Italy ... Snack Bars

The snack bar is one of our favorite traditions in Italy and there are a number of different levels to that opinion.

First, you can get almost anything you want to eat for lunch or a quick snack; a sandwich (panino), a piece of pizza, or an ice cream (gelato). While there are literally thousands of these independently owned little shops throughout Italy, the quality of the food is generally very good. But there is more, much more!

If you would like a beer (birra), a glass of wine (vino) or even a cognac ... no problem. The bars are well stocked, for local tastes outside of tourist areas of course. And if you need a pack of cigarettes or a lighter, many snack bars also have a separateTabachi counter. So it sounds like a convenience store? Not at all because maybe your 3 year old wants a gelato, your teenager wants a beer and pizza (when in Rome ... no drinking age), and you want a panino with an espesso. You can all go together for a special family bonding time at the local snack bar.

While these great little places are called "snack bar" they are actually "snacks and a bar with a small store too." In a very subtle but important manner, the snack bar indicates that the Italian culture is not age-stratified like America. In fact, the only way you could operate an Italian Snack Bar in America would be as a "restaurant" where adults and kids can both get what they want. But you are not expected to have a meal just because you enter a snack bar, only what you are interested in.

For the traveler the snack bars are very important. You may often need to sit down for a bit, get a quick boost from a cafe, use the bathroom and get a fresh bottle of water during your day's outing. These places can be a most welcome oasis, especially in a large city.

Interacting with a typical Italian snack bar is bit different that going into an American establishment. All have glass front cabinets that allow you to see exactly what food they have available. You can judge whether or not it looks good to you and then ask for what you want. If it needs heating up, like a piece of pizza, the proprietor will then slip it into a small toaster.

You may find that many snack bars expect you to tell them what you want at a cash register area first and then provide the receipt to the person behind the food counter. Many Americans are completely thrown for loop with that. They use that system in the airports and train stations as well. I could tell that a particular American couple had never ventured to eat away from their Americanized hotel when I overheard the husband complaining about not understanding what they wanted him to do in the airport snack bar ... and they were on their way home after 10 days in Italy (I was eavesdropping). What jerks!

And a quick note of courtesy ... you really should purchase something first if you need to use the bathroom. The owner is not there to maintain a public washroom for tourists. Even a bottle of water will do and we have never been given any attitude when we then ask where the bathroom is.