Sant’ Eustachio’s – The Best Coffee in Rome!

My husband and I were in Rome during the Christmas holidays and on the first day we enjoyed a cappuccino and panini at Caffè Portofino located up the road from where we were staying. The panini were very fresh but it was the cappuccino that I enjoyed the most! We have had many espresso’s and cappuccino’s over the years but none that came even close to the ones we enjoyed in Rome. I love how all the bars (coffee shops) we ate at had the servers wearing vests, hats and bow ties. Very smart!

My Italian girlfriend, Francesca, had given me some recommendations on where to eat and that we had to also enjoy a cup of coffee (in Italy coffee means espresso) at Sant’ Eustachio‘s. She said it’s the best in the city and she was so right! What makes this coffee so special? I don’t know, perhaps it’s the water, or the way they roast their beans on their premises there.

Sant’ Eustachio il caffè has been around since the 1930’s and is located across the piazza from Sant’ Eustachio church. The stag’s head is the symbol of the caffè and represents the conversion to Christianity of the pagan Eustachio. According to a legend, in the 2nd century AD a soldier named Placidus was on a hunt when he saw a beautiful stag. But when he aimed at the animal, a cross appeared between its horns. The event caused the soldier to convert to Christianity, changing his name into Eustachius. For his conversion he faced martyrdom. Sant’ Eustachio continues to serve many people every day. They open early in the morning and close at 1am! This place is a beehive of activity any time of the day!

The Culinary Chase’s Note: To find Sant’ Eustachio, head towards the Pantheon. Standing in front of the Pantheon, look to your left and you’ll see a street (positioned at about 11 o’clock) with a white church on the right side of the street. At the top you’ll see the stag’s head. Opposite the church is Sant’ Eustachio cafe. We loved going there and made it a point to visit one last time before heading home. We purchased 2 pounds of their coffee and also their chocolate dipped coffee beans. Sant’ Eustachio has representation in the US but none elsewhere……pity!