Save an additional 10% discount or more on selected hotels - thanks to insider pricesRegister now for free!

The world’s most historic coffee houses

By Frances Doherty on January 5, 2017 in City

Explore world history one coffee at a time. Some of history's brightest minds and creative talents have walked through the doors of these coffee shops.  With their elegant interiors, sumptuous food and excellent coffees, they are perfect for a relaxing lunch break, whilst exploring the world’s most vibrant cities.

Paris's oldest, Café Le Procope

le-precope_paris

Fine dining in Paris doesn't come any more historic than at the Café Le Procope. Located in the city's Latin Quarter, on Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, this venue has been in continuous operation since 1686. Many famous feet have walked through its doors over the centuries and some of the original artefacts can still be seen on display here. Opened by Italian Francesco Procopio Dei Coltelli, Le Procope was a place to sip exotic coffee and indulge in some literary debate. The cafe's hallmark cuisine served here today is just as mouth-watering as it is historic!

Address: 13 Rue de l'Ancienne Comédie, 75006 Paris, Ranska

Opening hours: 12:00-1:00 am 

Casanova's hunting ground at Caffè Florian, Venice

venice-coffee-shop

Caffè Florian, in Venice's beautiful St. Mark’s Square, claims to be the oldest coffee house in the world… and one with the sauciest history! At the time of its opening in 1720 it was the only venue that admitted women. It is therefore said to have been frequented by Casanova, who described it as his "hunting ground". Fine wines and coffees from across the world flowed for some of Venice's most famous inhabitants and visitors. Today, the fine dining experience here is complemented by the restaurant's orchestra — a “café-concert” tradition that has been going since the early 20th century.

Address: Piazza San Marco, 57, 30124 Venezia, Italy

Opening hours: 9am – 12am

 Art and coffee at Rome's Caffè Greco

rome_coffee-shop

Italy's second oldest is Caffè Greco, located in the historic centre of Rome, on Via dei Condotti, right around the corner from the city's famous Spanish Steps. The venue opened its doors in 1760 and has seen some of Italy's most famous artistic, musical and literary talent come through its doors. Today you can enjoy a fine coffee whilst admiring the art pieces on display. After a long day exploring the sites and sounds of Rome, stop here for some plush red velvet, marble and gold-leaf gilding, topped off by sumptuous deserts and cheeky aperitifs.

 Address: Via dei Condotti, 86, 00187 Roma, Italy

Opening hours: 9am – 9pm

 Viennese delights and elegance at the Café Central

vienna-coffee-shop

Vienna's Café Central at Herrengasse 14 is easily one of the finest examples of Viennese finesse, history and culture, combined with elegant cuisine and excellent coffees. The "famous and notable visitors" list here makes for an interesting read: from Trotsky to Freud, distinguished guests have been a regular occurrence here ever since 1876. Whether you choose to pop in for a quick coffee or a lazy lunch, you will love the charm and ambience of this fine eatery. Legendary Viennese deserts accompanied by piano music make it an experience not to be missed!

Address: Herrengasse 14, 1010 Wien, Austria

Opening hours: 7:30 am – 10:00 pm

 History, Hollywood and the best espresso at Caffè Reggio, New York

new-york_coffee-shop_2

Domenico Parisi introduced the Italian cappuccino to the US in 1921 and his Caffè Reggio has been one of New York's most iconic coffee venues ever since. The world's first espresso machine, made in 1902, can still be seen on display here. This Manhattan cafe, located on Macdougal Street, is so atmospheric that it has featured in many movies (The Godfather being one of them). Since 1927, many celebrities have been spotted here, including the young JFK. Stop off for one of the best espressos in the world, a light bite and some old school NYC ambience.

Address: 119 Macdougal St, New York, NY 10012, USA

Opening hours: 8:00 am – 3:00 am

screen-shot-2017-01-06-at-10-22-08-am

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published

*

More stories that might interest you

The world’s most spectacular tidal and seaside pools

New York’s best boutique hotels

Ten beautiful French beaches you need to visit

Road Tripping in Portugal: 5 of the best routes

The best beaches in the Balearic Islands

10 magnificent UK castles you can actually stay in

10 of the best dog-friendly hotels in the UK

11 amazing houses to book now for summer

The best spa hotels for a relaxing staycation

Tbilisi is sizzling right now: 8 reasons to visit the Rome of the Caucasus

8 reasons why you should be planning a trip to Oman

0