THE KLAINGUTI PASTRY SHOP

A true gem in the heart of Genoa’s historic center, in the square formed by Piazza Soziglia and Piazza Campetto, the historic pastry shop first opened its doors almost by chance in 1828, founded by the four Klainguti brothers, Swiss pastry chefs from Pontresina, who had arrived in Genoa intending to embark for America in search of fortune. For some reason, the journey was postponed, and the brothers began practicing the art of pastry-making in this shop. Today, managed by the Ubaldi family, it takes us back in time to the magical years of the first urban and architectural transformations of the Nineteenth Century.

Back then, the Klainguti Pastry Shop was also a true cultural salon for the city’s high society. Not by chance, the shop was frequented by Maestro Giuseppe Verdi, for whom the Klainguti brothers created a special brioche: the Falstaff. A curious but true anecdote recounts that Verdi, after tasting the brioche, expressed his thanks with a note still framed above the pastry counter: «Dear Klainguti, thank you for the Falstaff. Delicious…much better than mine!»

The entrance, shop windows, and Gothic-style sign have been partially updated, and the interiors have also been renovated over the years, but always in period style. The Klainguti brothers left us a legacy of specialties that survive today: from the Engadine cake to the Zena cake, alongside delicate pastries, fruit jellies, quaresimali biscuits, and many other delights. In addition to the ritual of the aperitivo, you can also have lunch in the upstairs rooms or at the outdoor tables, set amidst the colorful bustle of the narrow alleys. Today, the establishment is adorned with ivory, green, and gold paneling, within which decorative panels by Attilio Mangini were installed in 1988. Mangini, a sensitive artist with a studio just a few steps from the café, depicted glimpses of the city. Mirrors, stuccoes, and rococo-style chandeliers complete the décor, giving the space the atmosphere of the Belle Époque.