Best Coffee Near Rome Pantheon

By Elyssa Bernard

August 31, 2022

Looking for the best coffee near Rome pantheon?

Find out the best places to get Italian coffee near the Rome Pantheon.

There are a couple of famous cafés in this part of Rome, but also a few hidden gems lurking nearby.

Coffee near Rome Pantheon - more choices than you think!

While there are two very famous and popular places to get great coffee near the Pantheon, there are a few other excellent options as well. 

Whether you want a rich tasty espresso, a smooth foamy cappuccino, a superb caffè granita (iced slushy coffee), or a gorgeous ambiance where to sip your drink, I've got a great selection for you.

On this page, you'll find:

• The two most famous places to get delicious coffee near Rome Pantheon
• The coziest places to enjoy coffee near the Pantheon (And bonus! Both have decent wi-fi!)
• The best places for coffee near the Rome Pantheon to people-watch
• The best truly local spots for coffee near the Pantheon

Coffee near Rome Pantheon - the famous ones

There are famously two cafés near the Pantheon that sort of compete with each other. At least Romans consider them to be in competition.

If you ask a Roman which of the two they prefer, you will probably see a split right down the middle.

I love them both, for different reasons.

Sant'Eustachio il Caffè

Some Romans (and guidebooks) say Cafe Sant'Eustachio has the most delicious coffee in Rome; others say it's vastly over-rated.

I sort of agree with both of those assessments. 

Cafe Sant'Eustachio - one of the most famous addresses for coffee in Rome

It IS good coffee, and I love it when I can get in there without the crowds.

Here's why the espresso at Caffè Sant'Eustachio is so special. Just a regular espresso comes with this smooth foam on top. That's not milk. It's just the way they make it. And how they do it is a well-kept secret!

There are a few things you should know about the coffee at Sant'Eustachio.

• If you get a cappuccino, you will likely not find anything special about it. It will be good but not different than cappuccino made well somewhere else.
• Ideally you should order an espresso to find out why the coffee here is so special. Unlike at most bars in Rome, they put sugar in by default, so you need to let them know if you don't want the sugar. I get mine with "half-sugar."
• If you sit at a table, you will pay a higher price than if you order at the bar. This is true everywhere in Rome so you just need to be aware of it. It's part of the café culture here.

Sant'Eustachio also make a killer granita di caffè, (iced coffee slush), which I get every time I am near here in summer.

Go try it and see for yourself. (Although I personally would not wait in a huge queue. Try it only if it's not mobbed.) Read more about them on my page about Rome cafes.

Details: 

• Piazza di Sant'Eustachio, 82
• +39 06 6880 2048
• Monday- Thursday: 07:30-01:00 | Friday: 07:30-01:30 | Saturday: 07:30-02:00 | Sunday: 07:30-01:00
• CLOSED August 15 & December 25

Emporio Sant'Eustachio

Looking for delicious coffee, yummy pastries, and a great spot to sit and chill with some free wi-fi? Does this sound like Starbucks?

It might but I am actually describing the latest venture from the people who brought you Sant'Eustachio (above.)

Emporio Sant'Eustachio has all the same yummy coffee as the original, with free seating and wi-fi to boot!

So you have the high-quality coffee and coffee products (great gifts by the way!) combined with delectable pastries I don't easily find in Rome (chewy chocolately brownies!) with wi-fi and a place to sit (as is typical in Rome, there is a surcharge for table service)...a pretty good deal in my opinion!

Emporio Sant'Eustachio has excellent pastries including gooey brownies!

Details: 

• Via della Maddalena, 36
• +39 06 7725 1018
• Monday- Thursday: 07:30-11 PM | Friday + Saturday: 07:30-midnight | Sunday: 07:30-10:30 PM
  
• CLOSED August 15 & December 25

Tazza d'Oro coffee

Tazza D'Oro coffee is directly opposite the Pantheon from Caffe Sant'Eustachio.

This is another coffee bar near the Pantheon that is famous but also a bit too famous.

Café Tazza D'Oro just near the Pantheon

Tazza D'Oro serves a perfect espresso

When Rome is full of tourists, you will find Tazza d'Oro and Caffè Sant'Eustacchio very crowded.

They are both in central Rome so they are going to get crowded either way.

But if they are not, then give them a try. I like them both, but of the two, prefer the slightly chocolately, not too bitter flavor of Tazza D'Oro coffee. 

Details: 

• Via degli Orfani, 84
• +39 06 678 9792
• Monday-Saturday: 07:00-19:00 | Sunday: 10:00-19:00

The coziest places to enjoy coffee near the Pantheon (And bonus! Both have decent wi-fi!)

Cafe Doria

I just love Cafe Doria.

In fact, I pop in here nearly ever time I am in the neighborhood, just to soak up the ambiance.

And it's definitely one of my go-to winter coffee shops (read: cozy.)

It feels like I've stumbled into the Secret Garden (if you remember that book.)

Cafe Doria is warm and inviting inside, and feels like a nobleman's sitting room.

Well it kind of is, since it's just inside the Galleria Doria Pamphilj, one of my favorite museums, and the original home of the noble Pamphilj family. 

NB - This coffee shop used to be warm and cozy. They recently renovated and not it feels a bit posh, with higher prices to match.

