages for over a century.
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Samantha steps up to the coffee bar at Gambrinus, a century old café to drink what Neapolitans drink for an energy buzz!. Everyone knows that Italians are passionate people. They are also passionate and proud of their music - especially opera.
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Layers and layers of reflections create an illusion of expanding space. Complemented with ornate gold tracings, gold gilded columns, and large spherical chandeliers, the overall impression is that of a miniature Royal Palace of Caserta.
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To experience one of the elegant historic coffee houses of Napoli, you’ll want to make a stop at Gran Caffé Gambrinus. Enjoy a simple espresso and pastry, or indulge in one of the gourmet coffees inside a beautiful vintage location.
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Whatever you try, the perfect end to any Neapolitan meal is a thimbleful of Limoncello or cup of Neapolitan coffee. Gambrinus is a beautiful coffee shop that attracts an artsy clientele. Highly recommended: caffè alla nocciola.
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Gran Caffe Gambrinus, which opened in 1860, is one of the oldest cafés in Naples. Although small and crowded with tourists, the café is worth a visit for its old-school vibe. The elegant interior transports you back in time.
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Gran Caffé Gambrinus in Piazza Plebiscito boasts elegant and sumptuous halls inside which coffee is a ritual. La Caffettiera in Piazza dei Martiri is another outstanding parlor that operates at all hours, changing its face.
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Located between the beautiful piazza del Plebiscito and via Chiaia, not too far away from the Royal Palace of Naples, the San Carlo Theater and the Galleria Umberto I, it’s impossible to miss the Gran Caffè Gambrinus.
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Address: Via Chiaia 1/2 (Piazza Trieste e Trento) 80132 Naples Phone: +39 081 41 75 82. Source: Gambrinus website. For a breakfast in Naples in a refined setting we have the Gran Caffè Gambrinus.
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The tasting cannot be said to be complete without sharing a "sweet" moment: going up to Piazza del Plebiscito, you will stop at the historic Gran Caffè Gambrinus For puff pastry and coffee!
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Caffè Gambrinus, one of the city's historic venues, welcomes animals in its outdoor terrace, where you can relax and enjoy a moment of relaxation with your four-legged friend.
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Via Chiaia, 1/2, 80132 Napoli NA, ItalyPhone: +39 081 417582 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Gran Caffè Gambrinus (@gambrinus_napoli)
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If you fancy trying Pastiera napoletana while in Naples, head to Gran Caffè Gambrinus in Piazza del Plebiscito – it’s one of the nicest cafés in town!
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A historic place to not be missed, even if it is not purely a pastry shop. You can try traditional desserts, but its specialty is Neapolitan coffee.
Caffè Gambrinus (piazza Trieste e Trento at piazza Plebiscito), grand fin de siècle literary café; fine drinking chocolat, pastries, full bar.
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Another great place and also the city’s oldest cafe is the Gran Caffè Gambrinus, a short walk away from the beautiful Piazza del Plebiscito.
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