The bar is the heart of Italian daily life, fast, friendly, and built on ritual.
In this module you learn to order coffee, pastries, and drinks, pay at the till, and get the small things right that locals notice. No grammar. Just the Italian you’ll use on your first morning in Italy.
You will learn how Italian menus are structured, how to book a table by phone, how to order confidently, how to handle dietary needs, and how to read your bill without surprises. You will also pick up the cultural knowledge that separates a tourist from someone who actually knows how things work — the coperto, the contorno, the vino della casa, the apericena, and why the doggy bag does not exist.
Most travellers today don’t just book hotels. This module covers both: checking in at a hotel and dealing with a host when you’ve rented an apartment. The language overlaps more than you’d think — and the key phrases that get things sorted are the same either way.
You’ll learn how to check in, ask about WiFi and breakfast, report a problem, and leave on time. You’ll also pick up two essential grammar structures: c’è / ci sono for describing what’s there (or isn’t), and the past tense for when something has gone wrong.
Italy has one of the best rail networks in Europe. Trains are fast, frequent, and — once you know the system — surprisingly easy to navigate. Buses and metros vary by city. Taxis are straightforward if you know what to say.
This module gives you the language for all three. You’ll learn how to buy a ticket, ask about platforms and times, get on the right bus, and tell a taxi driver where you’re going. No guesswork, no pointing at screens.
By the end you’ll be able to move around an Italian city — and between cities — without needing anyone to rescue you.
Full — listen to the whole dialogue once. Don’t read the script yet.
2
Minus 1 Cliente — the barista speaks, you take the customer’s lines out loud in the pauses.
3
Slow — still not catching everything? Slow gives you more time between lines.
Ready
Script
Barista
Buongiorno, cosa desidera?Good morning, what would you like?
Cliente
Un cappuccino e un cornetto, per favore.A cappuccino and a croissant, please.
Barista
Certamente. Il cornetto lo vuole con crema, marmellata o vuoto?Of course. Would you like the croissant with cream, jam, or plain?
Cliente
Con la marmellata, grazie.With jam, please.
Barista
Lo consuma al bancone o al tavolo?Will you have it at the counter or at a table?
Cliente
Al tavolo, per favore.At a table, please.
Barista
Perfetto. Sono tre euro.Perfect. That’s three euros.
Cliente
Ecco a lei.Here you go.
Barista
Grazie. Si accomodi, arrivo subito.Thank you. Please sit down, I’ll be right over.
How to know you’re ready
When you can do Minus 1 Cliente without looking at the English translations, you’re ready for a real Italian bar. Most people need two or three passes. That’s normal.