Caffe Bellagio

One of my favorite places in Santa Monica! The sandwiches are big and delicious. The prices are reasonable and they have vegetarian choices as well. The staff is friendly and helpful. Always happy to come back! Highly recommended!

This is my favorite place to eat this beautiful Italian ice cream. My favorite flavors are giandua and raspberry also other ones are great :)

This little place makes having to suffer at the Genius Bar worth it–
the food is wonderful — reasonable –the Gelato is beyond great
and Clarita is the best– this is the best thing on the rather disgusting filthy loaded with miserable tourists black eye on our city the Promenade is– Café Bellagio and Clarita are the best

Couldn’t find a flavor that I loved but I felt it was good quality if that makes any sense. Maybe I didn’t try enough

After walking around the promenade and beach, I was starving and wanted a quick bite. The seating was cute so I decided to order a porcetta panini. It took a while for my order to get to me but worse, the sandwich came to me cold. They also forgot the cheese and the bread was slapped on lopsidedly. The sauce tasted good but overall I was really disappointed. Definitely not worth the money for something that was so lazily and haphazardly out together.

Review number 100! I’ve walked by this café many times, and I’ve always wondered how good it was. I work at Vapor Delight in Santa Monica so I know about good products. I am very surprised to find that it is amazing. As an Italian, I am proud to taste its wonderful sandwiches and paninis. The gelato is just the right temperature and consistency! Bravo to Bellagio!

Always busy, no place to sit, the food is okay, tuna sandwich is to die for, coffee is good depending on who is making it. But he gelato is to die for!!! Anytime I see it my mouth starts to water … Mmmmmmmmmmmm gelato … Mint cookie is the best guys!

Cute little shoppe in the center of the promenade strip. I ordered the chocolate gelato in a waffle cone… yummmm… Nice outdoor seating to people watch and socialize with friends.

Gelatoooooo!
Caffe Bellagio is literally just outside the theatre where I was on a course for a week in Santa M this May so during the obligatory 15min coffee break at 3pm, as well as going outside to catch some rays and Vit D, it became a habit of ours to get some delicious ice cream and quickly hoover it up before a) it melted b) we got called back inside
Now, I think it’s a little expensive but… this is the 3^rd Street Promenade so it is to be expected. I think even just 50c less would make it a little more palatable but as it stands we ended up coming here a few times anyway so I shan’t complain further!
Try the mango flavour — mmmm.

2015 Unilocal 100 CHALLENGE — ⁰⁸³⁄₁₀₀
Stopped by while walking 3^rd Street Promenade and the ice cream looked delicious. Line was sort of long but the ice cream was worth it. However, prices are ridiculous. We got two single scoop waffle cones for $ 14.00.

I had the Tacchino «Takino» (sliced turkey breast sandwich), and it was tasty. $ 7.95.

(I had to edit my review after reading other ones on here which are ridiculous. THIS ISNT A SIT DOWN FANCY PLACE. The kitchen is 5ft big and it’s a quick stop. Stop being so picky.)
For They’re prices are so reasonable for what you get. The paninis are really good, and so is their gelato (which is way cheaper than the place located in the mall). I had a breakfast panini which was a tad greasy, but so freakin warm and delicious. I suggest you stop by if you want something fast and convenient.

My friend and I split the Tacchino sandwich as a snack, along with can of Italian soda. The place is situated between the middle of 3^rd and Santa monica. It’s an outdoor café that’s quite nice to sit down casually and eat while enjoying the scenery of people walking by and stores trying to make that dollar.
Even though I only had half a sandwich, the Tacchino was really filling. It had a nice creamy tuna and caper sauce coated over the turkey ham, tomato, and lettuce. The sauce’ richness compliment the bread and the caper wasn’t overpowering.
Would come back again to try their Lox.

I was starving for a quick bite to eat while running errands on the Promenade and chose Bellagio for its convenience. It’s a small panini and gelato shop located on a center island and is designed for a fast mobile meal.
I wasn’t expecting much but my porchetta sandwich was surprisingly flavorful and and I demolished it within minutes. Unfortunately, my friend didn’t seem to get her money’s worth with the Greek salad– the lettuce to everything-​else ratio was really disproportionate.
Prices are higher than what I would want from a quick sandwich joint, but my meal was filling and convenient, which is all I was really looking for. I would go back to try the croissant gelato sandwich– sounds delicious!

