In Short
Did we find the tastiest cornettos in town? Quite possibly! If you’re looking for an authentic Italian café in Hamburg, then Ristretto Café is definitely your next destination! This small but fine café is a real insider tip for all lovers of Italian pastries. Even before you enter the small café, you can smell the heavenly aroma of deliciously baked pastry – a foretaste of what awaits inside.
Atmosphere & Location
Ristretto is a charming little café with a very authentic Italian atmosphere. The owners, who come from Italy, greet their guests with a warm smile, making you feel immediately welcome. Even though a building site in front of the door spoiled our first impression, it didn’t dampen our anticipation. Unfortunately, the café only has two or three small bar tables, which means you can’t sit down and enjoy a coffee and a cornetto in comfort. However, this small limitation is more than compensated for by the quality of the pastries and the warmth of the staff.
The Pastry – a Feast for the Senses
Ristretto is a paradise for fans of Italian pastries. The selection ranges from cornettos in various flavors to exquisite blueberry-vanilla tarts “Cestini” (2 €). Every piece of pastry not only looks incredibly good, but also tastes heavenly. A highlight is definitely the cornetto with pistachio cream for 4.20 €, which was a big hit during our visit. The light lemony note that the cornetto has, rounds off the taste perfectly. If you’re not too hungry, the cornettos are also available in mini sizes for 2.50 € each – but believe me, after the first bite you’ll wish you’d gone for the bigger one!
In addition to the cornettos, there is also coda aragosta, a type of puff pastry with a filling that looks like a lobster tail and is super crispy, for 3 €. The small pain au chocolat, cannola classica (3 €), connola mini (2 €) and even a vegan cornetto option with an elderberry and raspberry filling for 3.20 € leave no doubt: there is something here for every taste.
Searching for more cafés? Mit Herz & Zucker and Pynk Coffe are also great!
Did we Like it?
Absolutely! Every pastry we tried was a dream – from the crunchy texture of the coda aragosta to the creamy richness of the cannoli. But the real highlight of our visit was without a doubt the pistachio cornetto. The perfect balance between the crunchy outer layer and the melt-in-the-mouth pistachio cream inside simply blew us away.
Although the pistachio cornetto was our undisputed favorite, we have to admit that every pastry was convincing in its own way. The cornettos, whether with chocolate, vanilla or Giotto cream, were all great and offered a variety of flavors that you rarely find. Ristretto managed not only to satisfy our hunger, but also to win our hearts.
Hot Drinks and More
Of course, the perfect pastry also needs the right drink. Ristretto offers a great selection of hot drinks such as aromatic coffee, tea and soft drinks to round off your visit. If you’re lost for choice, ask the friendly staff for help – they can tell you exactly how something was made.
Conclusion
Ristretto is more than just a café; it is a piece of Italy in the middle of Hamburg. Despite the minor inconvenience of only being able to stand, the quality of the food, the warm atmosphere and the authentic Italian experience make up for everything. We fell in love with the delicious cornettos and can only warmly recommend Ristretto. Go and try the baked treats for yourself – you won’t regret it!
Overall Rating
Want to see more about Ristretto Café? Check out our Instagram channel, where we have a video about the Italian café!
