Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè

Sant'Eustachio Il Caffè has served coffee in its small piazza between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona since 1938, and its blue and yellow sign, featuring the stag's head of the saint who gives the square its name, is a familiar landmark in the historic centre. The bar has kept much of its traditional character, and it is one of the few places in central Rome that still roasts its own coffee, using a long-established wood-fired roasting process.

The drink to order is the Gran Caffè, the house speciality. It is made with the bar's own blend, whose proportions are kept secret, and served in a slightly larger cup with a thick, creamy foam on top. It comes already sweetened, so if you prefer it without sugar ask for it amaro when you order. The baristas famously prepare it with their backs turned or behind a screen, to keep the method private. Espresso, cappuccino and other classic Italian coffees are also served.

Bags of the house blend are sold at the counter and online, from whole beans to moka and espresso grinds, along with capsules, chocolate-covered coffee beans and branded cups, which make easy souvenirs. The shop's blend is 100 per cent Arabica, according to the bar.

Sant'Eustachio opens early and closes late: from 7:30 until 1:00 from Sunday to Thursday, until 1:30 on Friday and until 2:00 on Saturday. Pay at the till first, then hand your receipt to the barista, as is customary in Roman bars, and drink at the counter like the locals. There are a few tables outside on the piazza, where table service costs more than standing at the bar. It is busiest from mid-morning to early afternoon, when queues can stretch out of the door, so come early in the morning or in the evening for a calmer visit.

The bar is at Piazza di Sant'Eustachio 82, a two-minute walk from the Pantheon and about five minutes from Piazza Navona. The Baroque church of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, by Borromini, is just around the corner, and Tazza d'Oro, another of the city's historic coffee bars, is on the other side of the Pantheon, making it easy to compare the two in a single morning.