When I tell my friends in Australia that I go to the bar for breakfast every morning when I am in Italy they look a bit surprised. In Australia you go to a bar to drink alcohol. In Italy you go to a bar to do everything…breakfast coffee and pastry, meet friends for a light lunch and head back again in the evening for aperitivo. It is the very best place to gather and socialise.

We are lucky in Bagni di Lucca to have great bars. Bar Roma in Bagni di Lucca Villa has been in the Tomei family for decades. Some handed down recipes appear in the form of Nonna’s budino, home made foccacia for delicious sandwiches, gelato and much more.

Bar Roma has recently added a covered area to meet when it is hot, cold, raining or sunny…perfect.

After breakfast my favourite time is aperitivo. I think it should happen all over the world.

As soon as I get back to Bagni di Lucca I’m heading up to Bar Roma to eat a budino!

Bar Roma, 124 Viale Umberto I

Phone…+39 0583 179 8017