It’s hard to believe, but some cafes have existed for several centuries. Just imagine that you can go for a coffee and you will be surrounded by objects that are already 200, or even 300 years old. And how many stories such establishments keep! In this article, we’ll highlight 30 old retro cafes you might want to visit on your next trip.
Cafe Chris, Amsterdam
Location: Bloemstraat 42, 1015 TB Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cafe Chris is the oldest establishment in Amsterdam, founded in 1624 in the Jordaan district. Due to its dark interior, it is also called “Brown Cafe”. Once upon a time, workers who were building the Westerkerk bell tower came here for wages. The cafe still has old floorboards, backlit windows, and dark wood paneling.
Gran Caffe Quadri, Venice
Location: Piazza San Marco, 121, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
The establishment opened its doors in 1638 – then it was called Il Rimedio. Malvasia wine was served here and was said to “invigorate the body and awaken the mind.” In 1775, merchant Giorgio Quadri and his wife Naxina, who arrived from Corfu, decided to invest in this cafe. This is how the history of Gran Caffe Quadri began. In 1830, management passed to the Vaerini brothers, who expanded the establishment by one more floor. In 2011, the Alaimo family bought the cafe. In 2018, Gran Caffe Quadri underwent a major renovation. The famous French creative and designer Philippe Starck was invited to transform it.
Cafe Procope, Paris
Location: 13 Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie, 75006 Paris, France
Café Procope is the first literary café in Paris. It was discovered in 1686 by Sicilian immigrant Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli – after whom it took its name. Following the traditions of the Procopio family, who ran the establishment for many years, the cafe serves sorbet and granita (crushed ice), the forerunners of ice cream. King Louis XIV appointed Café Procope as the exclusive producer of sorbets. Its famous visitors include Napoleon, Honoré de Balzac, Paul Verlaine, Victor Hugo and Voltaire.
Cafe Tomaselli, Salzburg
Location: Alter Markt 9, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
In the center of Salzburg, on the Alter Markt square, there is the Tomaselli cafe, perhaps one of the most famous in the world. Family-owned for centuries, this restaurant embodies stylish Austrian coffee culture. The first cafe was opened here in 1703, and in 1852 it was bought by Karl Tomaselli. Mozart and his wife Constance, playwright Hugo von Hofmannsthal, and composer Carl Weber loved to visit it.
Cafe Tomaselli recommends trying the Einspänner (double espresso with cold whipped cream) and Melange (an espresso-based coffee drink with the addition of heated and frothed milk and whipped cream).
Caffe Florian, Venice
Location: Piazza San Marco, 57, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Caffe Florian is one of the first cafes in what is now Italy. It was opened in 1720 under the name Alla Venezia Trionfante. The establishment gained popularity due to the fact that both men and women could visit it – in those years this was very rare. Over time, the cafe began to be called Florian – in honor of the owner Floriani Francesconi. In 1760, the sales point for Venice’s first newspaper, Gazzetta Veneta, was opened here.
At different times, the cafe was visited by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Johann Goethe, Charles Dickens, George Byron, Giacomo Casanova, Ernest Hemingway and others.
Today, Caffe Florian offers more than 30 varieties of coffee drinks, many desserts, salads and light snacks.
Antico Caffe Greco, Rome
Location: Via dei Condotti, 86, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
Antico Caffè Greco is a historical café in Rome, opened in 1760. Its founder is the Greek Nicola della Maddalena. Over the centuries, the elegant Caffè Greco has been visited by Hans Christian Andersen, George Byron, Henrik Ibsen, John Keats, Mark Twain and others. Some 300 paintings, memorabilia and vintage photographs of famous clients adorn the walls of this establishment. And gilded mirrors and a piano help maintain an authentic atmosphere.
Caffè Al Bicerin, Turin
Location: Piazza della Consolata, 5, 10122 Torino TO, Italy
The history of the establishment began in 1763, when Giuseppe Dentis opened his small shop in the premises opposite the entrance to the Santuario della Consolata Cathedral. In 1856, the current building was built here according to the design of the architect Carlo Promis. And then the cafe acquired a more elegant form, which we can appreciate today – its walls were decorated with wooden panels, mirrors and lamps. It now has round white marble tables, a counter, and shelves.
This establishment was the birthplace of the famous Turin drink Bicerin – a mixture of coffee, chocolate, milk and syrup. Even Alexandre Dumas mentioned it in one of his novels.
El Fishawy, Cairo
Location: El-Gamaleya, El Gamaliya, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
El Fishawy Café is hidden in the heart of Khan Al Khalili Souk. Its doors opened to visitors in 1773. The first owner of the establishment served Turkish coffee to his friends after sunset. There were more and more people wanting to enjoy a cup of aromatic drink and discuss city news. And then the owner bought buildings nearby, added even more items and hookah to the menu. The current owners of El Fishawy, heirs of the founder, are trying to preserve the traditions and atmosphere of the establishment.
