5 Favorite Cafés in Torino

Because five coffees a day is totally reasonable, right?

Barrati & Milano

The Via Rosa team recently spent a week in Piemonte, researching our newest itinerary for 2027. (Hard work, but someone’s got to do it!) While in Torino I was reminded once again how much I love this often-overlooked city. Over the years I’ve been here often. I used to go every couple of years for the Slow Food Salone del Gusto since 1996! And in the past I sometimes spent weeks at a time there, renting a darling apartment, while working on my restaurant guides and books.

But for no good reason I hadn’t visited for the past few years, so it was wonderful to be back. It really felt like being home. There is so much about Torino that I would love to share with you - the museums! the restaurants! the chocolate! - but for now I thought I’d make this post all about one of my favorite activities: drinking coffee.

If you’ve followed me for even five minutes, you know coffee is how I organise my day. It’s rarely about hunting down the “perfect” cup. I won’t cross town for some special roast, since for me it’s all about the experience. There has to be ambiance, there has to be people. Whether it’s standing at my favorite gas-station bar in Umbria or sinking into a velvet banquette in Torino, each has its own appeal.

Fun fact: Did you know Torino has more historic cafés than anywhere else in Italy? As the seat of the Savoy monarchy, the city was home not just to royalty but also to writers, artists, and intellectuals who gathered in its coffee houses. Many date back to the 18th century and, amazingly, still preserve their original interiors. Happily, many now belong to a historic society that is seeking UNESCO recognition, so these jewels should be safe for future generations.

So without further ado, here are my five favorite places to order coffee (or Negroni if we are being honest) in Torino: