Artigiano Espresso, Reading

The letter A in a circle, mounted on a exposed brick wall. The circle is wrapped in fairy lights.Artigiano is a chain that seems to be slowly colonising the west and southwest, anywhere, in fact, served by the old Great Western Railway out of Paddington. Starting with the original at St Paul’s in London (admittedly not served by any railway out of Paddington), there are now three more branches: Exeter, Cardiff and now this one in Reading, occupying a prime spot on Broad Street, right in the heart of the town.

Of all the Artigianos, this might be the most elegant, which is saying something since Artigiano prides itself on the elegance of its branches. It’s also the only one (so far) with an upstairs (although the now-defunct New Oxford Street branch in London and the equally defunct Queen Street branch in Cardiff both had a mezzanine levels) where the elegance is really taken to a new level with its sumptuous sofas and lounge area at the back.

Artigiano offers the same tried-and-trusted formula: speciality coffee by day (a bespoke house-blend and a seasonal single-origin on espresso) with craft beer and wine by night, Artigiano staying open late into the evening. A limited food offering is available throughout the day, backed up by a small range of cake.

November 2018: Artigiano Reading has now become Broad Street Bar and Kitchen. Thanks to Keith for the heads up.

November 2019: Broad Street Bar and Kitchen has now closed.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

  • Artigiano, on Reading's aptly-named Broad Street, complete with outside seating.
  • An uncluttered view of the front.
  • Stepping inside, this is a panoramic view from just inside the door.
  • There are plenty of seating options at the front, including this table to the right...
  • ... and these square tables in the windows to the right of the door.
  • There are more tables to the left, between windows and stairs, plus these lovely armchairs.
  • The coffee counter is on the right-hand side, with more seating beyond it.
  • A view down the length of Artigiano, where there are a few tables in the middle of the room.
  • There's also a row of tables against this bench on the right-hand wall...
  • ... with more tables at the back, up against the far wall.
  • A view from the back.
  • This wine rack provide an effective central divide, with the counter on the other (left) side.
  • However, that's not all. Just before the counter on the left, stairs lead enticingly up.
  • They turn left, towards the front of the store...
  • ... and then, at the top, left again, where you have this seating area.
  • It was pretty full up there, making it hard to photograph! The mirrors are opposite the stairs.
  • Upstairs is just as big as downstairs and there is a lot more seating at the back.
  • These large, comfy, yellow(!) sofas are on the left. There are two pairs of them...
  • ... while on the right, there are two of these large, curved sofas.
  • There are more seats right at the back: these two pairs of armchairs, for example...
  • ... and tucked away behind the sofas, another pair of even plusher armchairs.
  • Another view of the curved sofas as seen from the back.
  • Right, let's go down to order...
  • ... pausing only to admire the lights on the stairs.
  • Which reminds me, the Reading branch has got some lovely pipework and lighting upstairs.
  • This is towards the back, on the left-hand wall by the sofas.
  • Meanwhile, there's this lovely decoration on the back wall...
  • I love the combination of exposed brick and lighting.
  • More lights, this time from upstairs again.
  • The obligatory bare bulb shot.
  • Anyway, to business. The coffee counter, with twin espresso machines, is on the right...
  • ... but you order over here, in true Artigiano fashion, at the main counter on the left.
  • You'll also find the very tempting selection of cakes over here...
  • ... along with the soft drinks and bottled beers. And salads.
  • Artigiano, particularly in the evenings, is as much wine bar as it is coffee bar.
  • More of the wine selection.
  • Back over at the coffee counter...
  • ... and you'll find details of the seasonal house espresso blend...
  • ... and the single-origin guest espresso, both roasted by Origin.
  • The business end of the twin La Marzocco Stradas.
  • My piccolo, made with the house-blend...
  • ... and a slice of the poached pear and ginger cake from Cakesmiths.
  • And finally, for dinner, what might be the world's longest pizza!
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Artigiano is on the appropriately-named Broad Street, with its own outside seating area in the middle of the pedestrianised street. There aren’t many tables out there, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of seating inside. Artigiano occupies a wide, two-storey building, the entire downstairs frontage occupied by multi-paned glass windows which flank the central, recessed, glass double doors. These can by pulled back, concertina-style, in good weather, connecting the interior with the pavement outside. Upstairs, the bare-brick façade is punctuated by three tall, narrow windows.

