Opened by motorcycle-obsessed Italians, this stylishly fitted restaurant is enormously popular with locals and travellers, mainly because it manages to achieve and maintain some relatively simple standards of hospitality that elude so many other restaurants in St. Petersburg. Namely, the design is simple but light and attractive, the friendly staff strike the right balance between casualness and professionalism, and Caffe Italia's kitchen serves unfussy but authentic pizza and pasta with no unnecessary flourishes. The pizzas are some of the best in St. Petersburg, while the desserts - including homemade ice-cream - are dangerously tempting.
Nearly all the staff at Caffe Italia speak English, and the cheerful atmosphere (and, by Petersburg standards, good-value wine list) makes it a great place to enjoy a long lunch or dinner with friends.
