Pani's Café - Newcastle upon Tyne

The mother of all Italian coffee bars in Newcastle city centre (just round the corner from the Opera House), Pani's is the kind of place where the waiters converse in Italian and the espresso is like taking a undiluted shot of Neapolitan energy. Six brothers and sisters run the show and – once through the door – you are part of the family.

During the day, Pani's zooms like an express train, serving up high-speed ciabatte, schiacciata, foccace with all manner of toppings – as well as a good haul of salads and authentic pasta: look for 'malloredus' (colourful Sardinian pasta twists topped with Italian sausage, chilli, tomatoes and shaved Pecorino.

The vast evening menu kicks off with all kinds of hot and cold appetisers, from sacchetti (filo pastries filled with spinach and Mozzarella) to mixed antipasti. Next, check out the specialities, which might range from char-grilled tuna on a bed of black tagliolini with an exotic lemon grass and butter sauce or an earthy casserole of Italian sausage, potatoes, peppers and borlotti beans. Perennial favourites like tiramisù, pannacotta and cassata round it all off in flag-waving style.