Italians are known as hedonists, and they take their food very seriously. It is not rare that Italians eat out, either alone or with their family or friends, and if you find yourself in Italy as a tourist, you are most likely to eat out as well. While dinner in Italy contains of several courses and lasts for as long as two-three hours, breakfast is a completely different story.
Breakfast is typically the lightest meal of the day. It is served at bars, and Italians are likely to eat it standing up. It is served between 7 and 11 am, and locals who eat breakfast at bars are usually in a hurry because after breakfast they go to work. Breakfast typically consists of a cappuccino and a brioche. Brioche is a type of a croissant, similar to those served in France, only less buttery. It can be plain, or filled with jam, custard or chocolate.
When you order a breakfast at a bar, you will usually be required to pay the cashier first, and go to the bar to get served. This is often the case at busy bars, but at those more quiet ones you can pay after you have completed your breakfast.
When it comes to cappuccino, it is typical “breakfast coffee”, and most locals do not drink it after 11 am, when the breakfast time is over. Of course, you can order it at a different time of day if you like – you will get the coffee, but most likely a funny look as well.
