© Camparino Cafe
© Camparino Cafe
Camparino (Zucca) Cafe, Milan
Milanese institution in the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
This cafe has been a part of the Vittorio Emanuele II arcade since its opening in 1867. Clientele of the cafe today can gain a sense of the rich history and culture of the place with its opulent art-deco interior, including detailed Liberty-style mosaics by Angelo d'Andrea and the wood-inlaid bar.
It was frequented by the legendary 19th-century composer Giuseppe Verdi and acclaimed conductor Arturo Toscanini, who stopped by after performances at La Scala. Purportedly King Umberto I was one of the cafe's biggest supporters because it served the best coffee in Milan.
For more than a century, the cafe has been identified and decorated with the prestigious Zucca and Campari trademarks which competed for supremacy. The cafe spent years under the Zucca label, the name of a popular Milanese aperitif, a bittersweet alcoholic drink made from rhubarb and named after its creator, Ettore Zucca, former proprietor of the cafe.
However, in 2012, the Campari logo returned. Gaspare Campari had moved into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in 1867 when it was first opened, and the bar was established in 1915 by Davide Campari. It was one of the first venues in Milan to have a hydraulic system leading from the cellar guaranteeing a continuous flow of ice.
Open from 07:15 to 20:40. Closed on Mondays.
Visitor comments
- "It's a picturesque bar just under the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in The Duomo's square. The walls are covered in Liberty mosaics, and I had the best Campari Spritz of my life!" - Trip Advisor
- "If you like Campari-based drinks as I do, it's worth a visit for a few drinks just to enjoy the history of the bar and for people watching. We sat here for more than an hour and enjoyed several of their famous drinks while watching the people pass through the Galleria." - Trip Advisor
- "This cafe used to be known as Cafe Zucca, apparently a favourite of Verdi and Toscanini. We decided to spoil ourselves for tea, and enjoyed hot drinks and delightful, complimentary biscuits. No attempt to rush us and the waiter was very pleasant. It was delightful to drink in the atmosphere and watch the passers by. To be recommended." - Trip Advisor
