Pasticceria restaurants in Europe
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Mauro Gianvanni
This slick little brick-oven pizzeria – run by an Italian – pumps VH1 videos in the modern interior, though most sit out on the deck when weather behaves. The dozen-plus pizzas are crispy and tasty (R240 to R310), probably the best pie east of the Urals. There’s also a selection of pastas and ‘Italian burgers’.
reviewed
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Luini
Stockbrokers and student radicals, models and their harried hairdressers might get together here and sing Kumbaya, if they didn't all have their mouths full. Panzerotti is Milanese for yummy at this popular purveyor of pizza-dough pastries stuffed with cheeses, spinach, tomato, pesto and prosciutto.
reviewed
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Scalini’s
Speedy, waistcoated waiters deliver perfect pastas with bucket-loads of parmesan and a selection of home-cooked breads in Baku’s most congenial Italian restaurant. The décor is upmarket bistro-style with a relaxed buzz, soaring high ceilings and great movie and Martini posters.
reviewed
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Pasta
Fish-shaped ravioli paired with salmon creme is just one of the creative offerings at this popular pasta shop. All noodles are made fresh daily and available for take-away or for eating on the spot, preferably on the terrace. Avoid the lunch-hour rush.
reviewed
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Pintauro
Another local institution (even the owner looks like Sofia Loren's long-lost cousin), cinnamon-scented Pintauro sells perfect sfogliatelle to shopped-out locals. But don't stop there; it makes a mean babà to boot.
reviewed
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Andreotti
Film director and Ostiense local Ferzan Ozpetek is such a fan of the pastries here, he's known to cast them in his films. They're all stars, from the fragrant almond biscotti and buttery crostate (tarts), to the piles of golden sfogliatelle romane (ricotta-filled pastries). There's even a supporting cast of savoury gems such as frittini (fried canapés) and cute-as-a-button bruschettine (mini bruschetta).
reviewed
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Scaturchio
In a city infamous for belt-busting temptations, this piazza-side pasticceria enjoys cult status. While you'll find all the local classics (including a particularly luscious babà), the star attraction is the ministeriale. A dark-chocolate medallion invented in the 19th century, the ingredients of its liqueur-laced ganache filling are a closely guarded secret.
reviewed
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Angelo Carbone
Off the tourist trail but well on the radar of locals, this chintzy bar-pasticceria-rosticceria makes one seriously buttery sfogliatella (sweet ricotta-filled pastries), not to mention a heavenly pasticcino crema e amarena (a short-pastry bun filled with cherries and custard). Savoury options include satisfying panini (€2.50) and there's alfresco seating beside the frescoed porticos of the Chiesa Santa Maria Regina Coeli opposite.
reviewed
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Caffé Cova
It can feel like feeding time at the zoo at Cova’s ever crowded bar but the relentlessly charming and attentive baristas won’t overlook you, and the surroundings are so soothingly pretty. The sweets case will tempt but a thick-cut smoked salmon on rye is far more fortifying. If you’ve resisted the temptation to max out your credit card, celebrate with a glass of Cova’s own label prosecco (sparkling).
reviewed
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Antiga Confeitaria de Belém
Since 1837, this patisserie has been transporting locals to sugar-coated nirvana with heavenly pastéis de belém: crisp pastry nests filled with custard cream, baked at 400 degrees for that perfect golden crust, then lightly dusted with cinnamon. Admire azulejos in the vaulted rooms or devour a still-warm tart at the counter to try to guess the secret ingredient.
reviewed
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Grammatico Maria
This café is run by Maria Grammatico, Sicily's most famous pastry chef. She was even the subject of Mary Taylor Simeti's book Bitter Almonds, a series of recipes and recollections from her childhood, when she learnt her considerable skills from the nuns of Erice. Try the exquisite cannoli in the leafy back garden - they are some of the best you'll taste.
reviewed
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Sissi
You’ll be on first name terms with the staff before you know it at this friendly French-speaking neighbourhood pasticceria that has some of the best and most varied breakfast brioche in town. There’s a tiny garden at the back for Sunday brunches. Tarts, both sweet and savoury, are made with love and will be carefully wrapped to make a picnic lunch or hotel supper.
