The best bars of Bari according to Gambero Rosso

In the Apulian capital, variety is in the house, with proposals that can satisfy many needs: there is the right landing place for coffee connoisseurs, from specialty coffees to single-origins selected in the vocated areas of the globe, as well as signs for those in search of great pastries, traditional and contemporary. There is no shortage of elegant settings, to be visited in the early hours of the day. Here are the advices of  guida Bar d'Italia 2024.

The Best bars of Bari

Caffè Cognetti - Specialty Coffee & Bakery

As a renowned microbrewery, Cognetti is the right address for connoisseurs of the black beverage, who can count on precious beans carefully roasted by Davide Roveto. To taste (and on sale), a blend of Arabica and Robusta, harmonious and balanced, and the interesting specialty single-origin 100% Arabica, well enhanced by the attention paid to espresso and filter extractions (aeropress, V60, nitro, cold brew, french press). The sweet and savoury offer is rich, ranging from croissants, leavened pastries, monoportions, cakes to French toast, omelettes, club sandwiches, avocado toasts and savoury zeppole for brunch. Recommended address for aperitivo, thanks to the freshness of the appetisers and the quality of the cocktails. The staff is friendly and professional. Via Cognetti is the historical site.

Caffè Cognetti - Specialty Coffee & Bakery - Via Sparano da Bari, 120 - caffecognetti.com

Celeste Ancona Dolcecaffè

Celeste Ancona is known in the area as a pastry shop, always popular especially for its pastries, in an eclectic and convincing assortment where classic and modern coexist, traditional specialities (such as almond paste cakes or tette delle monache) alongside mignons, monoportions, cakes and tea biscuits. Small pastries are tasty and always fresh, including tempting New York rolls garnished with chocolate and almonds, which satisfy those who want breakfast along with well-balanced espressos and well-executed cappuccinos. As a snack, one can choose for tea or hot chocolate enriched with chocolate cream. Savoury sandwiches, flatbreads, tartlets and savoury croissants go with long drinks and glasses of bollicine wine for aperitivo.

Celeste Ancona Dolcecaffè - via A. Diaz, 34 - celesteancona.it

Jèrôme Cafè

It is one of the city's center saloons, visited at all times by many customers  that appreciate its location and elegant Parisian café atmosphere, a mood that is also reflected in the sweet offerings. There is something for every moment of the day, starting with breakfast, which offers mouth-watering brioches and croissants, Venetian and puff pastries to be enjoyed with well-executed espressos and cappuccinos and a good choice of hot and cold alternatives. For a quick break there are toasts, rustici, sandwiches and tramezzini, while biscuits, macarons and slices of cake follow chocolate and leaf teas at snack time. Aperitivos with well-made cocktails, glasses of wine and nibbles. The Jèrôme Chocolat format (several locations in the city and elsewhere) is doing well on social media, with a total pink environment and desserts that are a triumph of cream, sugar and colours.

Jèrôme Cafè - via A.M. Calefati, 61b - facebook.com/jeromecafe

Ladisa

There are many good reasons to stop at the fine establishment of the pâtissier and chocolatier Pino Ladisa. Indeed, the overcrowding  here is ceaseless, with peaks in the weekend. Once inside, you can lose yourself in the array of delicacies: exquisite leavened and puffed pastries, pasticcini, single-portions and cakes - baked and modern -, macaroons, good ice cream, the new colourful shortbread caskets with delicious fillings and choco sushi, original gift ideas made with chocolate, puffed rice, dried fruit and fruit puree. Chocolate is one of the house specialities, as are the great leavened pastries. The espressos point out their beautiful aroma and structure, like other good choices. The savoury pastry is catchy, a leading actor in lunch breaks and apertivos with glasses of bollicine wine and classic cocktails.

Ladisa- v.le Papa Giovanni XXIII, 199 - pinoladisa.it

Pasticceria Perulli Eugenio

The pastry chef Eugenio Perulli's restaurant is a valid reference in the city. At the basis of its success, in addition to great technique, the use of selected raw materials and a proposal that also meets those with special dietary needs, with vegan, gluten free, sugar and lactose free creations. Breakfasts with flakes, thanks to the wide range of delicacies (cornetti, trecce, veneziane, maritozzi, polacche, krapfen) to be combined with excellent coffee, carefully extracted. There are also plenty of ideas for snacks and shopping, including single portions and biscuits, tarts and cakes. The aperitivo nibbles are very pleasant, both classic and original, such as the maritozzo with beetroot and mortadella, the savoury donut and the pesto and tomato tiramisù, perfect with cocktails and sparkling wine. The ice cream is good.

Pasticceria Perulli Eugenio - via G. Amendola, 195c - pasticceriaeugenioperulli

Petriella

The restaurant of the pâtissier Salvatore Petriella is a not to be missed spot, not only for the high quality of its offerings, but also for its classy location - in the setting of the Petruzzelli Theatre - and a service that induces you to return. The desserts mix tradition and modernness: cakes and single-portions are appealing and artfully executed, from the classic Sacher to the more elaborate Ambra or Pinacolada, not to mention macaroons, mignons (excellent lemon soffio, tiramisù, babà), chocolate and ice cream during the right season. To try are all the leavened and puff pastries (over twenty references), perfect with creamy cappuccinos, coffee and drinks. Sandwiches, tramezzini, deep-fried, finger food and snacks that go with cocktails and selected wine for aperitivo, always recommended, are also good.

Petriella - via S. Cognetti, 14 - salvatorepetriella.it

Veronero

The identity is clear and stands by the name: a sign that wants to offer the best of the black beverage from every point of view. A beautiful design location that at the counter offers single-origin coffees from the most vocated areas of the globe (also on sale as beans or grinded), well described in their characteristics by a friendly and prepared staff. Each cup guarantees intriguing and enveloping aromatic textures and you can choose whether to enjoy a classic espresso, experiment alternative extractions or pick from the long list of drinks. In the morning, breakfast is enlivened by a good range of homemade croissants, and in the afternoon breaks, also tea, infusions, cakes and biscuits. Sandwiches, snacks, cold dishes and salads for snack. Good selection by the glass for aperitivo.

Veronero - via N. Piccinni, 81 - veronero.it