Among the glut of cafes on this end of Victoria Street Bar Coluzzi is the oldest and the busiest, although that might be because 10 punters sitting inside means the place is packed. Fortunately there is a scattering of tables on the pavement, and once full, Bar Coluzzi is pretty much interchangeable with the equally tiny Latteria Cafe next door.
The history of Bar Coluzzi is one of the pride and joys of Darlinghurst (although it originally opened on the other end of William Street). It’s unequivocally old-school, in the best possible way, from the chunky retro font to the little rectangular wooden stools and the red, green and white classico Italia paint job. And the Coluzzis themselves? The founder, Roman-born Luigi Coluzzi was one of the middleweight boxing greats of the ’50s. He arrived in Sydney not only with fists of fury, but with a passion for fresh coffee, something alien to the average International Roast-sipping Aussie in those days. Luigi was instrumental in the rise of the cafe scene in Sydney, and although it’s now the second generation of Coluzzis genially waiting the tables, the espresso is still fantastic, and the walls are still crammed with ring-side photos and boxing memorabilia. So, pull up a chair, order an open-grill sambo, or a ham ‘n’ pineapple pizza, and bite into a bit of Sydney history.
