How much does it cost to open a restaurant, pizzeria, bar or café?
The opening cost is built line by line, from quotes. For franchising, the benchmark is €124,000 for about 145 square meters (Assofranchising 2026, the Italian franchising association). In this guide's example, a 120-square-meter restaurant costs €200,000, cash reserve included. A 60-square-meter bar costs about €122,000.
In brief
- The cash reserve for the first months is part of the investment.
- Payback time = investment ÷ annual margin.
- With revenue down 15%, payback goes from less than 3 years to almost 14.
The cost items
| ACRA calculation (example, 120 sq m) | Euro |
|---|---|
| Construction and systems | 60,000 |
| Kitchen and equipment | 45,000 |
| Furniture and sign | 25,000 |
| Security deposit (3 months' rent) | 12,000 |
| Design, permits, utility connections | 8,000 |
| Opening stock, pre-opening staff, launch | 20,000 |
| Cash reserve | 30,000 |
| Total | 200,000 |
Example values. Franchising: Assofranchising Report 2026 (in Italian).
Pizzeria, pizza by the slice, gelateria
- Pizzeria: oven, flue, dough proofing chambers.
- Pizza by the slice: more counter and hot display cases, less dining room.
- Gelateria: batch freezer, blast chiller, display case; plus a larger reserve for the cold months.
Bar and café
A small or medium bar in Italy usually needs between €70,000 and €130,000. A small neighborhood bar, in a town where licenses are not capped, starts at €50,000–60,000. In historic centers and tourist areas it goes above €150,000. These are the estimates reported by Money.it in January 2026.
| ACRA example: 60 sq m bar | Euro |
|---|---|
| Construction | 25,000 |
| Furniture and counter | 25,000 |
| Equipment: espresso machine, grinders, fridges, dishwasher, till | 35,000 |
| Permits and training | 3,000 |
| Opening stock | 5,000 |
| Security deposit (3 months' rent) | 6,000 |
| Launch | 3,000 |
| Cash reserve | 20,000 |
| Total | 122,000 |
Where licenses are capped, buying one can add from €8,000 to over €70,000. A small café without a kitchen costs less: the counter, espresso machine and display cases weigh the most.
The risk is high: in 2025, 3,950 bars opened in Italy and 10,529 ceased trading, 6,579 fewer in one year (FIPE, Rapporto Ristorazione 2026).
Example values. Market estimates: Money.it, January 7, 2026 (in Italian). Openings and closures: FIPE Rapporto Ristorazione 2026, as reported by Open (in Italian).
Why a cash reserve?
With revenue at 70% of forecast for six months, the example restaurant loses €3,600 a month: €21,600 to cover.
How long does payback take?
Payback time = investment ÷ annual operating margin
200,000 ÷ 72,000 = less than 3 years. With revenue down 15%: 200,000 ÷ 14,400 = almost 14 years.
A €120,000 loan at 5% over seven years costs about €20,700 a year. With revenue down 15%, the payment exceeds the margin.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to open a restaurant in Italy?
It depends on floor area, city and the condition of the premises. Franchising: €124,000 on average for about 145 sq m (Assofranchising 2026). In this guide's example, €200,000 for 120 sq m.
How much does it cost to open a bar in Italy?
Usually between €70,000 and €130,000 for a small or medium bar (estimates reported by Money.it, January 2026). In this guide's example, about €122,000 for 60 sq m. Where licenses are capped, the license cost comes on top.
How much does it cost to open a pizza-by-the-slice shop?
It is calculated from quotes. The oven, counter and hot display cases weigh the most, the dining room furniture less.
How much does it cost to open a gelateria?
The main items are the batch freezer, blast chiller, display case, construction and furnishings, plus a reserve for the cold months.
Sources
- Average investment for a franchised food service venue: Assofranchising Report 2026, as reported by Ristorazione Moderna (in Italian).
- Bar opening cost estimates: Money.it, January 7, 2026 (in Italian).
- Bars opened and closed in 2025: FIPE Rapporto Ristorazione 2026, as reported by Open, April 23, 2026 and Comunicaffè, April 12, 2026 (in Italian).
- The calculation examples are AC Retail Advisory estimates on hypothetical values, consistent with the example income statement (P&L) in the food cost guide.
Updated October 21, 2026.
Author
Andrea Calistri, founder of AC Retail Advisory. I have 20 years of experience in food retail and the food industry and have opened more than 200 locations. I have run operations for restaurant networks, served as CEO in Italy, France and the Netherlands, and advised restaurant chains and food companies as a consultant.
Restaurant business plan
Custom-built, with a 5-year financial plan.
For a complete read of the restaurant's numbers: restaurant check-up.
