Looking for a place to have a delicious coffee in Cagliari? You have come to the right place! In this post I will share the best, most authentic cafés in Sardinia’s capital, places owned by locals, frequented by locals, and by the occasional tourist too.
Italians are coffee lovers and are used to drink coffee several times per day. We literally can’t start the day without coffee (with or without milk); we usually have it as a quick break at work, after meals use it as an excuse to meet friends.
We drink coffee in different ways: preparing it with the master moka; filtered; with milk in a lovely cappuccino; with Nutella or chocolate in what we called ‘marocchino;’ shaken with ice and milk; but – more than anything else – we love espresso!
Make sure to check out my post How To Order Coffee In Italy.
If you are not used to Italian coffee, you may find it a little too strong at the beginning because it’s very concentrated but I’m sure you’ll love it! But don’t drink too much of it if you want to sleep at night.
Cagliari is very much Italian in its coffee habits. People here love coffee through and through. If you are visiting and wish to have a break or a quick pick me up, you will have plenty of places to stop for a coffee in the Sardinian capital.
The following are my favorite places to enjoy a good coffee in town: each one is unique for a specific reason. Choose the one that resonates with you the most or try them all and let me know which is your favorite. One thing for sure, all these cafés in Cagliari are local hangouts, so you can also get a sneak-peak of local action while savoring the world’s most popular drink.
15 Places To Stop For A Coffee In Cagliari
Originis and Pasticceria Piemontese
These two are among the best cafés in Cagliari. I decided to mention them together because the pastry chef and maître chocolatier of these two incredible bakeries is the same: Gianluca Aresu. He is well known and deeply appreciated in Cagliari and surroundings. His cakes, pastries and chocolates are a little slice of heaven! So come and enjoy an espresso with one of his creations.
Originis is on Largo Carlo Felice, one of the main streets in Cagliari: next to the harbor and train station, there you can also find fashion stores, boutiques and lots of places of historical relevance.
Pasticceria Piemontese is located in Via Enrico Lai, almost opposite to our main city market (Mercato di San Benedetto) where you can find the freshest and the most delicious fish, and seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheese and meat and much more. San Benedetto market is the largest covered market in Italy and one of the larges in Europe and really deserves to be visited, so on your way you may want stop for a special espresso at Pasticceria Piemontese.
In fact, if you are as much of a foodie as I am, you must try their typical coffee with the addition of a succulent ingredient: custard cream. Have it with a crispy cannoncino.
Origins is open daily from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Pasticceria Piemontese is open daily from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.
I Sarti del Gusto
I Sarti del Gusto is a lovely restaurant in the heart of Cagliari, located in Via Sulis, one of the nicest streets of Villanova historical quarter, where there are beautiful boutiques and a charming atmosphere.
This small restaurant has an indoor hall and an outdoor room, enclosed by plants to make it more private, on a tiny, historic street (where no cars are allowed). It doesn’t have many tables so the staff will take care of you and will spoil you.
You can enjoy different types of coffee: choose among espresso, filtered coffee and a foamy cappuccino. While drinking it, taste chef Riccardo Massaiu’s creations: starting from a fabulous breakfast/brunch (scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, croissant, marmalade and much more), continuing with a business lunch, taking your lunch box with you or booking a table for an incredible dinner.
This is not simply one of the best cafés in Cagliari: it’s much more than that. As you can surely imagine, I love this place and it really deserves a try if you are in town!
I Sarti del Gusto is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 to 11:30 am for breakfast and brunch; from 1:00 to 2:30 pm for lunch; and from 8:00 to 11:00 pm for dinner. Please take care to note the restaurant is closed for lunch on Sundays.
Antico Caffè
Antico Caffè is one of the most famous cafés in Cagliari. This is an old and refined café in the heart of town. Before or after your city tour you should stop here. In fact Antico Caffè is located just under the steps of the amazing Bastione St. Remy, in Piazza Costituzione.
Since 1855 it has been the center of the Cagliari’s social life: important people such as the local writer Grazia Deledda who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1926 used to come here to enjoy a cup of coffee and have a chat.
It’s beautifully decorated with a covered terrace overlooking the shopping streets, its staff is kind and efficient and the coffee is delicious. You can taste it while having the finest pastries or, as Italians do, at the end of the meal. Antico Caffè is open from the morning till dinner.
What you will surely appreciate here is the unique atmosphere.
Antico Caffè is open from 7:00 am to 2:00 am daily.
Make sure to also read my post 4 Beautiful Historic Cafés In Cagliari.
Caffè Tramer
Caffè Tramer is an historical and tiny shelter in the center of Cagliari, with late 19th-century furnishings and an ancient charm.
It offers high quality coffees, cakes, delicious pastries and our beloved “pizzette sfoglie:” light, crispy and tasty pizza-like pastry that is made with phyllo pastry and that you can eat as a snack. I am not sure why we refer to it as “small pizza” since it doesn’t resemble pizza at all!