Details: 

• Via della Gatta 1, Galleria Doria Pamphilj
• +39 06 6793 805
• Monday CLOSED | Tuesday-Sunday: 08:00-21:00

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Chiostro del Bramante

One of my favorite secret places to take visitors is to the café inside the Chiostro del Bramante.

From the outside, the façade looks like a church (because it is.)

I love the warm and cozy ambiance of the café in the Chiostro del Bramante. Bonus - good wi-fi. Bonus 2 - through that little window you can see Raphael's Sybils in the church below (or you can visit the church if it's open.)

Inside, the Chiostro del Bramante is a beautiful Renaissance courtyard, today hosting an exhibit space where you can usually catch an interesting show.

Just upstairs from the cloister is one of the loveliest coffee shops in Rome.

They have indoor and outdoor seating, and there is good wi-fi.

The Italian coffee is fine (not amazing) but they have fabulous sweets. I've also eaten lunch here a few times and it's good for that, too.

The best part is just the beautiful ambiance, not to mention the Raphael paintings in the church below.

Details: 

• Arco della Pace, 5
• +39 06 6880 9035
• Monday-Sunday: 09:30-20:30

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Coffee near the Pantheon in Rome - coffee AND people-watching

Gran Caffè La Caffettiera

There is a kind of cult around coffee drinking in Naples.

There are very serious rules about how to prepare, serve and drink coffee.

(Read more about drinking coffee in Naples, visit my Rome coffee page here, or watch my video here:)

My point is, you can have pretty close to the real thing in Rome at the Gran Caffè la Caffettiera, which is the Rome branch of the original Naples branch of this coffee house.

The old-fashioned Gran Caffe la Caffeteria, is a great place to have coffee near the Rome pantheon

Look at that lovely, creamy espresso at Gran Caffe La Caffeteria - perfect every time!

It sits pretty on piazza di Pietra, so is great for people watching and lovely outside views.

But they actually also serve excellent coffee, Naples style. When I go, I just get a quick espresso at the bar, drink it, and go. A la Napoletana.

Details: 

• Address: 00186 Piazza di Pietra, 65
• Phone: +39 06 679 8147
• Opening hours: Monday-Sunday: 09:30-20:30

Vivi Bistrot

Vivi Bistrot is a great option for a coffee near Rome pantheon even if it's right on Piazza Navona (which is not even 5 minutes' walk from the Pantheon).

You can sit outside year-round (it may be chilly but at least it's covered), and gaze at Piazza Navona and watch the world go by.

Vivi Bistrot is an ideal spot for coffee near Rome Pantheon, especially if it's the view and/or people-watching you're after!

This is not the same as plunking yourself down at one of the over-priced cafés right on the piazza - even if there is merit to doing that, too.

At Vivi Bistrot they offer good snacks including healthy items on the menu.

Details: 

• Piazza Navona, 2
• +39 06 683 3779
• Monday CLOSED | Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00-24:00

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L’Antico Caffè della Pigna

On a random visit here with Alessandro we discovered what we think may be the best coffee near Rome pantheon. 

Bar della Pigna may be just behind the Pantheon, but it couldn't be more local. It feels like it could be in any neighborhood in Rome.

They use Gima coffee, a very high-quality local torrefazione (coffee-roaster.)

The place is spotless and you know what that means?

They are meticulous about cleaning their coffee machine.

The coffee machine is spotless which is a good sign you will get a smooth espresso even towards the end of the day.

And this means you will get a delicious, smooth espresso every time.

Aside from having excellent coffee beans to start with, the coffee won't have the bitter taste you get from old coffee oils in an un-cleaned machine.

Ask any Roman who is into coffee (and believe me this is not hard to find.)

They will tell you that starting with a clean coffee machine is crucial. And sadly this is not easy to come by in Rome. But it is here.

By the way it's also nice to come here for the bright, casual ambiance and the young friendly staff.

Details: 

• Piazza della Pigna 54
• +39 06 6785 555
• Monday-Saturday: 06:00-19:00 | Sunday CLOSED
  

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Ciampini

Despite their location between the Pantheon and the bottom of the Spanish Steps, Ciampini is one of the most local bars in the center of Rome.

Ciampini in Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina is not only one of my favorite local spots for coffee near Rome Pantheon, but I also love it for aperitivo and gelato too!

Ciampini also certainly fits into the people-watching category, especially if you want to catch well-heeled Romans in their finery, hiding behind their over-sized sunglasses as they plop their high-end bags on the chair beside them.

Ciampini are also on my page about where to get a drink near the Pantheon, as well as on my page about where to get superb gelato in Rome.

Details: 

• San Lorenzo in Lucina 29
• +39 066 876 606
• Monday-Saturday: 08:30-22:30 | Sunday 09:00-22:30

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Pascucci

Pascucci Frullati, as the name suggests, is mostly famous for the frullati, or fruit smoothies and shakes.

Pascucci is a very local spot for coffee near Rome Pantheon, even if they are more known for their smoothies.

But they've been in Rome for over 50 years and many locals consider them an institution. So if you want a very local, homey spot to do as the Romans do and grab a stand-up coffee near the Pantheon, this is the spot.

Details: 

• Via di Torre Argentina, 20
• +39 06 686 4816
• Monday-Saturday: 06:00-18:30 | Sunday CLOSED

Map - How to find my favorite coffee near the Pantheon

Click here to visit my interactive Google map showing all the places listed on this page. It will open in a new window.