Yes, let’s eat here…it is a very tasty, elegant, historic, and well-located breakfast place. Its location is just yards (or perhaps I should say ‘meters’) from the Spanish Steps (it is actually 263 feet/80.16 meters from restaurant to the Spanish Steps), which is where we will start our Rome walking tour in my next Italy, Our Italy blog article. Here is a simple map…
Location of Antico Caffe Greco
However, before we begin our walk to the Spanish Steps, we need to have breakfast. Also, though I have shown barefooted foot prints on the map, I recommend that you wear comfortable shoes today. If you entered the restaurant with bare feet, you will find these stores right there within a two-block area on Via dei Condotti: Jimmy Choo, Ferragamo, Max Mara, Brioni, Sergio Rossi, Prada, Gucci, Dior, Hermes, Harry Winston, Celine, Buccellati, Patek Philippe, Loro Piana, Mont Blanc, Van Cleef & Arpels, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Cartier, Damiani, and Moncler. I have no idea which of those have shoes for you, but I know for a fact that Antico Caffe Greco does not have shoes.
Enough shop talk…let’s go ahead and get to the restaurant!
Here is the exterior of the restaurant…
Exterior photo of Antico Caffe Greco in Rome
A Bit of Restaurant History
Before we go in, let me point out a couple of signs that are very significant. First is this banner…
This banner tells us that Antico Caffe Greco is 250 years old…it was at least that old at the time of our dining in 2023.
Since it opened in 1760, that makes it 263 years old when we entered the doors.
And, it is well recognized for its longevity. Here is a plaque that documents its significance.
A plaque celebrating Antico Caffe Greco in Italian
Since you carefully read my recent article titled, “A Significant Transformation Involving ‘Danger of Death’”, you will know how to pull out your cellphone right now to pull up your Google app to get instant translation satisfaction.
Just in case you do not have your cellphone handy, here is the translation, as seen on my own cellphone, using the Google translation feature.
Breaking the Language Barrier
Here is something of interest regarding the alphabet used in the Italian language: You will see the letter “V” often, which in our English language is shaped like our letter V, but is actually our letter “U”. It stems from the Latin alphabet, from which our own alphabet comes. This is why the letter shaped as W, which we pronounce double-yoo is formed by two letter “Vs”…or double-yoos (which look like two Vs to us English speakers, yet they are yoos in Latin). Probably 99% of you already knew this.
This means that the date of the decree is July 27, 1953. I find it strange that Google did not immediately translate LVGLIO to July, though as I moved my cellphone in and out it occasionally popped in “JULY” for me. The letters “G” and “L: found together before the letter “I” in Italian is pronounced “lee”. For instance “garlic” in Italian is spelled “aglio” and is pronounced ah-lee-oh. and “wife” is spelled “moglie” and is pronounced “mo-lee-ay”.
So “LVGLIO” is pronounced loo-lee-oh.
To help you in your own translation, here are the months of the year in order:
Gennaio, Febbralo, Marzo, Aprile, Maggio, Giugno, Luglio, Agosto, Settembre, Ottobre, Novembre, Dicembre.
My Apology!
I must sincerely apologize…I told you that we were going to have a fabulous breakfast, but all I’ve done is talk about shopping and language. So, without further ado, here is what Antico Caffe Greco is all about…food!
The pastry case of Antico Caffe Greco
Let’s get a closer look at these pastries. As always, please click on the first image below to get a full screen view, and then use your arrow keys or mouse to advance through these tasty treats. When you have seen the starting photo once more, click on the white “X” in the upper-right-hand corner (not the black “X” in the EXTREME upper-right-hand corner, as that will close your browser and you will miss seeing all of the treats).
From their menu:
Fresh Fruit Tarts
Sicilian Cannoli
Saint Honorè Cake
Grandma’s Cake
Peach Charlotte
Absolute Chocolate Cake
Caffè Greco's Baba Cake
Greek Coffee Cake
Mixed Fresh Fruit Cake
Are there non-pastry items available? Yes there are. Though I didn’t see it on their on-line menu, we had an egg omelet while we were there.
And where might you sit to eat? There is The Red Room, The Gubinelli Room, The White Room, The Gallli Room, The Szoldaticz Room, The legendary Omnibus room, The Hall of Roman Views, and The Rome Room with Giovannini's Works. So, take you pick…or just sit where you can find a vacant table.
Our Visit
Here is a photo of our pre-Rome-walk breakfast…
Ellen and Steve enjoyed their meal
And, were we satisfied?
This photo tells it all!
And, we had a Coke Zero…no Diet Cokes in Europe anymore.
Jason Johnson enjoyed his breakfast
And yes, Jason was also impressed.
But, good thing we brought our pocketbooks…right Jason?
Ellen and I are not coffee drinkers, but we made good with the hot chocolate. In Italy, it is almost the consistency of melted Hershey bar.
The remains of a cup of hot chocolate
Polish Regulars
You have probably been wondering if any famous Polish painters, novelists, or poets were regulars at Antico Caffe Greco. Well here is the answer to mollify your curiosity.
Images of famous Polish celebrities who were Caffe Greco regulars
Visting
I couldn’t tell from their website whether they take reservations. Here is the salient information for making a visit to this very historic and delicious dining establishment.
Antico Caffe Greco is open every day from 9:00am to 9:00pm
The address is: Via Condotti, 86 Rome 00187
Telefono: (039) 06 6791700
Email: info@caffegreco.it
Website: https://anticocaffegreco.eu/?lang=en
That’s it for today with this rather varied article on a fabulous dining experience…and the neighborhood. Stay tuned for the rest of this day’s journey as we explore Rome by foot, seeing many of the major sites in one wonderful day.
Until next time, I say…
Ciao for Now,
Steve
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