But above all this café is famous for its meringues, known as the best in town and prepared following an old and secret recipe. Giovanni Olianas bought this café in 1991 from Vittorio Tramer, a Swiss immigrant, and inherited the secrets of this highly appreciated dessert, that is freshly made every day. You can taste the classic meringue or, if you are a coffee lover, the coffee flavored one! The charming kindness of the owners will make you feel welcome.
It’s located just under Bastione Saint Remy, so if are visiting Cagliari you should walk in for a coffee and a meringue.
Caffè Tramer is open daily from 6:00 am to 8:30 pm.
Caffè Svizzero
This historical café – one of the best cafés in Cagliari – is located on the ground floor of Palazzo Accardo (built between 1899 and 1901), in one of the busiest streets of Cagliari, Largo Carlo Felice.
As soon as you get in you are carried back to a different era: ancient family portraits on the wall, high vaulted ceilings, marble floors and wooden furniture.
You can taste different types of coffee, but I recommend to try their ‘Marocchino:” espresso coffee with chocolate and milk foam. A taste of heaven and by far one of the best coffee in Cagliari! You should also go there for happy hour and taste their lovely cocktails.
Believe it or not, there are rumors that the building is haunted: a priest (under the building there’s a crypt), a barefoot guy looking for his shoes, a well-dressed gentleman and more. Don’t be scared and enjoy this mysterious atmosphere.
Caffé Svizzero is open daily from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Caffé dell’Arte Specialty Coffee
If you are a coffee lover, you should definitely visit this café. Since the first step you can feel that this is a coffee temple and breath coffee’s aroma while immersing yourself in the history of coffee.
Considered as one of the best cafés in Cagliari, its offers a great selection of blends, different kinds of espresso (with and without milk), brewing coffee such as French press, Aeropress and Moka and iced coffee. What’s more important is that they now also have their own coffee roastery, so you know the coffee you will be drinking is absolutely fresh!
You can drink it while tasting their affogato al caffè (ice-cream with hot espresso on top) or their risotto with coffee powder on top.
The owner, who is very competent when it comes to coffee, will help you choose the right coffee depending on your taste. The café is nice and welcoming and located in Via Caprera 3, in the city center, not far from the train station and the shopping area.
Caffé dell’Arte Specialty Coffee is open daily Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am to 1:00 pm.
Dulcis
Dulcis is a small and cozy bakery in one of Cagliari’s districts I love the most: La Marina. So, if you need a coffee break while having a tour of this district, make sure to pop in. It’s one of the nicest cafés in Cagliari.
This bakery is run from a family from Desulo, a small village right in the center of Sardinia. The cafe has maintained the main features of the traditional shop of the small villages of Sardinia. The atmosphere is familiar and friendly.
Taste your coffee while eating one of the excellent traditional Sardinian sweets like ‘pardula’ (made by a soft part of ricotta cheese, saffron and notes of orange and a crunchy one of a thin wheat pastry) or the ‘amaretto’ (a pure almond paste sweet with a crispy crust).
If you want to try something different, go for their ‘Frappuccino’ – something between a milkshake and a cappuccino.
Dulcis is located in Via Baylle 25. It is open daily from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Libarium Nostrum
It’s easy to see why this is one of the best cafés in Cagliari. At Libarium Nostrum you can enjoy coffee and one of the most beautiful views in the city, spanning all the way to the harbor, the sea, Largo Carlo Felice, Sette Fratelli mountains: I could spend hours there and – come to think if it – I do it quite regularly! Locals love it too and it gets quite busy, especially at sunset when Cagliari turns red, pink and orange.
Libarium Nostrum is located in Castello District, in Via Santa Croce. This is the oldest part of the city: here you can find the Cathedral, Torre dell’Elefante, Palazzo Regio and much more: walking in this part of town, so full of history, is priceless.
At Libarium you can taste a good espresso for breakfast with a delicious muffin or croissant or, as Italians do, go there for a break during the day or even better after a meal. You’d better book a table if you intend to visit for sunset or in the evening, so you can be sure to be seated next to the view.
At nighttime, mostly during summer weekends, there’s live music or a deejay so you will need a strong Italian coffee to keep dancing all night long.
Libarium Nostrum is open daily from 7:30 am to 2:00 am.
Not far from Libarium Nostrum and also in Castello, in Piazza Carlo Alberto at a few steps from the Cathedral, you will find Café Plazuela. This is a truly local spot, open daily from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Les Plus Bon
When I think about Les Plus Bon I always start drooling because of their different kinds of bread and the huge variety of both savory and salted snacks.
The family has a long history of baking (since 1953) and now they have two restaurant-cafes and a bakery.
The café where I go to the most is the one in Piazza De Gasperi. If you come here have a look at the beautiful Palazzo Doglio nearby and keep walking till the shopping area of Via Alghero and via Garibaldi.
The café has a veranda and an indoor room with a large display of breads, cakes, sweets and more. For a savory snack, try their pizzetta sfoglia while drinking their lovely coffee.
Le Plus Bon in Piazza de Gasperi is open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 am to 9:30 pm.