Cafe Tortoni, Buenos Aires, 1858
Location: Av. de Mayo 825, C1084 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cafe Tortoni is considered the oldest in Argentina. It was opened by an emigrant from France in 1858 and named after the café of the same name in Paris. It is worth noting that the first premises of Cafe Tortoni were located on Avenida Rivadavia. The cafe moved to its current location in 1880. The owners have maintained the same style of the establishment throughout all the years of its existence. There is a tango room, as well as tables for playing billiards, dominoes and dice.
His most famous guests were Garcia Lorca, Jorge Luis Borges, Carlos Gardel, Hillary Clinton, Albert Einstein, Robert Duvall.
Café Gerbeaud, Budapest
Location: Budapest, Vörösmarty tér 7-8, 1051 Hungary
Café Gerbeaud is the most famous cafe in Europe, whose history began in 1858. Its founder is Henrik Kugler, a representative of the third generation of a dynasty of confectioners. He became the first to offer customers slices of his signature Coogler cake to-go in cardboard boxes. During a visit to Paris in 1882, Henrik Kugler met Emil Gerbaud – they soon became business partners. And later, a French confectioner entrepreneur bought the cafe completely.
With the advent of Gerbeau, many changes took place in the confectionery – the menu expanded, the equipment changed, and the staff increased. Café Gerbeaud became a favorite place not only among city residents, but also among city guests, since the prices here were affordable for absolutely everyone. After Emile Gerbeau’s death in 1919, his wife ran the confectionery. From 1950 to 1984 the cafe was nationalized and was called Vörösmarty. In 1995, Café Gerbeaud was bought by German entrepreneur Erwin Franz Müller. The establishment was renovated and restored to its historical appearance.
Gran Caffè Gambrinus, Naples, Italy
Location: Via Chiaia, 1/2, 80132 Napoli NA, Italy
The legendary coffee shop is located in the center of Naples. The establishment was founded by Vincenzo Apuzzo in 1860 – his dream was to create the best cafe in Italy. The next owner was Mario Vacca in 1889. By that time, the premises were already in need of reconstruction. The owner of the cafe invited an architect and artists who worked on updating the interior. Their paintings and sculptures adorn Caffè Gambrinus to this day.
The establishment was once visited by Matilda Serao, Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde, Guy de Maupassant, Princess Sissi, and Emile Zola. By the way, the tradition of caffé sospeso was born here – paying for coffee for the next customer.
Cafe de la Paix, Paris
Where is it: 5 Pl. de l’Opéra, 75009 Paris, France
Café de la Paix is located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, at the intersection of Boulevard des Capucines and Place de l’Opéra, in the building of the Le Grand Hotel. The hotel and cafe were opened in 1862 with the financial support of the Pereire brothers. The Café de la Paix gained its first international reputation in 1867, serving the International Exhibition.
The establishment, located next to the Opera Garnier, attracted many famous personalities. Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Jules Massenet, the Prince of Wales and Edward VII visited here. In 1896, Eugene Piroux held film screenings at the Café de la Paix, and later a radio studio was organized there.
Just like 150 years ago, today the restaurant is also very popular. Salads, hot dishes, snacks and desserts are served here.
Café du Monde, New Orleans
Location: 800 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
Café du Monde is a true New Orleans landmark. The establishment has been in business since 1862 and always serves dark roasted chicory coffee, milk (regular or chocolate), fresh orange juice, hot chocolate and French donuts (beignets).
Cafe Landtmann, Vienna
Location: Universitätsring 4, 1010 Wien, Austria
Café Landtmann is the oldest in Vienna. Guests began to be received here on October 1, 1873. Franz Landtmann dreamed of opening not just a coffee shop, but the most elegant place in Vienna. And he did everything for this – visitors were delighted with the innovative spirit of the establishment. Years passed, the owners changed, but this place was always popular among citizens and guests of the capital. In the 1970s, Cafe Landtmann was threatened with closure, but thanks to the efforts of the new owners, it was saved.
Baratti & Milano, Turin
Location: Piazza Castello, 27, 10123 Torino TO, Italy
Caffè Baratti & Milano is a historic café in Turin, opened in 1875 in the central Galleria Subalpina. The establishment owes its name to two pastry chefs from Canavese: Ferdinando Baratti and Edoardo Milano. Soon after its opening, Caffè Baratti & Milano became a meeting place for the intelligentsia and the bourgeoisie. Its success has grown to the level of “official supplier of the Royal House”.
The current appearance of the restaurant is the result of reconstruction in 1909. The room has a lot of marble, bronze, stucco, gilding and wide mirrors, which give this place a rich artistic appearance. The cafe was damaged during the Second World War, but was restored in 1948.
