Highlights
The secret of the Mulassano
Few people know that the original mirrors of Caffè Mulassano, installed during the fitting-out works of 1907, were imported directly from France and are considered among the most prized pieces of furnishing preserved in the historic public venues of Turin.
Their particular craftsmanship, with bevelling and floral engravings, was a speciality of the Alsatian manufactures of the era and would today be practically impossible to replicate.
The story of a legendary venue
The history of Caffè Mulassano officially begins in 1907, when Tommaso Mulassano and his wife Ernestina, called Erna, decide to open a venue worthy of the grandeur of Piazza Castello, the square that for centuries has formed the symbolic and political centre of Turin.
The interiors are entrusted to architect Riccardo Panelli and decorator Enrico Guelfi, who create an absolute masterpiece of Italian Liberty style, with references to French Art Nouveau and the splendours of the Viennese Secession.
The Liberty interiors: a museum you can live in
Entering Caffè Mulassano is an aesthetic experience of rare intensity. The interiors, preserved in their original 1907 form, constitute an extraordinary example of art applied to daily life.
The venue is entirely panelled in finely carved walnut wood, complemented by mirrors with elaborate frames and floral decorations recalling the typical motifs of Liberty style.
The polychrome marble floor traces geometric patterns of great elegance, while the vaulted ceiling helps create an almost theatrical acoustic.
The tramezzino: a gastronomic legend born here
Among all the firsts that Caffè Mulassano can boast of, the most famous and tastiest is undoubtedly the one tied to the invention of the tramezzino.
According to the unanimously accepted tradition, it was Ernestina Mulassano herself who came up with this snack in the 1920s, a creation that would revolutionise the eating habits of Italians.
The Caffè Mulassano is universally recognised as the place where, in the 1920s, the tramezzino was invented, that triangle of soft filled bread that conquered first Turin and then all of Italy. Today, more than a century after its founding, the Mulassano remains an essential reference for Torinesi and travellers seeking authenticity, quality and beauty.
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The history of a legendary venue
The story of Caffè Mulassano officially begins in 1907, when Tommaso Mulassano and his wife Ernestina, known as Erna, decide to open a venue worthy of the grandeur of Piazza Castello, the symbolic and political centre of Turin for centuries. The interiors are entrusted to architect Riccardo Panelli and decorator Enrico Guelfi, who create an absolute masterpiece of Italian Liberty style, with echoes of French Art Nouveau and the Viennese Secession.
From its earliest years, the Mulassano becomes the favourite gathering place of the Turin bourgeoisie, artists, intellectuals and patrons of the nearby Teatro Regio. Its privileged position under the arcades of Piazza Castello makes it an obligatory stop for anyone wanting to see and be seen in early-20th-century Turin. Throughout the century, the venue hosted illustrious figures of Italian and international culture, politics and entertainment.
The venue has remained substantially unchanged in its original structure, becoming a heritage asset protected by the Soprintendenza ai Beni Culturali, a recognition that certifies the exceptional historical and artistic value of this space.
Liberty interiors: a museum you can live in
Stepping into Caffè Mulassano is an aesthetic experience of rare intensity. The interiors, preserved in their original 1907 form, constitute an extraordinary example of art applied to everyday life. The venue is entirely lined with finely carved walnut panels, complemented by mirrors with elaborate frames and floral decorations recalling typical Liberty motifs. The polychrome marble floor traces geometric patterns of great elegance, while the vaulted ceiling helps create an almost theatrical acoustic.
The original mahogany and brass counter is the centrepiece of the furnishings: long and sinuous, with shelves loaded with prized bottles and coffee machines gleaming under soft lights, it represents the beating heart of the venue. The seats, the shelves, every furnishing element has been thought out to create a harmonious and coherent whole, capable of conveying to the visitor an immediate sensation of discreet luxury and beauty without ostentation.
The Mulassano's atmosphere is that of a private drawing room open to all: intimate, elegant, enveloping. The venue's contained dimensions favour intimate, almost confidential sociability, pleasantly contrasting with the bustle of the great square outside.
The tramezzino: a culinary legend born here
Among all the firsts the Caffè Mulassano can claim, the most famous and most flavourful is undoubtedly the invention of the tramezzino. According to the unanimously accepted tradition, it was Ernestina Mulassano herself who, in the 1920s, devised this snack that would revolutionise Italians' eating habits. Mrs Erna needed to offer her customers a quick, elegant and tasty bite as an alternative to traditional bread rolls: thus was born the tramezzino, two slices of soft white crustless bread, cut into a triangle and filled with fresh, flavourful ingredients.
The very name, tramezzino, is owed to the poet and linguist Gabriele D'Annunzio, who in those very years was waging his personal crusade for the Italianisation of foreign words: he replaced the English word sandwich with this purely Italian word, evocative of something in between, something that bridges. From Turin, the tramezzino quickly spread throughout Italy. Today the Mulassano prepares dozens of varieties, all rigorously artisan and made with high-quality ingredients.
Beyond tramezzini, Caffè Mulassano excels in coffee preparation and in its hot chocolate and praline offerings, in full Turin tradition. From gianduiotti to cremini, from classic cup chocolate to a selection of digestifs and vermouths, every menu item is designed to offer the best of the Piedmontese gastronomic tradition in a setting of absolute elegance.
The Mulassano's secret
Few people know that the original mirrors at Caffè Mulassano, installed during the 1907 fit-out, were imported directly from France and are considered among the most prized furnishing pieces preserved in Turin's historic establishments. Their particular workmanship, with bevelling and floral engravings, was a speciality of Alsatian manufactures of the time and would today be practically impossible to replicate. Every time you look into those surfaces gently softened by time, you share a glance with all the illustrious Torinesi who have frequented this extraordinary venue over more than a hundred years.