Italian bars are not bars in the American sense: they’re not for cocktails (unless you’re having aperitivo, of course), and ordering a martini at 10 a.m. will earn you a look usually reserved for people who cut in line at the bakery. Italian bars are more like the fast-beating heart of daily life, where espresso is fuel, the barista knows your name, and every phrase carries a secret code only locals fully understand. Let’s explore some of them together!
Scontrino prima, per favore!
Translation: “Receipt first, please”
Meaning: you have just tried to order your coffee without first paying at the register. What a rookie mistake! Many Italian bars, especially in busy city centers, operate on a strict “pay first, drink later” model: you head to the cashier, tell them what you want, they give you a receipt (scontrino), and only then are you allowed to present yourself at the bar and wave that little piece of paper like a golden ticket.
