Top Historic Cafes in Europe

Every of those historic cafes in Europe is terrific and is actually worth visiting. Which of these cafes are you going to visit? Do you know any other historic cafes in Europe?

Antico Caffe Greco in Rome, Italy

Antico Caffe Greco, often just called Caffe Greco, is the oldest cafe in Rome and the second oldest in all of Italy (second only to Cafe Florian). Though Rome has no shortage of excellent and historic cafes, Caffe Greco, which opened in 1760, boasts a great number of historical artists, writers, and politicians as its patrons. Among these were figures such as Goethe, Wagner, Casanova, Franz Liszt, and Hans Christian Andersen.

Cafe Procope in Paris, France

Opened in 1686, restaurant Procope bears the title of the oldest restaurant and coffee house still operating altogether of Paris. Its location right outside of the Theatre Francias meant that it quickly became a favourite of Paris’ actors and artists. Later in the eighteenth century it additionally became a preferred restaurant among intellectuals.

Cafe Florian in Venice, Italy

It should come as no surprise that Italy has many historic cafes, and Cafe Florian may well be the most historic of all. Built in 1720, this coffee house is considered by many to be the oldest cafe in all of Italy. Some of its famous patrons include Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Giacomo Girolamo Casanova.

La Closerie Des Lilas in Paris, France

La Closerie Des Lilas is a perfect cafe for those interested in literary history. Opened in 1847, this cafe began to attract such influential figures as Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Baudelaire, and Paul Verlaine. Still in operation, this cafe is the perfect spot for artists and writers searching for the inspiration which inspired their heroes.

Cafe Central in Vienna, Austria

No list of great historic cafes would be complete without a cafe from Vienna. Cafe Central, true to its name, held a central place among Viennese intellectuals. Built in 1876, this cafe has since been visited by such well-known historic figures as Sigmund Freud, Lean Trotsky, Vladimir Lenin, Josip Broz Tito, and even Adolf Hitler.