The Famous Torino Caffè Platti Is A Must For Bicerin
The history of Italy is brought to life in a beautiful Torino caffè Platti which will bring you back to the time of Kings of Italy and titans of industry.
The French Influence Of Torino
Despite being in northern Italy, Turino (Turin) has benefited from the influence of the French empire in its architecture, food and most importantly for this article: the Coffee Houses. The French roots of the House of Savoy had a strong influence on the development of Torino, which was the first Capital of the newly unified country.
One of my favorite examples of this influence can be found in the Torino caffè Platti. This historical Pasticceria and coffee house originated after unification, in the 1870s, and would become a Torino institution and cultural landmark.
This Torino Caffè Has Been Iconic
The history of Platti Caffè crosses three different eras: The period of Italian Unity, two world wars and the industrial boom that followed. It has been the meeting point for writers, poets, intellectuals, industrialists and politicians.
Luigi Lavazza and Senator Agnelli, the founders of Lavazza and FIAT, used to spend time in Platti. For decades, it was the meeting point for the ritual of the hot chocolate for the students of the Institute D’Azeglio. More controversially, in 1897 on a bench in front of the shop windows of Platti Caffè, some students of this institute decided to give life to “Juventus FC”.
Platti Caffè Atmosphere
When you approach the Torino caffè, you will notice some seating available outside, but this is only the beginning. When entering you will pass the bar and amazing selection of pastries (if you are there for breakfast)
I recommend a quick inventory of the pastries you can select to pair with your coffee. I mention this because the first two times we went to Platti, I didn’t do this. Because the menu does list each individual type of pastry, or cornetto variation, I had to get up and see what was available.
As someone who doesn’t know much about interior design, my description would be that the caffè is frozen in time and elegant. The aged interior is well maintained and probably a little fancier than I was dressed for, but the staff couldn’t be more welcoming.
If you know more about interior design, this description might be more up your alley:
“The extraordinary interiors, furnished according to Luigi XVI style from Valabrega company, are characterized by very important chandeliers, ceilings in baroque style, golden decorations, a bar desk in wood age twenty, and very big and important framed mirrors.”
In the section we sat in, the room is surrounded with a bench and filled in with 2 or 4 seat tables. The caffè was allowing pets (i.e. dogs) to accompany their owners which, for me, added to the French influence.
The caffè is under the porticoed sidewalks that are close to the central train station. Our apartment was near the station, so this was a very convenient place to get up and have breakfast.
Menu Highlights Of Caffè Platti
Our goal each time we visited was to enjoy a delicious, if not a little fancy breakfast. Because of this we focused more on the pastries after glancing at their offerings as we walked to our table. For us, it was a cornetto and an apple pastry, but there is so much more.
Pasticceria Mignon
The pastry shop ranges from classic offerings to Piedmontese specialties, with particular attention to the historic Torta Platti. Famous among the people of Turin is certainly the breakfast, one of the tastiest and most refined in the city. All the croissants, leavened products, fresh and dry pastries and cakes are artisanal.
Tramezzini
There are different types of bread to choose from: white, wholemeal, tomato, spinach and squid ink and among the delicious recipes you will find the classic tramezzino with cooked ham to the peasant one with omelette, passing through the crab one and the tramezzino with chicken curry.
Cakes
Chocolate at Platti is synonymous with excellence and has always been the pride of the historic Pasticceria. Their hot chocolate is legendary and the fame of their traditional Gianduja is now all over Italy.
Drinks
Again, being here for breakfast focused our needs on a traditional, or not so traditional espresso. Their menu has a complete list of all the espresso drink variations, but for us, there was only one: Bicerin. This famous Turinese drink is a layering of chocolate (or Gianduja), espresso coffee and topped with steamed milk foam.
Practical Information For Tourists
Caffè Platti is located under the porticoed sidewalks that radiate from the central train station, making it easy to reach in any weather. The caffè can be found at: Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 72.
Regarding the hours of operation, I have recently come to the conclusion that if a caffè doesn’t open before 8:00AM, then they are probably catering only to the tourists. Caffè Pratti is open every day from 7:30AM until 9:00PM. This allowed us to arrive before the tourists awake, take some unobtrusive pictures and relax.
Is The Torino Caffè Platti Worth A Visit?
Without a doubt, Caffè Platti in Torino is a fantastic place that I highly recommend. They cater to locals as well as annoying tourists (us) and do it with a smile. The selection and quality of their food couldn’t be beat and the depth of their menu means there is definitely something for everyone.
My recommendation: Try a Bicerin and consider an Apple Pastry for a delicious breakfast that won’t break the bank.
More Torino Information
If you enjoyed this article about Caffè Platti in Torino, then I highly recommend some of these supporting articles on the city, some additional attractions and suggestions on how to best enjoy your visit to the Detroit of Italy:
- Torino Coffee For Beginners: The Definitive Guide.
- The Lavazza Coffee Museum In Turin Is A Must For Java Lovers.
