Paradiso Dolce Salato in York Press coffee shop top ten

Paradiso Dolce Salato in Walmgate is shortlisted in the top ten coffee shops in York as voted by readers of The Press, in a competition honouring the best businesses in the city.

Readers are able to vote for the Best Coffee Shop 2024 by picking up a copy of The Press newspaper until Saturday December 7 and sending in a voting slip.

Elisa Peterle, owner of Paradiso Dolce Salato (Image: Kevin Glenton) The winner is set to be announced in the week commencing December 16.

The café on Walmgate is sister to Sardinian restaurant Il Paradiso del Cibo on the same street.

Paradiso Dolce Salato owner and Sardinian native Elisa Peterle said the business has been open for just over 24 months.

Elisa said: “I try to do traditional Italian foods and drink, and also amendments to the English part of some of our offer, adding or removing flavours, or even just to try and amend the name.

“Our tea comes from Harrogate, the cured meats and cheeses are imported from Italy, we choose Caffè Borbone as our coffee brand, and as a licensed premises, we offer aperitifs such as Campari.”

Team members Cande and Miriana (Image: Kevin Glenton) Adding to the Italian touch behind the counter, Elisa said members of the Italian community in York come to Paradiso Dolce Salato to socialise.

She said: “One of these customers told me last week that they’d voted for the café as their favourite via your website.

“It’s very friendly here, there are many people who come by three or four times a week and have a chat with everyone else.

“Some don’t want me to change anything and enjoy seeing familiar faces every day, and then some like to see new products and I let them try them first to get their feedback.

“That is the nicest part of running a coffee shop in York, seeing those familiar faces.

Locals who are also members of York's Italian community joined Elisa, Miriana and Cande in the café when The Press visited (Image: Kevin Glenton) Staff and loyal customers alike are treated like family at Paradiso Dolce Salato, Elisa said, adding that she herself has made additions to the menu.

Elisa said: “The Focaccia is really good, it’s handmade although I didn’t have much knowledge about how to raise the bread at first, I’m really proud of it.

The owner of Paradiso Dolce Salato said the most popular drinks served in the coffee shop are their Americanos and Hot Chocolates, then the Espresso, which Elisa said is the favoured drink of her compatriots who come by each and every day.