reviewed
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Moccia
With gleaming displays of dainty strawberry tartlets, liqueur-soaked babà and creamy gelato (try a watermelon and peach combo), no one is safe at this chichi pastry pasticceria – blow-waved matriarchs, peckish professionals or waif-thin Chiaia princesses. The almond caprese is the best in town, and best washed down with a potent espresso.
reviewed
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Ciuri Ciuri
A Sicilian ice-cream and pastry shop where you can pop by (and eat in) for delectable homemade sweets such as cannoli (a type of pastry), cassata and pasticini di mandorla (almond pastries), all available in moreish bite-sized versions, and created using the freshest of ingredients. There are rib-sticking arancini (fried rice balls), and they also have the best ice-cream in the neighbourhood.
reviewed
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Fratelli Freni
This pasticceria arrived with the first waves of southern immigrants and continues to be a welcome splash of Sicilian colour right in Milan’s centre. Potted prickly pears to smallgoods get the surreal marzipan treatment. Photogenic as the marzipan madness is, a ricotta canoli delivers a mezzogiorno (midday) jolt without the sugar overload.
reviewed
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Massaro
Here's a true Palermo institution - it's a bit out of the way, but it's as traditional and loved by its regulars as it gets. It's excellent for breakfasts or snacks, but it's best for the vast variety of cakes, which range from pistachio balls to pine nut-encrusted rolls to creamy cannoli (pastry shells stuffed with sweet ricotta).
reviewed
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Pasticceria Giovanni Galli
Apparently, heaven can be purchased (at a price). Alchechengi are Lombard cherry tomatoes dunked in maraschino liquor and bitter chocolate. Since 1880, Milanese have salivated over the marrons glacés (candied chestnuts) in Galli’s wooden display cases, but try the hello-new-world hot-pepper chocolates too.
reviewed
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Pasticceria Cucchi
One of Milan’s most beautiful old-school pasticcerias (cake shops), Cucchi is set in a peaceful neighbourhood square. Snaffle a brioche at the bar or slowly disassemble a bundino di riso (a cylindrical tart filled with rice pudding) under the trees outside or the chandelier in the back room.
reviewed
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Taddeucci
The perfect accompaniment to a mid-morning or -afternoon espresso and gift to take home, buccellato is a traditional sweet bread loaf with sultanas and aniseed seeds, baked in Lucca since 1881. Taddeucci is the pasticceria (pastry shop) to ogle at and shop for this traditional Lucchesi sweet treat. Pay €4/8/12 for a 300/600/900g loaf.
reviewed
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Marchesi
This wood-panelled pasticceria has been baking since 1824. The window displays have the wonky logic of a Hitchcock dream sequence but with perfect every-shot coffee, there’s no shock ending. Don’t overlook the fruit gels packaged together in smartly contrasting flavours like green apple and prune.
reviewed
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La Sfogliatella
Diet? What diet? Lose all self-control at this buzzing pasticceria, famed for its sfogliatelle and house specialities: zeffiro all'arancia (orange delicacy), chocolate and rum cakes, and riccias millefeuilles (pastry with an apple-custard filling).
reviewed
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Faros
This boat restaurant is moored in Kalaranta Harbour south of the bridge and makes for an atmospheric bite, especially its salmon soup with a dollop of mousse. They also do great steak and reindeer tournedos. Don’t miss the bathrooms with portholes (making them ‘portaloos’).
reviewed
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Ai Platini
Away from the buzz of the portside, Ai Platani is a nice retreat with a more intimate and romantic atmosphere. The décor is rustic-chic and although the food is still very much focused on the sea, the homemade gnocchetti and ragu (tomato sauce) is a nice alternative.
reviewed
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Osteria Pantagruel
Homemade pasta, risotto and bruschetta is turned out at this whitewashed cellar restaurant by Zoloti Vorota. The warm months see tables and chairs spill onto the square out front – probably the best place in Kyiv for a beer on a summer evening.
reviewed
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Dagnino
In a marble-floored arcade off Via Orlando, this funky 1950s cafe serves delicious Sicilian treats such as cannoli Siciliana (ricotta-filled pastries) and moreish arancini (rice balls), though other morsels are a bit hit and miss.
reviewed