Pisa food and drink: where to eat and drink by the Arno
Pisa's food landmarks sit close together along the Arno and around Piazza delle Vettovaglie, yet they ask different things of you. Caffè dell'Ussero and Gelateria De' Coltelli both line the Lungarno Pacinotti for a river pause, while the market spreads through the streets behind it.
None of the open stops needs booking. Caffè dell'Ussero, founded in 1794 inside Palazzo Agostini, takes 30 to 45 minutes over a counter espresso or a table by the water; no prices are posted, so ask before ordering. De' Coltelli's short visit of 10 to 15 minutes suits a walk along the river.
At the gelateria, published ingredient lists and seasonal fruit set it apart, and sorbetto and Sicilian granita give dairy-free visitors a real choice, though some sorbetti include sheep's ricotta, so check each flavour at the counter.
The central market is free to enter but has no covered hall despite its name: clothing sits under the porticoes and produce on Via Domenico Cavalca, and stalls wind down around noon, so come before midday. Pasticceria Salza on Borgo Stretto has shut, so plan around its painted 1898 lettering rather than cakes.
| Place | Time to allow | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Caffè dell'Ussero, Pisa | 30-45 minutes | Lungarno Pacinotti, Palazzo Agostini |
| Gelateria De' Coltelli, Pisa | 10-15 minutes | Lungarno Pacinotti 23 |
| Mercato Centrale di Pisa | a morning | Piazza delle Vettovaglie |
| Pasticceria Salza Pisa Guide | a few minutes | Borgo Stretto |
Pisa food landmark guides
Caffè dell'Ussero, Pisa: the historic café on the Lungarno
Pisa's historic coffee house on the Lungarno Pacinotti, founded in 1794 inside Palazzo Agostini and linked to the Ussero name since 1775. Drop in for a counter espresso or a table by the Arno; no prices are posted, so ask before ordering.
30-45 minutes · Best for coffee and Pisan history
Gelateria De' Coltelli, Pisa: What to Order on the Lungarno
A small artisan gelateria on the Arno whose short, published ingredient lists and seasonal fruit set it apart. Sorbetto and Sicilian granita give dairy-free visitors a real choice, though some sorbetti include sheep's ricotta, so check each flavour at the counter.
10-15 minutes · Best for river walks, dairy-free gelato
Mercato Centrale di Pisa: A Guide to the Market
Pisa has no covered market hall despite the name; the actual central market spreads around Piazza delle Vettovaglie, with clothing under the porticoes and produce on Via Domenico Cavalca. Come before midday, since stalls wind down around noon.
a morning · free entry · Best for food shoppers and market browsers
Pasticceria Salza Pisa Guide: What Happened to the Shop
Closed: Shut for months before the lease ended in August 2025; premises being refitted for Brunch Republic by 2026.
The Salza pastry shop on Borgo Stretto has shut and its fittings were stripped out; by 2026 the site was being refitted as a Brunch Republic. Only painted lettering from 1898 remains, so don't come expecting cakes.
a few minutes · Best for Pisa food history, a short street stop
Salza has shut: what stands in its place
Pasticceria Salza on Borgo Stretto is no longer trading. The shop shut for months before the lease ended in August 2025, its fittings were stripped out, and by 2026 the site was being refitted as a Brunch Republic. Only painted lettering from 1898 remains, and looking at the street frontage is free.
For a sit-down coffee or a table by the Arno, Caffè dell'Ussero on the Lungarno Pacinotti remains open and needs no booking. Gelateria De' Coltelli, a short walk away at Lungarno Pacinotti 23, also needs no booking for its sorbetto and granita.