Where to have breakfast in the Castelli Romani: three pastry shops to try
Where to have breakfast in the Castelli Romani: from Grottaferrata to Albano, three pastry shops worth trying include croissants, specialty coffees, and puff pastry.
The trip to the Castelli Romani begins with a truly remarkable breakfast. Because breakfast is a serious matter: puff pastry technique, use of quality butter, long fermentations, and a focus on the coffee service that stops being a mere background.
From Grottaferrata to Albano Laziale, here's a selection of three contemporary pastry shops united by their pursuit of the finest ingredients, yet each with its own distinct identity: from Parisian boulangerie influences to international influences, including the great classics of Viennese pastries reinterpreted with technique and modernity.
Apple
Along Grottaferrata's main street, Pomme is the dream come true of Andrea Pelliccia and Athina Patsis, a couple in work and life with a solid background gained in Paris, Naples, and Rome. The name means "apple" in French: a fruit chosen as a symbol of simplicity and accessibility, which also becomes the stylistic signature of the establishment. The setting is that of an elegant French boulangerie. The breakfast counter features the Chausson aux pommes: a fragrant, buttery pastry enclosing a pleasantly tart apple filling, perfect for cleansing the palate. The pastries range from French croissants to Italian-style ones—impeccable even in the savory version—to fried bombe and a textbook pain au chocolat, with two bars of dark chocolate wrapped in a crumbly, honeycomb pastry. Not to be underestimated is the selection of cakes (from the tarte citron to the famous ricotta and sour cherries) and the attention to detail in the café, which offers a careful selection of coffees, teas and herbal teas.
Apples. Corso del Popolo 55, Grottaferrata (RM). Instagram.
Meraki
Leaving her studies in criminal psychology to pursue her passion for leavened pastries: this is the story of Marta Cimino, who, along with her partner Gabriele Tiano and business partner Alessandro Diavola Pennelli, brought a breath of international flavor to Albano. Meraki is a Greek term meaning "to do something with all of yourself," and that's exactly the approach you'll find at this modern bakery. The offerings aren't limited to France, but draw on influences from Portugal to Argentina. Here, breakfast is a well-rounded experience: on the sweet side, you'll find pain au chocolat, pastel de nata, and flaky butter croissants. Among Marta's signature recipes, a white chocolate, raspberry, and rosemary cake stands out. Savory breakfasts are another highlight, including avocado toast, croque-madame, club sandwiches, and stuffed focaccia. Everything is supported by meticulous research into specialty coffee, with controlled extractions and single origins.
Meraki. Piazza Antonio Gramsci 9-10, Albano Laziale (RM). Instagram.
Dream
Among the Castelli area's experimental pastry scene, Rêver has made a name for itself since opening with its Supreme and Roll croissants (circular croissants that have become a social media phenomenon). But behind the visual impact lies a rigorously technical workshop, where butter lamination and fermentation management reach exceptional levels. At the breakfast counter, we find a wide selection of puff pastry products: from classic croissants to an excellent pain au chocolat. Their family-sized rectangular croissant is fun and perfect for sharing. The workshop also offers savory treats, with puff pastry designed for both early mornings and aperitif time, and a line of modern pastries. All served with a selection of carefully crafted specialty coffees.
Rêver. Via Gioacchino Rossini 26b, Albano Laziale (RM). Website.