The best 8 coffee bars in Ferrara chosen by Gambero Rosso

A signature coffee in the shadow of the Estense Castle or in a roasting house with industrial charm; classic breakfasts with haute patisserie leavened viennosierie pastries; an aperitif at the Leon d'Oro, the city's historic salon and, why not, a snack based on typical specialities, such as torta tagliolina, tenerina, ricciola and pasticcio di maccheroni: Ferrara's coffee bars offer fun and a rich gastronomic heritage beyond espresso. Here are the best addresses selected by the Gambero Rosso Bar d'Italia 2024 guide.

The best coffee bars in Ferrara

Caffè del Corso

A place to meet in the morning or an ideal break while shopping, it is a spacious, bright and cosy place to enjoy a carefully extracted, balanced coffee with a hint of acidity. The coffee department also offers delicate cappuccinos with milk or vegetable beverages. At breakfast, an essential proposal of pastries, especially croissants, a few sliced cakes, torta di riso, Venetian cakes and cream-filled cannoli. In single portions also the tagliolina cake, a traditional dessert. For a snack or a quick lunch, there is no shortage of macaroni pie Ferrara-style in sweet or savoury versions. Generous cream or chocolate filled cream puffs. Friendly service.

Caffè del Corso – c.so della Giovecca, 66 – Ferrara - caffedelcorsoferrara.it

Caffè Europa

A classic and elegant restaurant, ideal for breakfast. At the counter an excellent espresso, made to perfection, or a satisfyingly creamy cappuccino. Just turn your gaze towards the pastry counter to appreciate the tantalizing breakfast pastries on offer. Croissants available with creamy spreads or jams, then bomboloni, veneziane, danish rolls with pastry cream and almond slivers or the sublime cannoncino di pasta sfoglia filled with vanilla cream. Among the savoury items, the marvellous maccheroni pasticcio alla ferrarese in single portions. Plus sandwiches, pizzettas and the other city classic: ricciola. Small pastries and a good production of cakes, millefoglie in primis. At lunchtime there is also a small menu of hot dishes. Attentive and courteous service.

Caffè Europa – c.so della Giovecca, 51a – Ferrara - caffeeuropaferrara.com

Chocolat

This is a cosy and pleasant café, frequented at any time of day because of the fame of the talent of Cristiano Pirani, an energetic and capable pastry chef. The café offers quality espresso made with various blends and some single-origins, very creamy cappuccinos (also available with vegetable beverages) and the ever-popular “macchiatone”. Perfectly matched at breakfast with the beautiful proposal of breakfast pastries, such as croissants, leavened to perfection, simple, two-coloured, filled and enriched with creams and fruit. Then danishes, delicious bomboloni, brioches, sfoglie and maritozzi. The bar is raised with the mignon pastries. The savoury production is appetising, also for a quick lunch break. The festive desserts and chocolates are excellent. Courteous service.

Chocolat - via Cortevecchia, 55 – Ferrara - chocolat-ferrara.it

L’Emporio della Piazza

A stone's throw from the Estense Castle, overlooking what has effectively become an open-air food court, it occupies the premises that for years were the headquarters of the roasting plant of a historic city brand. Now it is an address where you can enjoy an excellent coffee, either at the counter (where there is also a small selection of breakfast pastries) or at the tables outside on the square, to immerse yourself in the slow pace of the city of bicycles. From the coffee list, a blend and some single origins (Guatemala, Indonesia, Cuba, Peru, Kenya). There is also chocolate in a cup, hot and iced tea, and a multitude of products for purchase.

L’Emporio della piazza - p.zza della Repubblica, 27 – Ferrara

Leon d’Oro

Very close to the cathedral and Piazza del Municipio, it is the city's living room, bustling and busy all day long. Coffee shop, pastry shop and restaurant are the different souls of an establishment that has been part of Ferrara's life for over fifty years. Quality espresso, carefully extracted and with a persistent aroma, airy milk froth for the cappuccino. Both are ideal for a classic Italian breakfast with fragrant croissants, bomboloni, trecce, saccottini, fruit pastries and cannoncini. For a snack, it is impossible not to try the typical ricciola (savoury puff pastry) or the pasticcio di maccheroni alla ferrarese. Savoury appetisers, small pastries and typical desserts such as pampapato and torta tagliolina. The restaurant serves local dishes. Efficient service.

Leon d’Oro – p.zza della Cattedrale, 8 - Ferrara - leondoroferrara.it

Frignani

At the gates of the city, an important landmark that has been delighting its loyal clientele for more than thirty years. Frequented above all at breakfast time or for a coffee break, since here the espresso remains a solid certainty: carefully extracted, aromatic, complex; the cappuccino is also well made. To accompany it, croissants with different fillings (some wholemeal) and vegan or gluten-free cakes, but also trecce, bomboloni, and cream cannoncini. The proposal of small traditional pastries (including tenerina and peaches with Alchermes liqueur) is flanked by a good assortment of classic cakes. The savoury items are inviting, including the excellent ricciola ferrarese (both puff pastry and bread dough), to be served with a glass of wine or a cocktail as an aperitif. Friendly service.

Frignani – via Modena, 565 loc. Cassana - Ferrara - pasticceriafrignani.it

Pasticceria Atlantic

The place of pastry chef Matteo Scacchetti can be found along one of the city's main thoroughfares. Very popular already in the morning, thanks to the fine proposal of leavened pastries that allow excellent breakfasts in the company of fragrant croissants (also two-coloured and in tasty fillings), saccottini, pastries with seasonal fruit. Also satisfying are the espresso - intense and with hints of chocolate - and the creamy cappuccino, classic or made with vegetable beverages. The mignon pastries are a real temptation, with almond supremes, cannoncini, cream puffs, various minis, torta tenerina, and peschine. There is no shortage of cakes, parfaits, homemade gelato and chocolate creations. Savoury delights for a snack or an aperitif with drinks and glasses of wine. Large outdoor seating area.

Pasticceria Atlantic - via Bologna, 490 - Ferrara

Torrefazione Caffè Penazzi 1926

Genuine artisanal quality coffee roasting. The grand master of the art of coffee is Alberto Trabatti. Here you go from jute sack to cup, in just a few metres. In a fascinating converted industrial building, enriched by the presence of a historic collection of coffee pots, on one side is the roasting and storage area, on the other the coffee tasting and purchasing counter. It is best to let Alberto guide you in your choice, you can start with the satisfying Mastro Torrefattore blend, or the mysterious Nontelodico or even BrasIndia. There are many single origin coffees: Brasil Pergamino Sul de Minas, India Cherry, Peru Tres Mosqueteros, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe and Guatemala. Coffee serving accessories and spirits are also on sale. Courteous service.

Torrefazione Caffè Penazzi 1926 – via Bongiovanni, 32 – Ferrara - caffepenazzi.it