Self-confessed coffee snobs, this is a safe space… You might not be working the daily grind when you’re on holiday, but a good caffeine fix is still needed. Some of us actually drink it because we like the taste 🙄 But forget your Starbucks and your caramel syrups, we’re talking proper coffee, made from beans that are grown and roasted locally.
We’ve nominated our top contenders for the best destination for coffee lovers below, so check them out. Or, if you want to make sure your hotel can deliver the goods, pick from our Green Flag holidays – just scroll to the ‘great coffee’ section to find all the stays with the best Tripadvisor reviews for a barista-standard brew ☕
Italy
Italy literally gave the world the steam-driven espresso machine. It’s got big brands like Illy and Lavazza, and we wouldn’t know what to call a cappuccino, macchiato or latte without the Italian language. If your go-to order is a sugar-free caramel frappe, though, you can probably skip this section… Dressing coffee up as milkshakes and frappuccinos is sacrilege in Italy. The secret here? Keep it simple. You can make most coffee orders with just one word here – and top tip: espresso isn’t one of them. You’d ask for “un caffè” instead, which is basically the same thing, either “lungo” (long) or “corto” (short). Or, a macchiato is an espresso with a dash of steamed milk. Don’t make the mistake of just ordering a latte – that means milk in Italian, so that’s all you’ll get. You’ve got to say “caffè latte” around here.
Having invented half of our fave coffee orders, Italy is one caffeine-loving country. One thing you’ll notice is locals love to make time to sit in. You can get your takeaway cups in busy hubs like train stations etc. but it’s part of the culture here to take ‘una pausa’, AKA a pause. No barista wants you to take up a table for hours over one coffee, but take a seat, watch the world go by as you sip, and then go about your day. Picture yourself with a book on a seat in the sun, overlooking the Trevi Fountain or the Colosseum in Rome, maybe the Duomo in Florence, or Lake Como’s iconic waters. The coffee tastes even better with a view – and knowing it only cost around €2 (any more and you’re probs being ripped off).
Vienna
Vienna is all about the luxe life – grand buildings, a rich music scene and its history as the capital of the Habsburg Empire. Ofc, its signature coffee is an espresso topped with a dollop of whipped cream and dusted with chocolate shavings. A traditional Viennese coffee is pure indulgence – and definitely a top pick if you’re a sweet tooth. Plus, the café culture here is UNESCO-recognised. The whole city revolves around its old-world coffee houses and their traditional role in hosting social and intellectual gatherings. It’s all about taking your time and flicking through a newspaper over a cuppa, with no pressure to leave. Think marble tables, velvet seats and grand chandeliers.
In terms of what to order, a traditional coffee menu in Vienna should always feature the “melange” (similar to a cappuccino), the “einspänner” (espresso with whipped cream), the “franziskaner” (espresso with frothed milk) and the “kapuziner” (long black coffee).
For the ultimate experience, these are the best coffee houses:
- Café Jelinkek – deffo try their guglhupf cake
- Café Sperl – dating back to 1880, it’s super traditional
- Café Hawelka – a proper legendary pick, having served Hans Moser, Udo Jürgens, Andy Warhol and other iconic artists
- Café Central – go for live piano playing and Wiener schnitzel
- Café Korb’s Artlounge – a modern take, with breakfast served all day
Turkey
Turkey is a country with hospitality at its core, so naturally, great coffee is part of that. Traditional Turkish coffee is an unfiltered brew, where the grounds are served in the cup and allowed to settle before you drink it. The fine coffee grounds, cold water and sugar are heated slowly in a special pot called a cezve. It creates a lovely foam on top and is usually served with a sweet treat, like Turkish delight or baklava, to compliment the bitterness. When ordering Turkish coffee, you might be asked how sweet you want it: it’s “sade” for plain, “az şerkeli” for a little sugar or “şerkeli” for sweet. The stuff’s so popular, even the local Starbucks has added it to their menu. There are over 500 in Turkey now, but even they can’t compete.
Turkish coffee culture goes all the way back to the 16th century, when coffee started being served in coffeehouses in Istanbul. These places have roots in the Ottoman Empire as historical social hubs, and there’s still a mix of traditional and more modern places today. Ozo Coffee House is a small, independent place in Istanbul worth checking out – it’s known for its homemade and organic food, too. And, once you’ve finished your cup, a special ritual is to have your coffee grounds read! You turn the cup upside down onto the saucer, then the shapes and symbols can be interpreted by a fortune teller e.g. you might have a fish for luck, a bird for good news or travel, or a snake, which is a warning of betrayal.
Mexico
Mexico has definitely gifted the world its chocolate and corn, but its coffee is pretty popular, too. Chiapas and Oaxaca are the two main states known for it, and both produce light, nutty varieties. Naturally, the locals love to mix it with tequila and liqueurs, so if espresso martinis are your cocktail of choice back home, you have to try a carajillo – Mexican coffee mixed with Licor 43, which has vanilla and citrussy notes.
Then, for your classic hot brew, ask for a “café de olla”. This traditional coffee is brewed in clay pots with cinnamon and piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar), and its history goes back to the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s. ‘Adelitas’ (women who accompanied soldiers) brewed this type of coffee to nourish the troops, and now most families have their own unique blend of spices that makes their recipe special. A cortado is also a popular pick – the love child of a macchiato and a cappuccino. It’s one shot of espresso and equal parts steamed milk, or doppio if you want more milk.
For any plant-based people or dairy-free babes, look out for horchata, another Mexican staple made from rice and almond milk. You’ll often find it on coffee menus as a milk alternative. You might see it listed as a ‘dirty’ horchata, which means it’s already mixed with coffee, or you can usually order a horchata iced coffee.
Get your caffeine fix on a holiday to one of our coffee-loving destinations and browse our best deals.
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Author: Lily Owen (she/her)
Last updated: 19/09/2025
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