Espresso In Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini Is Breathtaking
Enjoying an espresso at the Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini provides a rare opportunity to enjoy your breakfast coffee and pastry surrounded by beautiful art.
The delightful coffee bar can be found in the center of Rome near the most popular sites. It offers delicious coffee and fresh pastries in one of the most unique settings you will find.
This former studio of the artist Antonio Canova is jammed full of statues overlooking the bar from every direction. While most museums contain a bar, this museum takes it to a new level and makes the museum itself the restaurant.
Who Is Antonio Canova?
Antonio Canova was an Italian Artist who lived from the mid/18th century until the early 19th. He was famous for his marble sculptures and spent most of his life in Venice and Rome with travels to France and England.
His American connection was in 1820, when he made a statue of George Washington for the state of North Carolina, on the recommendation of Thomas Jefferson. The statue was later destroyed by fire in 1831. A plaster replica was sent by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy in 1910, now on view at the North Carolina Museum of History.
Other Coffee Shops Nearby
If the bar seems too crowded, you can reschedule your visit for another morning. There are a number of other options close by and I’ve written about two of my favorites that you can find in Piazza del Popolo:
- Getting Coffee At Canova In Piazza Del Popolo Is A Must.
- Great Coffee Near Piazza Del Popolo At Bar Rosati Awaits.
There are other random places nearby, but these are my favorites and definitely worth a visit.
Coffee Only At Bar, But Dining Inside Or Outside
At the time I was visiting, which was early one rainy fall morning, the only place to enjoy your Italian breakfast of cappuccino and a cornetto was inside at the bar. There are other seats around the museum both indoors and outdoors, but these seemed to be reserved for lunch and dinner patrons.
How Was The Coffee And Pastry?
The cappuccino was delicious and the cornetto was definitely fresh that morning, which isn’t always the case. The staff was very friendly and more than gracious enough to allow me to take my somewhat intrusive pictures.
In fact, the hostess who was working the door welcoming patrons swung by to get her cappuccino and engaged with me, giving suggestions on framing my photos to make sure the name was shown correctly.
One part, someone off topic, was when I was served the cornetto, it had been served by the barista with the napkin still wrapped around the pastry. If you are familiar with those nasty wax covered napkins you find at bars. They are pretty useless for cleaning your hands, but then we learned how you actually should use them.
You don’t use them to clean your hands, rather they are used to hold the pastry so as to not get sugar all over your hands to begin with. This was notable because it was the first time I saw them used this way. It worked and I was duly impressed.
My First Impressions Of Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini
I had walked by the Cafe many times in the past, because it was both so convenient to popular tourist sites and because I went on a search for the Talking Statues. One of them, Il Babuino, is located right out front of the Museo waiting to hear from you.
Once you approach the entry, you begin to notice just how full of these beautiful sculptures this cafe really is. Once inside, the hostess is there ready to greet you in the most friendly manner and helpful with her English language skills ready to go.
A Brief History Of The Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini
In 1818, Antonio Canova signed a contract for this property to be used solely for the practice of sculpture. He considered Adamo Tadolini the most gifted of his pupils, and maybe his only spiritual heir who inherited the studio from Canova. From 1818 until 1967 the studio (atelier) on Via del Babuino remained the property of generations of sculptors belonging to the Tadolini family.
A recent restoration was a sensitive operation to save the unique atmosphere of the once disorderly and dusty studio. This was performed respecting the original colors of the decoration and materials and the casual placing of the works.
Should You Get An Espresso At Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini?
I would strongly recommend a visit to this amazing space. Even if the prices weren’t reasonable, which they definitely are, I would have to say that the uniqueness and beauty of the space require you to evaluate it as an experience instead of just a cappuccino and adjust your expectations appropriately.
Opening Hours And Location Of Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini
- Coffee Bar: Open Everyday From 7:00AM until 8:00PM.
- Restaurant: Open For Lunch And Dinner Every Day From 12:00PM until Midnight
- Address: Via del Babuino, 150
How To Get To Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini
This coffee bar is conveniently located in the center of the most popular tourist spots in Rome. If you are near the Spanish Steps, Piazza Del Popolo or shopping on Via Del Corso, you are an easy walk from the museum.
More Coffee Bar In Italy Experiences
If you are convinced that great coffee at Museo Atelier Canova Tadolini could be right for you, then I would suggest learning more about the Italian coffee bars and delicious opportunities to experience them, check out some of our other posts:
- Getting Coffee At Canova In Piazza Del Popolo Is A Must.
- Great Coffee Near Piazza Del Popolo At Bar Rosati Awaits.
- Best Coffee Shop In Rome Near The Colosseum: Bar Monti.
- A Coffee Shop In Rome Near Spanish Steps: Antico Caffè Greco.
- A Fun Coffee Shop In Rome Near The Vatican Is Sciascia Caffè.
- How To Become A Barista In Italy – Schools and Certification.
- Antigua Tazza D’Oro Is A Great Coffee Shop In Rome.
- Caffe Giolitti In Rome Is A Great Italian Coffee Bar.
- Coffee Bars In Rome, Italy Are An Experience.
- Amazing Treats At Pasticceria Barberini In Rome.
