Caffè Sant'Eustachio

Caffè Sant'Eustachio is one of Rome's most famous coffee bars, on the small Piazza di Sant'Eustachio between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, celebrated since 1938 for a gran caffè so distinctive it has become a city institution. The house espresso is prepared to a closely guarded recipe—the baristas shield the process behind the counter—and arrives already creamy and lightly sweet, with a thick, pale crema, unless a customer specifically asks for it without sugar (amaro). The result is smoother and rounder than a standard Roman espresso, and the bar's beans, roasted by Sant'Eustachio itself, are prized and sold to take home and to top restaurants around the city. Beyond the signature gran caffè, the menu covers the full Italian coffee repertoire—cappuccino, the chilled granita di caffè con panna in summer, and coffee-based specialities—plus pastries. As is the Roman custom, prices are lower standing at the counter than sitting at a table, where a service charge applies; the al banco ritual of a quick espresso among the throng is part of the experience. The bar is small and often crowded, its outdoor tables spilling onto the quiet piazza, and the atmosphere is brisk and convivial, a genuine slice of Roman café culture in the heart of the historic centre. Open long hours daily into the late evening, it is convenient at almost any time. Its location steps from the Pantheon makes it an easy and rewarding stop. For a taste of one of Rome's defining coffees, Caffè Sant'Eustachio is essential—best taken standing at the counter as the locals do.