Citiso

££££ │ Breakfast, Coffee & Afternoon Drinks

Day Times │ Directions & Opening TImes on Google

Pasticceria Citiso feels like the kind of place that Shoreditch graphic designers come to visit on research trips (and then recreate -badly- for buzz London restaurant companies looking for the edge in the world of restaurant fashion). Everything from the signage, to the fonts on the awnings and sugar packets is so on point that it really is an extremely entertaining place to sit and have a drink/something sweet. It has a creamy marble/mid century concrete look, with mirrors everywhere, tables laid up with actual table clothes (and glass tops); windows lined with rows of classic cakes, and Romanesque columns each side of the door as you walk in. Even if I’m sure essential refurbs will come along in the future, I hope that from a design perspective nothing about this place ever changes.

It’s slightly out of the way on the edge of Mazzini (the newer bit of the center) and the SS16 (a big road). I stopped by here for a classic Leccese breakfast of a pasticciotto and coffee, which was absolutely lovely. It has a rock solid selection of Leccese sweets and ice creams and if you’re nearby its defo a good spot to pop into for a quick coffee/something sweet.