Caffè Francese – Alfonso Colavolpe

There is a bar in Amalfi

who speaks French

At the foot of the majestic cathedral of Sant'Andrea, in a building Art Nouveau style, there is a place elegant and from the’ancient charm which is an unmissable stop for residents and the many tourists who flock to the center.

Amalfi speaks French, the French of the historic bar run by the Colavolpe family. At the foot of the majestic Cathedral of Sant'Andrea, beyond the taste of the sea, there's a special flavor: the tastiest lemon delight on the entire coast, still made with the original recipe from the 1970s. It's the specialty of the Bar Francese. A historic establishment, founded in 1845 Founded by Giuseppe Francese and now run by a brilliant 26-year-old, Alfonso Colavolpe, the business has been run by six generations of owners with a desire to continually improve, carrying on an important legacy.

Bar Francese is located in an Art Nouveau building overlooking Piazza Duomo, directly across from the dramatic staircase leading to the cathedral, the beating heart of Amalfi's nightlife. It offers both indoor seating and an elegant outdoor area where you can relax while admiring the spectacular scenery and the charm of one of the world's most renowned squares. Perhaps sipping coffee or a cocktail and enjoying one of the many traditional sweets from Campania and Amalfi. They offer sfogliatelle, babà, pastiere, zeppole, and pasticciotti. And for warm summer evenings, there's no shortage of granitas, gelatos, and sorbets made with local citrus fruits.

Today, Bar Francese employs 24 people, and the driving force behind this successful business is a young man who has chosen to take the reins of the family business. Alfonso began working at the bar as a cashier and then found his ideal position in face-to-face contact with customers, specializing in welcoming bar patrons.“Connecting with people is something that rewards and excites me. I love listening to different stories, understanding experiences, observing habits. Giving moments of tranquility and sweetness. And I like to leave each person with a smile, a fond memory. I confess, however, that I also love being a pastry chef and perhaps I will specialize in this area of our work as well.,” he confides to us.

The Bar Francese is a must-see for both residents and the many tourists who flock to the center. Among the celebrities who have treated themselves to a relaxing break at the Bar Francese in recent months alone are world-famous director Christopher Nolan, who savored a chocolate dessert; Venezuelan model and actress Aida Yespica, who indulged in lemon tiramisu; Lazio striker Joaquin Correa; and the great baritone George Gagnize.

Alfonso's friendly and unobtrusive welcome was impeccable.

“"Relationships with people are something that rewards and excites me. However, I confess that I also love being a pastry chef and perhaps I'll specialize in this area of our work as well."”

“In addition to appreciating our desserts, customers have begun asking for a gourmet menu in recent years. This demand made us realize the need to hire a professional interior designer to expand the space and make it more comfortable and accessible for longer meals, otherwise customers would be congested in front of the pastry counter..” And so, doing some research on companies in the sector that had already carried out major interventions on historic premises, the name of Massimo Giaccherini of Aba Arredamenti comes up.

“Massimo created an innovative project for us that maximizes space and creates a very tidy environment. We thus maintained the Art Nouveau style that has distinguished the venue since its inception. Massimo, supported by Rebecca Giaccherini, was of great assistance in having his company restore some of the antique wooden furniture, a valuable feature of our space and linked to the venue's historical heritage..” With the work carried out by Aba, this important venue on the Amalfi coast presents winning solutions both functionally and aesthetically and, as has happened in previous years, VIPs and onlookers stop to take souvenir photos with the bar sign.“Our needs, combined with Aba's professionalism, have led to a result we're truly proud of. Because a space needs to be beautiful and captivating, but we mustn't forget that it's a workplace and needs to be efficient..”

Plans for the future?“My philosophy is that things are done first and then said.,” concludes Alfonso. We can therefore expect a new project alongside Aba.