Cornetto or Brioche? How Not to Go Hungry at the Italian Bar

Cornetto or Brioche? How Not to Go Hungry at the Italian Bar

Picture this: you walk into a bustling Italian bar first thing in the morning.
The espresso machine is hissing, the air smells of freshly ground coffee, and behind the glass counter, rows of golden, crescent-shaped pastries are calling your name.
You smile, step up to the counter, and confidently ask for a cornetto.

The barista blinks. “A cornetto?” he repeats.

Welcome to Northern Italy — where your beloved cornetto has a completely different name.

North vs. Middle–South: The Great Breakfast Divide

In Northern Italy, if you want that classic crescent-shaped pastry, you’ll need to ask for a brioche.
Yes, technically that’s the wrong word — a brioche in baking terms is something else entirely — but up here, brioche is what locals say, and that’s what the barista expects to hear.

Travel down to Central or Southern Italy, and it’s a different story.
There, the correct word is cornetto, and ordering a brioche might get you something round and fluffy instead — like the famous Sicilian brioscia col tuppo, often paired with granita.

Same Pastry, Different Names

Whether you call it brioche or cornetto, the pastry you’ll get in most Italian bars is more or less the same: soft, slightly sweet, with a delicate buttery aroma, often filled with custard, jam, or chocolate.
The difference is mostly linguistic — but if you use the “wrong” word for the region you’re in, you risk a moment of confusion.

The Cheat Sheet

• In the North → Ask for a brioche

• In the Middle–South → Ask for a cornetto

Remember this, and your Italian breakfast will be smooth sailing — or rather, smooth munching.

Travel tip: Even if you get the name “wrong”, Italians will usually work out what you mean.
But knowing the local lingo will make you sound a little more like you belong… and that’s half the fun of travelling.