Caffè Baratti & Milano offers its visitors more than 20 types of coffee drinks, tea, light snacks, pastries and sweets.
Cafe Central, Vienna
Location: Herrengasse 14, 1010 Wien, Austria
The Central coffee shop is the most popular place in Vienna and is included in all must-see lists in this city. There are always long queues here – people come here to drink delicious coffee, eat strudel, listen to live music and just enjoy the atmosphere.
Cafe Central was founded by the Pakhi brothers in 1876. Over time, the establishment became a popular place where cultural representatives loved to come. His regular guests were Egon Friedel, Peter Altenberg, Adolf Loos, Alfred Adler, Leon Trotsky and others.
After World War II, Cafe Central closed. In 1975, the Ferstel Palace, where the establishment was located, was completely renovated. After this, the cafe reopened its doors to visitors.
Cafe Sacher Wien, Vienna
Location: Philharmoniker Str. 4, 1010 Wien, Austria
Another must-visit place in Vienna is the famous Sacher Wien café. After all, this is where they serve Sachertorte, made according to the classic recipe. In 1876, the Sacher family opened a hotel next to the Vienna Opera, which operated a café. It became a place where it was customary to have dinner before attending the opera – writers, artists and high-ranking officials met here.
Today, Cafe Sacher Wien is still very popular, as evidenced by the long queues.
Les Deux Magots, Paris
Where is it: 6 Pl. Saint-Germain des Pres, 75006 Paris, France
Les Deux Magots is a famous Parisian cafe located in the luxurious Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter. It opened its doors to visitors in 1884. Originally a novelty store was located here, later coffee liqueurs were sold on this site. By 1914, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy, and was bought by Auguste Boulet for his cafe. His heirs still manage the establishment to this day.
Since then, Les Deux Magots has played an important role in the cultural life of the capital – writers, poets, artists and other intellectuals gathered here. Among the guests in the cafe one could meet Pablo Picasso, Bertolt Brecht, Albert Camus. The establishment has been described more than once in literary works and shown in films.
Cafe de Flore, Paris
Location: 172 Bd Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris, France
Cafe de Flore was opened in 1887 in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, on the corner of Boulevard Saint-Germain and Rue Saint-Benoît. The interior of the establishment, in the classic Art Deco style, has remained virtually unchanged since World War II. Since its opening, intellectual audiences have met here. Among the famous guests at Cafe de Flore were Robert Desnos, Pablo Picasso, Georges Bataille. By the way, Charles Maurras wrote his book Au signe de Flore while sitting on the first floor of the cafe.
The restaurant’s menu includes breakfasts, salads, cheeses, hot dishes, drinks and desserts.
Cafe Comercial, Madrid
Location: Glorieta de Bilbao, 7, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Café Comercial is located in the Glorieta de Bilbao square. It was founded by Antonio Gomez Fernandez in 1887. During the post-Civil War period in Spain, the café was the center of literary tertulias. It was also one of the first establishments in Madrid where women were allowed to work as waitresses. Due to financial difficulties, the cafe closed in 2015, but there were people who bought it, carried out restoration and returned the historical establishment to Madrid.
Babington’s Tea Room, Rome
Location: Piazza di Spagna, 23, 00187 Roma RM, Italy
At the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome there is a very interesting establishment – Babington’s Tea Room. It was founded by two Englishwomen – Isabel Cargill and Anna Maria Babington in 1893. They had £100, which they decided to invest in a tea room and reading room. It should be noted that the girls took a lot of risks, because the Italians did not have the custom of drinking tea. However, the establishment almost immediately became successful, since Italy was on the list of Grand Tour countries for the British.
During the First World War, Babington’s Tea Room managed to survive. Isabel Cargill’s sister Annie invested her savings to make the renovations.
Famous guests who visited Babington’s Tea Room included Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, Federico Fellini, Audrey Hepburn.
This historic establishment serves breakfast, brunch, salads, snacks, sandwiches, coffee and, of course, tea, presented in a huge assortment. Babington’s Tea Room has a store where you can buy tea, coffee, books, dishes, etc. By the way, the establishment is run by a relative of Isabel Cargill.
Confeitaria Colombo, Rio de Janeiro
Location: R. Gonçalves Dias, 32 – Centro, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20050-030, Brazil
Founded in 1894 by Portuguese immigrants Joaquim Borges de Meireles and Manuel José Lebran, Confeitaria Colombo has made history in Rio de Janeiro. The establishment is located in the city center and is one of the main attractions of the Central District.
