SALONE MARGHERITA
SALONE MARGHERITA
Naples, since 1890 The Temple of Café Chantant · A Unique Experience Combining History, Art, and Flavors
Founded in 1890 by the Marino brothers in the heart of Naples, Salone Margherita is the oldest and
most legendary café chantant in Italy. Located in the Galleria Umberto I, the salon was born at a time
when Naples was the undisputed capital of Italian popular entertainment, a hotbed of talent,
songs, and unparalleled creativity. The greatest artists of the time, such as Raffaele Viviani and Totò, performed within its gilded walls.
The venue is richly decorated with stucco, polychrome marble, and Pompeian-style frescoed corridors, maintaining an Art Nouveau atmosphere.
Guided tour (upon request):
We invite you to discover the Salone Margherita through an exclusive guided tour,
designed to bring back to life the magical atmosphere of the café chantant in its most authentic form.
Our guides will accompany visitors on a journey of discovery through the extraordinary architecture of the
Salone, one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau interiors in Italy: the gilded friezes, the elegant boxes, the period chandeliers,
every detail tells a story of Belle Époque Naples.
Along the way, the walls speak: original photographs from the period, posters and placards from yesteryear,
historic playbills, autographed letters from great artists, and newspaper clippings from the period. A living, authentic archive
that bears witness to the grandeur of this place.
The Show
The heart of the experience is the encounter with the original numbers of the café chantant, reinterpreted by
talented artists:
· La Canzonettista — the seductive voice that enchanted audiences at the end of the 19th century
· La Macchietta — the comic and satirical portrait of Neapolitan society
· Il Numero Circense — acrobatics, juggling, and pure wonder
· La Mossa — the most transgressive and irresistible act of the café chantant
The journey ends with a tasting of the delicacies of Campania cuisine, paired with
the best wines of the region: a finale that engages all the senses and seals an unforgettable experience.
