Bar Fauno

Bar Fauno is an elegant cafe-bar set in the middle of Piazza Tasso, the main square of Sorrento in Campania, Italy. Its terrace offers a front-row seat on the evening passeggiata, when families, couples and groups of friends stroll between the square and Corso Italia. The crowd is mixed and mostly adult: international visitors staying in the town's hotels, Italian holidaymakers and some locals meeting for a first aperitivo. Dress is smart-casual, and the waiters in jackets set a slightly formal tone compared with the louder bars on the side streets. The atmosphere is relaxed and conversational rather than rowdy, which makes it a natural starting point before dinner or before moving on to a club. Music is incidental, with the square itself, street musicians and traffic-free evening bustle supplying most of the soundtrack. The drinks programme follows the Italian cafe-bar pattern: espresso and pastries in the morning, then Aperol and Campari spritz, Negroni, prosecco, local Campania white wines, beer and classic cocktails from late afternoon. Limoncello, the lemon liqueur of the Sorrento peninsula, is a typical digestivo. Prices are in the mid range ($$) but tend to run a little higher than in side-street bars because of the prime location, and a table-service charge can apply when sitting outside, so checking the menu is wise. The bar is reported to open from morning into the late evening, with the busiest period from about 6PM to 10PM, especially in summer and on weekends. Closing time varies by season and should be confirmed locally. There is no cover charge; payment is only for drinks and food. Reservations are generally not needed for a drink, though a terrace table at sunset on a summer weekend can take some waiting. Bottle service is not part of the offer, as this is a cafe rather than a club. Piazza Tasso is also the hub for Fauno Notte Club and several other late venues, so the bar works well as the first stop of a walking evening in central Sorrento.