In keeping with all the Artigianos, there are two counters, a main food and drink counter, where you order, and a separate coffee counter, with its twin La Marzocco Strada espresso machines. In Reading, as in Exeter and Cardiff, these are on opposite sides, main counter to the left, coffee to the right. These also split the downstairs into two. At the front, there’s seating in the windows, with the seating to the left in particular being cosy, tucked in between windows and stairs. The right is more open, a communal table with attached seating squeezing in between the counter and a pair of tables in the windows. Opposite this, tucked in beneath the stairs, are a pair of armchairs, while there are some tables lining the middle of the room.

On the left, beyond the stairs, the counter takes up the rest of the space, but on the right, beyond the coffee counter, there’s lots more seating, with a row of tables down the middle and a long, padded bench with tables down the right-hand side. In keeping with the other Artigianos, the décor is elegant, with a tiled floor and plenty of exposed brick. The only natural light is at the front, so at the back, multiple light-fittings predominate.

Upstairs the pattern is repeated. There’s a large, open seating area at the front, with tables lining the windows. There are also tables in the middle of the room and, against the right-hand wall (opposite the stairs), there’s another padded bench, although this one’s at the front. The toilets occupy the equivalent space to the main counter downstairs, while the back part, just like its counterpart  downstairs, has more seating, although here Artigiano morphs into more of a wine bar than coffee bar, with sumptuous yellow sofas, straight ones in two pairs to the left, two large, round ones to the right. The seating is completed by three pairs of armchairs right at the back. It’s the sort of place you could lose yourself in for an afternoon without even trying.

Just for a change, I had a piccolo rather than my usual flat white. Artigiano’s seasonal blend, roasted by Cornwall powerhouse Origin, went perfectly in this, the coffee being very smooth and well-balanced and not overpowering the milk. I paired this with a slice of a poached pear and ginger tray bake from Bristol’s Cakesmiths. This was really lovely, awesomely gingery, and not too sweet.

In the evenings, Artigiano serves pizza, backed up with sharing plates of various nibbles. I was impressed and so stayed for dinner, ordering the roasted vegetable pizza. Unusually the pizzas are long and thin rather than round. Mine might have been the longest pizza I have ever seen! This, however, did not affect the taste, which was excellent.

81 BROAD STREET • READING • RG1 2AP
www.artigiano.uk.com +44 (0) 1189 500 703
Monday 07:00 – 21:00 Roaster Origin (espresso only)
Tuesday 07:00 – 21:00 Seating Tables, Sofas, Comfy Chairs, Tables (outside)
Wednesday 07:00 – 23:00 Food Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Thursday 07:00 – 23:30 Service Order at Counter
Friday 07:00 – 23:30 Cards Amex, Mastercard, Visa
Saturday 07:00 – 23:30 Wifi Free (with code)
Sunday 10:00 – 19:00 Power Yes
Chain Regional Visits 7th March 2016

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10 thoughts on “Artigiano Espresso, Reading

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  6. I had a cappuccino last year, coffee sourced from Origin, the barista ex-WorkHouse, the cappuccino excellent.

    It was though a chain. and what I suspected at the time, a chain to to expanded and hyped, to then be sold has become a reality. Artigiano has been sold and is no more. Now Broad Street Bar and Kitchen. Coffee sourced from Assembly.

    The street frontage has changed and internal changes, these not for the better and difficult to see why,.

    The coffee area changed, The worst aspect of the change, large widescreen TV on the rear wall.

    It screams corporate. I only saw one member of staff, who was running between the two bars.

    I do not know where Kitchen comes from as same poor choice of food as last year and nothing freshly prepared.

    Downstairs and on the first floor, dirty coffee cups piled on tables.

    The excuse last year, we cannot get the staff. Or in reality do not pay the staff?

    I did not stay and have a coffee.

    • Artigiano has always run a franchise model, so it may be that the Reading branch has changed hands. The original in London and the one in Exeter are still going. Thanks for the heads up about the change of ownership.

      Brian.

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