Caffe Florian, Venice

Founded in 1720 by Florian Francesconi, Caffè Florian has been caffeinating Venice longer than most nations have existed. Napoleon famously called it “one of the world’s most beautiful drawing rooms,” and history has largely agreed. It is the oldest continuously operating coffee house in Italy and the second oldest globally (after Paris’s Café Procope). Location helps, of course—few cafés can claim Piazza San Marco as their front yard—but reputation did the rest...

Over the centuries, Florian became a preferred table for Europe’s cultural and political elite. Richard Wagner, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Lord Byron all took seats here, presumably ordering more inspiration than espresso. Then there was Giacomo Casanova, who approved of Florian for practical reasons: it was among the first Venetian cafés to admit women. For Casanova, this was not a footnote—it was the feature.

Today, the ritual continues. Cakes are immaculate, coffees are expertly made, and the waiters look like they’ve stepped out of a period painting, gliding between small marble tables for two. Yes, prices reflect the address, but you’re paying for continuity as much as caffeine. Live musicians often perform—one of Florian’s signature charms—though do note the polite ambush: a €6 per person supplement appears when the music starts. Consider it a cover charge for atmosphere...

Between performances, you can admire rotating art exhibitions, request a favorite tune, or politely negotiate with the occasional bird who believes your pastry is a shared experience. Indeed, at Florian, even interruptions come with history.