Gran caffè l'Aquila

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Landmark Reborn in Philadelphia

The story of Gran Caffè L'Aquila begins in tragedy and ends in one of America's most compelling Italian dining experiences. The original Gran Caffè L'Aquila was a landmark café on Piazza Duomo in the capital of Italy's Abruzzo region — named café of the year for all of Italy in 2007, then severely damaged in the devastating 2009 earthquake that destroyed much of the city. The Philadelphia chapter began in 2012, when Italian gelato champion Stefano Biasini met local award-winning restaurateur Riccardo Longo, and together they set about rebuilding one of Italy's most beloved institutions on American soil.

The result is as deliberate as it is remarkable. The entire restaurant was designed and built in Italy, then shipped to Philadelphia for installation. After three years of design and construction, the café opened on December 24th, 2014, on Chestnut Street. The ground floor operates as an authentic Italian bar; the second floor houses the full restaurant, a wine bar, a coffee and gelato lab, and even a cultural and language school. That depth of commitment to Italian culture is precisely what earned Gran Caffè L'Aquila a place in Gambero Rosso's guide — a recognition it has held consistently, including 2 Forks in both 2023 and 2026.

Coffee, Gelato, and the Table

Coffee is central to the identity of Gran Caffè L'Aquila. The café has represented Italian coffee culture at the G8 Summit and earned Gambero Rosso's highest rating for its espresso program — a serious credential in any context. Alongside the bar, the gelato program is led by Stefano Biasini, an Italian Gelato Champion and International World Press Champion, who crafts seasonal and custom artisanal flavors in-house. The gelato has proved popular enough to be shipped nationally.

The restaurant menu spans the full arc of an Italian meal — salumi e formaggi, bruschette, antipasti, pasta, carne, and pesce — with a wine list drawing from all 20 regions of Italy, recognized by the Wine Spectator Award. Riccardo Longo also leads cheese and salumi tasting experiences, including a Parmigiano Reggiano vertical that moves through multiple aging stages and cow varieties.

More Than a Restaurant

Gran Caffè L'Aquila operates simultaneously as a café, a fine dining restaurant, an Italian culture school, a catering operation, and an online market stocking specialty Italian pantry goods, luxury chocolates, olive oils, and kitchen accessories — all curated and tested by Longo and Biasini. It is a full expression of Italian daily life, transplanted with unusual fidelity to the heart of Philadelphia.