What do Gabriele D’Annunzio, Hemingway, Princess Sissi and Jean-Paul Sartre have in common? All of them, together with many other intellectuals and prominent figures of their time, were enchanted by the Gran Caffè Gambrinus, one of the most beautiful cafés in Naples.
Still in business today, the Gambrinus is a café of breathtaking beauty: right next to Piazza del Plebiscito, where the air sparkles thanks to its proximity to the sea, this historic place still enchants hundreds of visitors every day.The history of the Gambrinus begins together with another fundamental chapter of Italian history: it is 1860, the year of the Unity, and on the ground floor of the Palazzo della Foresteria, seat of the Prefecture of Naples, the "Gran Caffè" is opened – initially so called – with the intention of creating a meeting place, a real living room for Neapolitan intellectuals.
Its celebrity is sanctioned by the presence of the best bartenders, pastry chefs and ice-cream makers, who are attracted from all over Europe: in a short time, the Caffè attracts the attention of the royal family, which awards the place the title of "Supplier of the Royal House", an honour dedicated to the best excellences of the Kingdom.Towards the end of the century, between 1885 and 1890, the Gran Caffè lives difficult years, perhaps due to the social and political changes in progress. It was during these years that the patron Mariano Vacca showed his interest in Gambrinus, and decided to take care of the restyling of the rooms, in order to restore magnificence to this place: he involved architects and designers, craftsmen and artists, and in a short time the place shone again thanks to decorations, frescoes, marbles, bas-reliefs and tapestries. In a short time, the Gran Caffè regains its splendour: it is no longer just a place, but a real meeting place where art and beauty attract people from every corner of Europe. With the renovation of the rooms, a new name is also chosen for the Caffè: Gambrinus, like the legendary King of Flanders, to celebrate the union between the two most famous European drinks, Nordic beer and Neapolitan coffee.
On November 3, 1890 the brand new Gran Caffè Gambrinus was inaugurated: this was the beginning of the period of great splendour of the place that was chosen as a cultural base by sovereigns, musicians, politicians, journalists, writers, artists of international fame passing through the city.
