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.
In Italy, un caffè means espresso. Nobody says “espresso” — you just ask for un caffè and everyone understands. But there are variations worth knowing before your first visit to the counter.
Espresso
Small, strong, drunk standing up in two minutes. The Italian default.
Macchiato caldo
Espresso with a splash of hot foamed milk.
Macchiato freddo
Espresso with a drop of cold milk.
Caffè corretto
Espresso with grappa or sambuca. A brave breakfast choice.
Americano
Espresso diluted with hot water. Not the same as filter coffee.
Caffè lungo
More water through the espresso. Weaker, but not an americano.
Caffè d’orzo
Made with roasted barley. No caffeine.
Cappuccino
Espresso with steamed milk and foam. Morning only — see below.
Culture note
After 11am, no Italian orders a cappuccino. The barista will make it for you if you ask — but something inside them dies a little. You have been warned.