The Caffé Pedrocchi is an iconic café in the Italian city of Padua that dates back to the 18th and is where many historical events have taken place and famous figures have gathered over the years. Artists and intellectuals were drawn to the place to meet and discuss ideas and it can boast having had Lord Byron and Stendhal, who described it as “simply the best in the world,” as visitors. Still a café, and more, today, it is located right in the very centre of the city and is a great place to sit and grab a drink of one kind or another while you explore. Just find a vacation rental in Padua and follow in the footsteps of Byron to this very special café.
In 1760, Padua had around 40 café proprietors and the most successful was Pietro Zigno. Zigno took his nephew, Francesco Pedrocchi, under his wing and, at the age of 14, Pedrocchi started working at the café. Finding himself suited to the job, he decided to open his own establishment in 1772, after Zigno’s death.
In 1760, Padua had around 40 café proprietors and the most successful was Pietro Zigno. Zigno took his nephew, Francesco Pedrocchi, under his wing and, at the age of 14, Pedrocchi started working at the café. Finding himself suited to the job, he decided to open his own establishment in 1772, after Zigno’s death.
In 1799, Pedrocchi passed the business on to his own son, who purchased adjacent properties and began to expand the café into something like the Viennese Café. Designed by architect Giuseppe Jappelli, this new Caffé Pedrocchi was opened in 1831. A grand and beautiful building, it hosted famous minds and figures and was one of the most popular establishments in the city.
Over the following centuries, it fell out of the family's possession and saw many of the original features get sold off or damaged. It closed in the late 20th century but, thankfully, reopened on December 22nd 1998. There are three rooms to be visited, the Green Room, the central Red Room with the historic bar and the White Room, in which you can have lunch and dinner. Upstairs, on the piano nobile floor, you can find the Risorgimento and Modern Age Museum, which has information about the city and Veneto from the end of the Venetian Republic (1797) to the beginning of the Italian Republic (1848).
Grabbing coffee, a drink or a snack here is an experience. The rooms are large, historic and stunningly beautiful, though the prices can be quite high and the atmosphere can be a bit stuffy. If you look past those things and view it as an experience in its own right, you'll be able to enjoy the grandeur of this place and, if you're interested in specialities, the beverage for which they are famous is the Caffè Pedrocchi: a coffee with mint flavoured cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder, made according to a highly-guarded secret recipe.
As you explore this city in Veneto, be sure to swing by this historic gem!
CAFFÈ PEDROCCHI
P.tta Pedrocchi
35100 Padova
049 8204541 – 4553
Opening Hours:
9.30am to 12.30pm and 3.30pm to 6pm
Closed on Mondays during the Summer
Over the following centuries, it fell out of the family's possession and saw many of the original features get sold off or damaged. It closed in the late 20th century but, thankfully, reopened on December 22nd 1998. There are three rooms to be visited, the Green Room, the central Red Room with the historic bar and the White Room, in which you can have lunch and dinner. Upstairs, on the piano nobile floor, you can find the Risorgimento and Modern Age Museum, which has information about the city and Veneto from the end of the Venetian Republic (1797) to the beginning of the Italian Republic (1848).
Grabbing coffee, a drink or a snack here is an experience. The rooms are large, historic and stunningly beautiful, though the prices can be quite high and the atmosphere can be a bit stuffy. If you look past those things and view it as an experience in its own right, you'll be able to enjoy the grandeur of this place and, if you're interested in specialities, the beverage for which they are famous is the Caffè Pedrocchi: a coffee with mint flavoured cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder, made according to a highly-guarded secret recipe.
As you explore this city in Veneto, be sure to swing by this historic gem!
CAFFÈ PEDROCCHI
P.tta Pedrocchi
35100 Padova
049 8204541 – 4553
Opening Hours:
9.30am to 12.30pm and 3.30pm to 6pm
Closed on Mondays during the Summer
Photo credits
Picture 2: Chris Light / CC BY-SA 4.0
Picture 2: Chris Light / CC BY-SA 4.0