Caffè Cova has been operating on the corner of Via Monte Napoleone since 1817 — which makes it not merely the oldest café in Milan's fashion quarter but one of the oldest continuously operating bars in Italy. The interior is intact: wooden fittings, mirrored walls, marble counter, the particular light of a room designed for a specific social ritual that has never needed to change. The panettone at Christmas and the pastries throughout the year are what the neighbourhood comes for; the coffee is precise and served with a formality that is not unfriendly. It is the kind of café that expects to see you again.
Montenapoleone, Milan, Italy