3^rd street promenade… center island location… weekdays or weekends, always busy… popular destination for tourists or la locals… street performers to each side… pier carnival off to the beach… simple counter inside… placing orders…$ 1.60 iced coffee… $ 4.95 croissant gelato… strong drinks… crusty croissant gelato sandwich… think best deal on the menu… seated inside or outdoor street seating… short rest from walk to come…

I LOVE Café Bellagio. It’s a favorite spot of mine and a good portion of my paychecks go to meals and snacks here.
They are an authentic Italian café, which is evident in their menu and many employees straight from Italy. By the way, Alessio is a super sweet incredibly good-​looking man, Italian accent and all, which just adds to making this a great experience for us single ladies. (Still deciding how to slip him my number without being awkward haha)
ANYWAY, the food… They serve breakfast ALL DAY. And their breakfasts are pretty darn tasty. They also have delicious sandwiches, including my fave, The Caprese with Prosciutto added. But their greatest offers are desserts and beverages. They serve many flavors of gelato, but their best desert is the Piadina Nutella, this amazing slice of heaven. It’s Piadina bread grilled like a panini with Nutella and powdered sugar. Yum! And only $ 4.50. They are also home to the scrumptious Nutella Latte, which is served hot or blended.
They have covered seating that will keep you out of the sun, but will not protect from the cold. They also have uncovered seating. Either way, it’s a true sidewalk café experience right on 3^rd Street, with all the people watching you could ever hope for :)

I’ve only been here for the coffee and gelato, so I can’t speak for the food. I like breaking away from the usual coffee chains and seeing what a good brew tastes like every so often, making this my destination for something different. The coffee is solid; they have real macchiatos and espresso that doesn’t taste watered down. I’m sold on the beverages because I love people watching and sipping on a hot drink. That’s what you should come here for.
Their gelato is hit-​or-​miss. I’ve seen it get so melted that it looks unappetizing and, in general, cross-​contaminated and gross. Their baked goods always seem to be stale, which is a shame because I’m a huge fan of muffins and berry desserts; these seem to sell out quick, despite being mediocre at best. The food looks decent, but nothing to write home about; it seems like a big selling point is that it’s a reasonable price, which is a shame since the promenade offers such great cuisine options with more bang for your buck. Either way, haven’t had the food so I can’t judge whether it’s good or not. One day.
A major issue is the service. They make your order one at a time, so the line backs up really quickly if someone wants a hot drink AND a gelato. If you see more than 5 people waiting and you’re in a hurry, keep walking. Work out your kinks and I’ll be more than happy to grab my morning coffee here.

Caffe Bellagio is in the heart of Santa Monica Promenade with white tables that spill out into the thoroughfare. It’s a perfect spot to people watch.
Bf and I stopped here for bagel and lox and a Greek salad for $ 13+. The salad was fresh with ample serving of feta. Bagel and lox was tasty.

OOOO SO SMOOOOTH AND SILKY!!!
Background
After a very satisfying lunch at Seasalt Fish Grill friend and I decided to check out this gelato hut located on the Promenade at Santa Monica Blvd and 3^rd. Busy little place, if it had a front door, the line would be out the door. Serving up Breakfast all day, salads, Panini’s, pizza, and dessert, coffee, and other beverages, we just came for the gelato.
Stats
Gelato comes in single, double, and trouble (no, not a typo, straight from their menu)
Our Experience
While my friend hovered over a small café table of people, I stood in line to order gelato for the both of us. Gelato flavors are not posted anywhere but in the cold case, which seems a bit inefficient since customers can’t really see or make a decision until they are front and center. I ducked and weaved my head around the people in front of me to get some idea of what I wanted so those behind me would hold up the people behind me longer than need be. Fortunately this is not a quite place; otherwise yelling out the flavors to my friend seated at the acquired table would have been a bit unbecoming.
Yay! My turn to order. Two double scoops, one of Sea Salt Caramel with Blood Orange for me and Hazelnut with Almond Praline for friend. Although not the best we have ever had, we both ate every scoop our gelatos much. The blood orange was a little weak in flavor compared to others I have had and the almond flavor in the Almond Praline was weak as well. But the texture was nice and smooth as it should be.
Perhaps the location is not optimal for this establishment, it seems a bit inefficient, and not being able to see the flavors until you’re up at the glass holds up the line, but once your order is place, the wait time to wrap your hands around your scoops of gelato is short. The cramped quarters make it difficult to really enjoy the experience, with very little personal space between you and the people around you, so if you can, I suggest you get it and go.
If ever in the area again and craving gelato, depending on the how long line is, I may venture in again.

Worst panini a I’ve ever had in my life. And I’ve made pretty bad ones at home lol… But even thinking about the ones I had (a bite of the ham and turkey) makes me feel uneasy. Not grilled enough, bread was soft, insides were mushy soft and warm. Everything was just one texture and mushy… Never come here ever again.