New format, new scoring: Gambero Rosso’s 2027 bar guide debuts as a free digital edition with 912 venues, 140 newcomers, and 57 Three Cup awards. Florence’s historic Caffè Gilli takes the coveted illy Bar of the Year title.
The definitive guide to the Best Bars in Italy 2027 opens with a nod to Florentine heritage: Caffè Gilli has claimed the coveted illy Bar of the Year title in the latest edition by Gambero Rosso, published in partnership with illycaffè. Among the country’s oldest historic pasticcerie and a cornerstone of Florence’s social fabric, Gilli earned top honors by striking a rare balance: honoring its 18th-century pedigree while executing a modern, highly refined hospitality concept.
Set on Piazza della Repubblica, the historic café completed a full renovation in early 2026. Gilli anchors the Italian bar ritual from morning to night, pairing dialed-in espresso extractions with classic Florentine pastry, a seasonal bistro menu, and a sharp cocktail program. The illy Bar of the Year award honors all-round hospitality, evaluated on distinct identity, seamless service flow, and technical consistency across food and drink.
Five contenders vied for the 2027 title.
Caffè Vatta (Trieste)
Pasticceria Sartori (Erba, Como)
Gran Caffè Quadri (Venice)
Caffè Gilli (Florence)
Ritorno (Acerra, Naples)
Judging the contenders fell to an expert panel: chef Ciccio Sultano (two-Michelin-starred Ristorante Duomo in Ragusa and illy Chef Ambassador), Lorenzo Ruggeri (Editor-in-Chief of Gambero Rosso), Marina Savoia (guide curator), alongside Vanina Asquini (Head of Università del Caffè at illycaffè) and David Brussa (Chief Total Quality & Sustainability Officer at illycaffè).
A Unified Scoring Model for the Best Bars in Italy 2027
Twenty-seven years after its debut, the guide dismantles its dual-track rating system. Gone is the historical divide between Chicchi (measuring coffee beans and extraction) and Tazzine (judging food and comfort). In its place, a single scale—from one to three Tazzine (Cups)—now captures the total experience.
The revised evaluation weighs bean sourcing and brewing precision alongside savory kitchen execution, the bar program, dining-room flow, and overall atmosphere. At the summit, Tre Tazzine (Three Cups) remains the benchmark, reserved exclusively for venues displaying sharp culinary character and unwavering consistency across service hours.
“We chose to assess the Italian bar as a single organism, moving past the artificial line separating the espresso counter from the broader food offering,” explains guide curator Marina Savoia. “A world-class destination demands complete coherence: every touchpoint—from extraction crema to service tempo, morning baking to evening ambiance—must express a singular voice. Tre Tazzine honors operations where craft, personality, and rhythm work in lockstep.”
The single-score metric responds to a fast-shifting hospitality landscape where rigid definitions no longer apply. Heritage coffee houses, third-wave roasters, artisanal bakeries, and counter bistros increasingly blend into versatile spaces running seamlessly from morning espresso through lunch, afternoon coffee, and late-night aperitivo.
By the Numbers: Regional Standings
The 2027 directory brings together 912 vetted addresses, counting 140 newcomers. Regionally, Lombardy leads the country with 135 listings, flanked by Sicily (79), Emilia-Romagna (78), Lazio (72), and Tuscany (68).
Across the country, only 57 addresses earned the top Tre Tazzine rating, with ten venues joining the ranks for the first time.
La Corte Romanengo (Genoa)
PAN (Milan)
Allegra (Bologna)
Forno Brisa (Bologna)
Barnum Café (Rome)
Walter Musco (Rome)
Bistrot Zì Rosa (Sant’Anastasia, Naples)
DaMa Italian Bakery (Bari)
Charleston Café (Palermo)
Morettino Caffè Palermo (Palermo)
“Marking Gambero Rosso’s fortieth anniversary prompted a complete rethink of our guides and their accessibility,” explains Editor-in-Chief Lorenzo Ruggeri. “Formats and channels change, yet our operational compass stays the same: anonymous visits, full critical autonomy, and merit alone. The guide to the best bars in Italy 2027 documents a sector vibrating with creative vitality, deep hospitality culture, and regional authenticity.”
Gambero Rosso brings the entire 2027 bar directory online free, extending a digital push already introduced for olive oil, bakery, and gelato guides. The searchable platform gives an immediate compass across Italy, running parallel to a leaner, more visual print edition.
A unified scoring system captures a new reality: traditional boundaries no longer apply. Heritage cafés, specialty roasters, pasticcerie, and counter bistros operate as versatile, all-day destinations, moving from dawn espresso through brunch and lunch to afternoon coffee and evening drinks.
“We wanted to assess each venue as a complete ecosystem, moving past the artificial line dividing coffee quality from the kitchen,” explains guide curator Marina Savoia. “A world-class destination hinges on coherence: every element—from the extraction in the cup to dining-room pacing, morning baking to room acoustics—must speak the same language. Tre Tazzine rewards operations where craft, character, and atmosphere move in lockstep.”
“Gilli is far more than a historic café; it remains an enduring cultural anchor for Florence, its rooms shaping the city’s social and literary life for generations,” notes Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè. “Marco Valenza and his family have preserved this heritage while turning it into an operational benchmark that continues to set the bar for the industry. With the illy Bar of the Year award, we celebrate Italian hospitality at its peak—an entrepreneurial vision capable of constant reinvention without losing touch with its past.”
Special Honors Among the Best Bars in Italy 2027
Beyond the headline victory for Caffè Gilli, the guide singled out standouts across three dedicated categories:
Bar e Territorio (Heritage & Terroir Award): Awarded to Pane & Marmellata in Lucca. Set within greenery and centered on an open bakehouse, the kitchen builds its entire artisanal offering on fruit and vegetables grown on its farm alongside regional staples: Gombitelli charcuterie, Garfagnana meats and wild mushrooms, Serchio Valley cheeses, and nearby hillside wines.
Novità dell’Anno (Newcomer of the Year): Conferred upon Manì in Rimini, launched inside the Savoia Hotel in April 2026. Conceived by chef Mariano Guardianelli, the project merges specialty coffee with contemporary craft pastry, putting sourdough and long fermentations front and center. Daytime brunch, light savory plates, cocktails, and tapas round out an offering built to cover every hour of the day.
Premio 40 Anni – Bar che hanno fatto la storia (Premio 40 Anni – Bar che hanno fatto la storia (Historic Landmarks Award): Six landmark institutions earned the distinction, recognizing venues shaping the evolution of the craft through creativity, innovation, and the advancement of coffee culture:
Caffè Mulassano (Turin)
Pavé (Milan)
Harry’s Bar (Venice)
Gran Caffè Quadri (Venice)
Ditta Artigianale (Florence)
Caffè Sicilia (Noto)
The Gambero Rosso Method
The selection draws on a network of regional contributors chosen for their deep local knowledge, palate, and field experience. Visits and tastings take place strictly incognito, supervised by the guide’s curator and editorial desk to guarantee independent judgment, critical balance, and consistent standards across the country.
The guide’s overhaul marks Gambero Rosso’s fortieth anniversary, pacing a broader shift across its publishing catalog toward an integrated print and digital ecosystem. Updating these platforms reinforces the core methodology: spotlighting authentic Italian hospitality through its places, people, and produce.
Readers can find The Best Bars in Italy 2027 in bookstores and through online retailers, or explore the digital edition free of charge upon registration at gamberorosso.it.
Event Photography: Giovanni Mitolo / Courtesy of Gambero Rosso.