Apulia is no doubt one of the most amazing regions of Italy, full of history, nature and beaches. Bari is one of the main Apulian cities, and you are about to discover its historical cafes!
Other Italian cities have a stronger historical cafes tradition than Bari. Here, in fact, many cafes have been forced out of business along the years. But the ones that remains have in them the real essence of the history of Bari.
Read on to know more!
Caffè Stoppani
4 pastry chefs from Switzerland opened the Caffè Stoppani: Giacomo Stoppani, Fausto Poult, Giacomo and Gaspare Lenzi.
This place, located in Via Roberto da Bari is one of those we can’t unfortunately still enjoy today. Nevertheless, it has been a café that played a major role in the city. The Stoppani Café, in fact, opened in 1860 and was one of the official Royal Household supplier – not many cafes had this privilege! Its license was the number 2, and was issued in 1865. This role the café had with the Royalties, made it possible for Caffè Stoppani to add royal references on its packaging and promotional material: probably the smartest marketing move of the time!
But not just that. Caffè Stoppani was the actual place were the voting for the addition of Bari to the Kingdom of Italy took place! This makes the place really relevant from an history point of view.
At the beginning of the 1900s, the place was the meeting point for Bari’s middle class people. It also had illusrious people though: Benedetto Croce (one of the most important philosopher), Wilhelm II, Italo Balbo, Vittorio Emanuele III and Regina Elena were also patrons of the place.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could still get a coffee here?
Bar Viola
This Café opened in 1936 in Corso Sonnino, located in the district of the Madonnella. The place is still very popular here and generations of Bari families have been having their coffee here. Bar Viola is also known to be the first place were you could officially buy the tickets for any football club game. Bar Viola was also one of the first place to sell national lottery tickets!
The place is also well-known for its ice-cream, which you can still enjoy at the present day!
Bar Viola has been renovated recently, but its great Art Nouveau style has been preserved together with its welcoming premises and friendly atmosphere.
Bar Pasticceria Floro
Michele Floro opened its own place in Via San Francesco D’Assisi in 1946. The reason of this opening is one of a kind: during the war Michele had learnt how to properly bake cakes for the allies, and he did not want his expertise to go to waste! So he made a business out of it, and a pretty successful one too!
The pastry selection here is popular all around the city, and delicacies are served with one of the best espressos you can find in town.
Gran Caffè Riviera
If you are looking for a coffee with a view, you’ve found your spot. Gran Caffè Riviera is located on the Lungomare Nazario Sauro, wich is the promenade that goes along the beach, on the Adriatic sea.
Here you can also have delicious cakes with, of course, authentic Italian espresso.
Here you are: one more Italian city you are ready to visit! Stay tuned for more historical cafes tours in Italy, we working on a new tour in Trieste, another city on the sea, this time in the northern part of Italy.