Micibo Cat Café
Are you both a cat and a coffee lover? If so, this is the right place for you. There are 8 lovely cats living in this café – one of the most welcoming cafés in Cagliari. All cats are beautiful, each with their different personality (as cats are): you can find them sleeping on an chair, playing with each other or being pet by some guests. If you don’t see them, look up! They often walk on the shelves on the ceiling or they go to the basement to have some privacy. My favorite cat is Ginger: a little sweet tiger.
Don’t be worried, even if several cats live here the café is tidy and clean. You can drink an espresso while eating a slice of delicious homemade cake and petting a cat.
The café is located in Piazza San Cosimo, a pretty square where San Saturnino Church stands. This Church is the most ancient in Cagliari and is consecrated to the Patron Saint of the city.
Micibo is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm; Sundays from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 3:00 to 8:00 pm; and Mondays from 4:30 to 9:00 pm.
Bar Piazzetta Mascia 99
Just outside the shopping area between via Dante and via Alghero, you can find this lovely café. It is located on a renewed square, Piazza Mascia, from which it takes its name. You can sit in one of the table on the square and enjoy the greenery around you and the comings and goings of the city or in the inside hall with its big windows.
I like stopping here for my beloved cappuccino (here you can find it with different kind of milk such as lactose-free or soy milk), an espresso or marocchino along with a slice of cake, some cookies or pizzetta sfoglia.
The staff is young and kind, and will help you to satisfy your request.
Bar Piazzetta Mascia 99 is located in Via Pessina 99. It is open daily from 7:00 am to midnight.
Café Etnico
On the way from the city center to Poetto, the locals’ favorite urban beach, not far from Fiera di Cagliari, you can find this lovely café – one of the best cafés in Cagliari. It also works as a cocktail bar and more. Locals love it and it gets quite budy from early in the morning till late.
You won’t find a place this in all Cagliari: red walls, Buddha statues, bamboo furniture and, as its name will suggest, an ethic atmosphere.
Enjoy your coffee with the pastries made in one of the most famous pastry shop of the city, Mariuccia, after a salad for lunch or before one of their scrumptious cocktails made with the best liquor, fresh fruits or Italian spumante.
You will find Café Etnico in Via Rockfeller 99. It’s open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 am to 1:00 am.
Cin Cin Blues Café
How could I not mention my father’s favorite café? Close to where he used to work (he retired a few years ago), he was used to go there every day! Even now every time he passes by he stops for a coffee. My sister and I do the same.
The café has been recently renovated and it looks like an old jazz club. It’s a bit far from the city center but if you go for a walk at the lovely Parco di Monte Claro it will be on your way.
Both coffee and cappuccino are delicious, you can drink them while eating some cookies or a croissant or, if you go for lunch, after one their tasty focaccia sandwich.
Cin Cin is located in Via Campania 59. It is open daily from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Caffè Gianduia
On the same street as Cin Cin Blues Café, at n. 29, there is another place locals love: Caffè Gianduia.
Gianduia is a kind of chocolate originally from Turin that contains about 30% hazelnut paste and tastes heavenly. This café offers a wide range of yummy chocolates and even some kinds of coffee have it: try the one with cream, chocolate and crispy cookies on top.
I love meeting my friends here for a relaxing and tasty breakfast. We have a chat while drinking a cappuccino with chocolate powder on top and eating one (or more) pastries or pizzetta sfoglia.
The café is very nice and stylish with dark wood furniture, the staff is kind and helpful.
Caffè Gianduia is open daily from 6:30 am to 09:00 pm.
Le Palmette Lungomare Poetto
Do you like running? There’s no better place in Cagliari than Poetto Beach for running, particularly early in the morning. I run here at least two times a week and, during weekends, when I have more time, I stop in one of the many kiosks along the beach for a lovely breakfast by the sea.
If you prefer walking or lying down and catching the sun, this is anyway the right place to do so in town. After your coffee, you can rent here beach umbrella and sun beds.
My go to place is Le Palmette, right after the beginning of the running trail in Cagliari’s Poetto Beach – you will also enjoy a stunning view.
Aside all sorts of coffees you will also find savory snacks and pastries, and comes lunch time, they have a fantastic business lunch menu.
Le Palmette is open year round from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm during the winter months. It remains open until late during the summer months, when it’s also a fantastic aperitif and dinner location.
Final Consideration
You won’t have troubles finding good coffee in Cagliari – cafés are scattered throughout the city! If you come across a place that you feel should be included in this post, let us know in the comments below.
Further Readings
Planning a getaway to the beautiful Cagliari? Make sure to read my other posts:
- 15 Great Things To Do In Cagliari, Sardinia
- The Nicest Squares In Cagliari
- Everything You Need To Know About Poetto, Cagliari’s Best Beach
- The Most Incredible Day Trips From Cagliari
- Cagliari Nightlife: A Guide To Cagliari Best Bars
- The Most Delicious Sardinian Food: Everything You Must Try
- Where To Find The Best Pizza In Cagliari
- 15 Incredible Restaurants In Cagliari
- The Best Vegan Restaurants In Cagliari
This post was written by Strictly Sardinia contributor Elisabetta Tavani.
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