Pastry-cooks from Sent in the Grisons, the Swiss owners painted their national flag on the shutters and the café became a neutral zone during the Second World War, saving many lives. With 15 windows under the arcades, it is the largest café in Liguria. The elegant Liberty-style rooms with stuccoes, parquets, mirrors and “Chiavarine” chairs have delighted Rita Hayworth, Alberto Sordi, Totò, Gino Paoli and Italian presidents Segni and Pertini. Setting the pace of the town’s cultural and social life, right from the outset it was a literary café on a par with the greatest in Italy. The “Sorrisi di Chiavari” are a delight.
