One of Europe's Oldest Cafés, Café de Flore, Faces Closure Due to Pandemic

Despite its centuries-old history and renowned reputation, this café has faced the same difficulties as countless others during the pandemic.

300-Year-Old Venetian Café Announces Closure

Under the heavy impact of the pandemic, Caffè Florian, a 300-year-old coffee establishment in Venice, has announced its impending closure.

Caffè Florian is one of Europe's oldest cafés, sitting on St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. Founded on December 29, 1720, it still maintains its 19th-century interior design.

A Legend Facing Its End

According to reports, Caffè Florian was once voted among the ten most beautiful cafés in the world. As of last December 29 it celebrated its 300th birthday. Due to various factors, though, what should have been a joyful occasion ended with the founder deciding to close its doors when the operating contract expires in 2021. It appears this legendary century-old café really will cease operations this year.

Most notably, over the past 300 years Caffè Florian has hosted countless legendary figures, among them Monet, Andy Warhol, Nietzsche, Charlie Chaplin and Hemingway.

Across its 300-year history, Caffè Florian has known many glorious moments.

Historical Significance

In the 18th century Caffè Florian was the only café in the entire city that admitted women. The historic Venice Biennale was also born here: in 1895 Caffè Florian hosted the first Venice Biennale.

Monet's celebrated "treasured collection" piece "The Grand Canal in Venice," created in 1908, was painted here as well. By the numbers, Monet produced more than 30 works at this spot, earning Caffè Florian the reputation of being Monet's "favorite."

The café has also become a treasure trove for filmmakers, with many Oscar-winning directors especially fond of shooting scenes here. The Academy Award-nominated films "Summer Hours" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" both featured filming locations at this café.

300th Anniversary Commemoration

For last year's 300th anniversary celebration, the Italian national postal service even issued a set of commemorative postmarks for Caffè Florian.

Unique Service Style

As one of the most famous cafés in Venice and the world, and according to KNEWS video coverage, this café's kitchen is separate from the main hall. In other words, there is no kitchen inside the café itself; food is prepared in a kitchen outside the premises. Prepared meals are placed in black containers, and staff carry them to the café either single-handed or double-handed, but each dish's position must stay unmoved during transport. The entire delivery takes roughly ten minutes, so café attendants undergo rigorous training to provide professional service, and this complex transport process is one reason for the café's high prices.

Pandemic's Devastating Impact

Today, such a legendary café has lost its former full-house status under the heavy blow of the pandemic. Media reports indicate that Caffè Florian has lost over 6.5 million euros, while the government provided only a 160,000-euro subsidy and still demanded full rent as usual.

According to media statistics, Caffè Florian's total revenue in 2019 reached over 8 million euros, while 2020 revenue fell short of 2 million euros.

The Decision to Close

The person in charge, Marco Paolini, stated that the café currently employs 70 staff members and 100 part-time employees. They now face paying full wages and full rent, with costs amounting to approximately 210,000 euros. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the café's operations have come to an abrupt halt. With high rental pressure and 2021 also marking the expiration of the café's franchise rights from the state government, Caffè Florian has decided to close its doors under that weight.

Industry-Wide Impact

Over the past year, Caffè Florian is far from the only establishment to suffer severely and close because of the pandemic. In its shadow, the domestic internet coffee chain Lián Coffee, the coffee chain Costa Coffee and the fashion coffee brand Man Coffee have all undergone large-scale closures.

*Image source: Internet

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

A café with three centuries of history reminds you how much pleasure there is in a well-made cup at home, and you do not need a grand setting to find it. FrontStreet Coffee's Ethiopia Natural Huakui is one of the most successful specialty coffees of recent years, loved for its striking tropical fruit aroma of strawberry, passion fruit, jackfruit and even lychee. It is notably sweet with very little bitterness, smooth and full of juice on the palate, which is why many call it the least coffee-like coffee there is. For anyone who does not care for the traditional bitter taste, it tends to overturn their idea of what coffee is.

If you would rather start with something clean and bright, FrontStreet Coffee's Washed Gedingding from Yirgacheffe is an ideal entry point, with jasmine, lemon acidity and a berry note. Its acidity is soft and bright, closer to the sweet-tartness of fresh fruit than to anything harsh, which makes it a very approachable choice for anyone just beginning to brew pour-over at home.