Rome

Bags of coffee beans rest on the floor and images of plantations adorn the walls. It has looked the same for as long as anyone can remember. In addition to the different types of coffees that can be sampled, they also serve "gran caffè", a cappuccino without milk, where the coffee is foamed instead.

This ice cream parlour is not for the indecisive: around 150 flavours await you at Gelateria della Palma, one of Rome’s most renowned parlours. Flavours like champagne, pear & cheese or Irish coffee are accompanied by its exquisite interior with marble and columns. Gelateria della Palma is located in the heart of Rome, close to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

Set in close proximity to the picturesque Spanish Stairs and the imposing Villa Borghese, Ciampini Café has been a local gathering point since 1941. Whether it's pizza, a morning espresso, or the famous Italian gelato, Ciampini Café will please every palate.

At Giolitti you'll find the creamiest gelato in Rome. Nestled between the Pantheon and the Italian Parliament, it offers a large selection of flavours that will please even the pickiest of ice-cream eaters. Soak up the atmosphere of Giolitti, watch the world go by, and enjoy your seasonal flavour cone or the evergreen chocolate one.

This little grey kiosk may not seem like much at first glance, but rumour has it this is where some of Rome's best "grattachecca" (a shaved ice-based dessert, enhanced with many flavours) is served. Nothing beats grabbing one on a hot summer's day, then finding the perfect spot on the banks of Tiber to indulge.

Supplì is acclaimed for its namesake supplì: deep-fried rice balls stuffed with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and your pick of favourite ingredient. Besides the crispy supplì, other ready-to-go specialities are calamari fritti (fried squid), mozzarella in carrozza (fried mozzarella), and parmigiana di melanzane (eggplants parmigiana).

After visiting Villa Medici and its gardens, you can pay a visit to this café located inside the 1500s manor, just up the spiral staircase in the entrance. Their first and second courses change daily, but there are also mainstays like their signature frittata and paninis, filled with roasted turkey, tomatoes and mozzarella. The panorama unfolding from the balcony that overlooks the historic centre of Rome is a favourite of both locals and tourists.

Mizzica is a pastry shop and café in the district of Bologna. They serve affordable Sicilian specialities, including breakfast, dessert and gelato. If you don't have a sweet tooth, try out their arancini, rice balls stuffed with cheese or other fillings.