Gran Caffè Gambrinus, Naples

You are looking at Gran Caffè Gambrinus, a historic coffeehouse on Via Chiaia, occupying the rear of the Palazzo della Prefettura near Piazza del Plebiscito. It opened in 1860 under Vincenzo Apuzzo, who secured the title of supplier to the royal household. The rooms you see were reshaped around 1889 and 1890 for Mario Vacca by architect Antonio Curri, then enriched with paintings by numerous Neapolitan artists.

Their work remains part of the elegant interiors, which carry the atmosphere of the Belle Époque. Gambrinus became a gathering place for writers, artists, performers, and public figures. Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Matilde Serao, Jean Paul Sartre, and Princess Sissi all visited; musicians and orchestra directors also came here before performances at the Teatro di San Carlo.

The café’s history includes a distinctly Neapolitan custom: the caffè sospeso, a coffee paid forward for someone unable to afford it. At the entrance, a giant coffee pot receives the slips representing these gifts. The name refers to Gambrinus, a legendary jovial king of Flanders associated with beer. The place itself remains the remarkable meeting point of ornate art, literary memory, and everyday generosity.