Artful wooden furniture, large mirrors framed by decorative rosewood friezes, beautiful stained glass windows – here you want to look at everything and imagine how 100 years ago artists, writers met in the cafe and discussed their creative plans. The honorary guests of Confeitaria Colombo were the Presidents of Brazil Getulio Vargas and Juscelino Kubitschek, King Albert I of Belgium, and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
New York Kavehaz, Budapest
Location: Budapest, Erzsébet krt. 9-11, 1073 Hungary
New York Kavehaz is included in the ratings of the most beautiful cafes in Europe and the world. It is located on the ground floor of the five-star Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel. In 1894, this building was built for an American insurance company, and a cafe was opened here at the same time. It almost immediately became the center of meetings for the intellectual elite. The New York Kavehaz hall is decorated with paintings, luxurious panels, marble columns and crystal chandeliers.
The establishment’s menu offers first courses, salads, desserts and a large selection of tea, coffee drinks, wines and cocktails.
Cafe A Brasileira, Lisbon
Location: R. Garrett 122, 1200-273 Lisboa, Portugal
Café A Brasileira in Lisbon was opened by Adriano Telles in 1905. Initially, it was a store selling Brazilian coffee – the entrepreneur offered his customers a free cup of hot drink. Years later, the premises were reconstructed and turned into a full-fledged cafe. Its interior is decorated with ornamental friezes on the ceiling, brass lamps, square columns, mirrors and an antique clock.
You can come to Café A Brasileira to try traditional pastries, Lisbon breakfast, fresh salads and, of course, aromatic coffee.
Angelina, Paris
Location: 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
The Angelina Tea House is a real highlight among cafes in Paris. It was founded by Austrian confectioner Antoine Rumpelmeier in 1903 and named after his daughter. The French architect Edouard-Ja Nierman worked on the interior design, made in the style of the Belle Epoque. The atmosphere of the early 20th century still reigns here.
The main delicacy at Café Angélina is hot chocolate with whipped cream. By the way, the establishment has several branches, but if you want to get to this particular cafe, then go to 226 Rue de Rivoli (nearby is the Le Meurice hotel).
Cafe Imperial, Prague
Location: Na Poříčí 15, 110 00 Petrská čtvrť, Czech Republic
The Imperial Café was opened in 1914 at the Art Deco Imperial Hotel. This luxurious Art Deco venue is still one of the most popular in Prague. Composer Leos Janacek and writer Franz Kafka once visited here.
Once here, be sure to try the veal cheeks, leg of lamb with marjoram, or the signature Imperial date cake.
Bettys, Harrogate
Location: 1 Parliament St, Harrogate HG1 2QU, England
The cozy Bettys tearoom was founded by Swiss confectioner Fritz Bützer in 1919. At the moment, this is a chain of cafes from Yorkshire, but the very first establishment is located in Harrogate.
Entering here, your eyes are wide open from the variety of cakes, pastries, chocolates, as well as the selection of tea and coffee drinks.
Russian Tea Room, New York
Location: 150 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019, USA
This Russian restaurant opened in New York in 1927. According to some information, it was founded by former members of the royal ballet troupe; there is also information that the institution was created by a Jew of Polish origin, Jacob Zisman. During its existence, Russian Tea Room has undergone many transformations.
Among the dishes here, it is recommended to try pancakes, pies, pickled vegetables, dumplings, and caviar. It’s also worth stopping by for afternoon tea, which is served with sweets.
Cafe Majestic, Porto
Where is it: Rua Santa Catarina 112, 4000-442 Porto, Portugal
In the winter of 1921, a cafe called Elite opened in Porto. It is located on a pedestrian street in a building built in the Art Nouveau style, designed by the architect Joao Queiroz. The cafe’s sophisticated interior included leather furniture, lacquered wood, mirrors, metal and marble. People flocked to this part of the city to see the new building, which came to define the architectural landscape of Porto. And representatives of high society came here for a cup of tea and dessert. A little later, the establishment was renamed Café Majestic. In the 1960s, the cafe gradually fell into disrepair and finally closed in the 1980s.
In 1992, it was decided to bring back the pride it deserved to one of the most beautiful cafes in Porto. The reconstruction lasted two years. Today Café Majestic is very popular among tourists. It serves hot dishes, sandwiches, salads, pasta, omelettes, desserts, ice cream, coffee, tea, and alcoholic drinks.
Bewley’s Oriental Café on Grafton Street, Dublin
Location: 78- 79 Grafton Street, Dublin, D02 K033, Ireland
The Irish company Bewley’s has been known since 1840. Its main activities are the production of tea, coffee and the operation of a cafe. In 1894, the Bewley family opened the first cafe in Dublin on South Great George’s Street, and in 1896 – the second, which was located on Westmoreland Street. The flagship cafe on Grafton Street was opened by Ernest Bewley in 1927. It is considered one of the attractions of the Irish capital.
While here, you should definitely try their famous The Mary Cake with chocolate fondant filling and a thin layer of marzipan.