Caffè San Carlo

Open since 1822 and the first place in the city lit by gas, it became a meeting point for Risorgimento patriots and intellectuals. A refurbishment for the bicentenary restored the gilded stucco, marble pilasters, doric columns and red velvet chairs; the Chinese room at the back dates from 1851. On Saturdays and Sundays it serves the merenda reale, a bicerin or hot chocolate with Piedmontese sweets, roughly €10 to €12 a head. Dumas is said to have had his first bicerin here.

Coordinates: 45.0684756, 7.6824451

Part of Turin's historic cafés on the Locali Storici d'Italia register

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