Starbucks’ first “literary café” in Italy opens in Rome: 300 square meters in a 15th-century palace with a permanent book-crossing area

Starbucks has opened its ninth location in Rome at Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 152, in the heart of the Rione Parione neighborhood. The store occupies approximately 300 square meters inside Palazzo Pichi Manfroni Lovatti, a 15th-century building that retains vaulted ceilings and other original architectural features. It will be run by a team of 23 people, most of whom were recruited locally.

The most significant new feature is a permanent space dedicated to books and book crossing— a first for Starbucks in Italy. Customers will be able to browse the books on display, borrow them, and leave their own, fostering an exchange open to the community. The initiative builds on the Book Club that the brand has been running for years in its Italian stores, but this time with a permanent and ongoing format rather than one tied to individual events.

The decision to combine reading and coffee is no coincidence in a city like Rome: according to the brand, the two experiences share a common focus on dialogue and discovery. The interiors reflect this sensibility with neutral tones inspired by the materials and colors of Roman architecture, harmonizing with the historic context of the building that houses them.

The new store is the 54th opened in Italy by Starbucks, which operates in the country in partnership with Percassi, the brand’s exclusive licensee.