It's “Spazio Pane e Caffè”, the original restaurant opened in Rome by Niko Romito, three Michelin star chef, innovative food entrepreneur, who proposes a return to the past to the old bread-based snack, the best “Bar dell 'Year".
On the occasion of the presentation of Gambero Rosso's 2020 Bar d'Italia Guide, it was awarded the Illy award as the best restaurant in Italy. In the restaurant overlooking Piazza Verdi, in the heart of ancient Parioli, the multifaceted chef and entrepreneur from Abruzzo has given life to a project, replicated in Italy and abroad, of a format in which distinctions of genres and times are broken down, a space open all day, with menus, distinguished by time slot, ranging from dry pastries to brioches, leavened products, from sandwiches and focaccias to soups and flans, with an offer that embraces sweet and savory and links them through the common thread of bread. The motivation of the jury recognizes the place in Piazza Verdi for "the extraordinary work on the essence of the product, for the enhancement of the relationship with the territory, for the strength of the business model applied to a contemporary Italian bar code in all its functions, and not least for the unprecedented work on the food par excellence, bread”.
The Gambero Rosso guide which, in this year's edition, lists 1300 selected addresses, from North to South, of which 39 at the top of the ranking among the places awarded with three grains and three cups, also awarded a special mention ex aequo to "La Pasqualina" (Almenno San Bartolomeo - Bergamo) and "300mila Lounge" (Lecce), for their ethical commitment, in particular for the environmentally conscious initiatives through sustainable packaging and for the social utility programs dedicated to the reintegration assets of detained persons.
Lombardy, based on the prizes awarded by the Gambero Rosso Guide, confirms itself at the top of the Italian regions for quality bars with 9 awarded venues, followed by Veneto with 6, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna with 5, Sicily with 3, Liguria, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Tuscany with 2. A place on the podium for Marche, Lazio, Abruzzo, Campania and Puglia. There are two new entries at the top of the ranking: In Croissanteria Lab from Carobbio degli Angeli (Bergamo) and Olivieri 1882 from Arzignano (Vicenza). For the Le Stelle category, i.e. the establishments which for at least ten consecutive years have obtained the score of 3 beans and 3 cups, two establishments enter, Canterino di Biella and Caffetteria Torinese in Palmanova (Udine). Aperitif of the year at Marelet in Treviglio (Bergamo).
“Going to bars – said Paolo Cuccia, president of Gambero Rosso – is an all-Italian habit that the world envies us. A sector of the gastronomic offer in continuous growth thanks to the professionalism and creativity of operators attentive to innovation".
THESE AWARDS DIVIDED BY REGION
Three grains & Three cups 2020
Piemonte
Canterino – Biella; Converso – Bra (Cn); Baratti & Milan – Turin; Caffè Mulassano – Turin; Bar Zucca – Turin
Liguria
Douce – Genoa; Murena Suite – Genoa
Lombardia
La Pasqualina – Almenno San Bartolomeo (BG); Sirani – Bagnolo Mella (BS) Bedussi – Brescia; In Croissanteria Lab – Carobbio degli Angeli (BG); Colzani – Cassago Brianza (LC); Roberto pastry shop – Erbusco (BS); Pavé – Milan; Marelet – Treviglio (BG), Morlacchi – Zanica (BG)
Veneto
Olivieri 1882 – Arzignano (VI); The Kiosk – Lonigo (VI); Biasetto – Padua; I love – Venice Gran Caffè Quadri – Venice; Garibaldi – Vicenza
Friuli Venezia Giulia
Turin cafeteria – Palmanova (UD); Vatta – Trieste
Emilia Romagna
Gino Fabbri Pastry chef – Bologna; Staccoli Coffee – Cattolica (RN); Bar Rome – Novellara (RE); Salty Sweet – Pianoro (BO); New Lady Pastry Shop – San Secondo Parmense (PR)
Toscana
Tuttobene – Campi Bisenzio (FI); Gilli – Florence
Marche
Woodpecker – Loreto (AN)
Lazio
Bread & Coffee Space – Rome
Abruzzo
Caprice – Pescara
Campania
Sal De Riso Amalfi Coast – Minori (SA)
Puglia
300 Thousand Lounges – Lecce
Sicilia
Champagne – Marineo (Pa); Sicilian Coffee – Noto (SR); Ancient Spinnato Coffee – Palermo
Bar of the Year Finalists
Pumpkin Bar – Turin; Douce – Genoa; La Pasqualina – Almenno San Bartolomeo (BG); Bedussi – Brescia; In Croissanteria Lab – Carobbio degli Angeli (BG); Roberto pastry shop – Erbusco (BS); Pavé – Milan; Marelet – Treviglio (BG); Morlacchi – Zanica (BG); Olivieri 1882 – Arzignano (VI); The Kiosk – Lonigo (VI); I love – Venice; Garibaldi – Vicenza; Vatta – Trieste; Gino Fabbri Pastry chef – Bologna; Staccoli Coffee – Cattolica (RN); Bar Rome – Novellara (RE); Salty Sweet – Pianoro (BO); New Lady Pastry Shop – San Secondo Parmense (PR); Woodpecker – Loreto (AN); Bread & Coffee Space – Rome; Sal De Riso Costa D'Amalfi – Minori (SA); 300 Thousand Lounges – Lecce; Champagne – Marineo (PA)
The stars
The places that for at least ten consecutive years have conquered Tre Tazzine & Tre Chicchi
Canterino – Biella; Converso – Bra (CN); Relais Cuba Chocolat Restaurant Cafè – Cuneo; Baratti & Milan – Turin; Caffè Mulassano – Turin; Café Platti – Turin; Murena Suite – Genoa; Sirani – Bagnolo Mella (BG); Zilioli – Brescia; Colzani – Cassago Brianza (LC); Biasetto – Padua; Bar Dandolo of the Hotel Danieli – Venice; Turin Cafeteria – Palmanova (UD), Via Delle Torri – Trieste; Tuttobene – Campi Bisenzio (FI); Stravinskij Bar of the Hotel De Russie – Rome; Caprice – Pescara; Sicilian Coffee – Noto (SR); Ancient Spinnato Coffee – Palermo
Marelet Aperitif of the Year Award – Treviglio (BG)
The Best Hotel Cocktail Bars
Lombardia The Bar of the Bulgari Hotel – Milan; My Lab at the Park Hyatt – Milan
Veneto Bar Dandolo of the Hotel Danieli – Venice; Seagull of the Belmond Hotel Cipriani – Venice
Toscana Atrium Bar & Lounge of the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze- Florence
Lazio Stravinskij Bar of the Hotel De Russie – Rome
Campania Dry Martini By Javier De Las Muelas at The Majestic Palace Hotel Sorrento – Sant'Agnello (NA)
Sicily Signum Bar of the Hotel Signum – Salina (ME); Bar and Literary Terrace of the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo Taormina – Taormina (ME)
The best cocktail bars
Piedmont Casa Mago Cocktail Lounge – Turin; Extremadura Café – Verbania
Liguria The Balance – Savona
Lombardia Octavius Bar at the Stage – Milan; Talea – Milan
Veneto The Soda Jerk – Verona
Emilia-Romagna The Craftsman – Reggio Emilia
Tuscany Tobacco Manufacture – Florence
Lazio Drink Kong – Rome
Campania Historical Archive - Naples
Apulia Contrabar – Bisceglie (BT)
Bohème Sicily – Catania
