Northern Avenue’s duo, Segafredo and Sorriso, serve the complete café experience standing hip-to-hip, one mastering the main course, the other perfecting dessert.
Café culture in Yerevan only keeps blooming, with new spots opening constantly. Competition naturally rises between the newcomers catering to the younger Z generation, influenced by social media trends, and the older, household names that have become part of the city’s identity.
Located at the heart of Yerevan, on Northern Avenue, where the hustle and bustle of locals and tourists grows by the hour, are two café-restaurants, Sorriso and Segafredo, both carrying an Italian orienteer. They ring a similar, even rhymed sound, and almost intertwine. The separating line between the cafés emerges and disappears. Yet, the atmosphere each offers couldn’t be more different.
Founded in Italy in 2007, Segafredo arrived in Yerevan in March of 2012 opening its first branch at Zvartnots International Airport. Segafredo has branches across the world, and now four spots in just Yerevan. What began as a specialty coffee brewing initiative in Europe, has now become a top-ranking restaurant, a staple name in Yerevan’s café culture. Its Northern Avenue location alone boasts over 70 “excellent” ratings on TripAdvisor out of 108 reviews.
Sorriso Gelato, also founded in 2012, may not have Italian roots by origin, but carries the Italian spirit through its recipes and ambiance. They first opened on Northern Avenue, starting as a gelateria and café, and earned a reputation for authentic, artisanal ice-cream inspired by traditional Italian techniques.
Walk down the center of Northern Avenue, and you’ll find it nearly impossible to tell where one café ends and the other begins due to the matching chairs, and crowds. Even the hum of music and chatter merges. Only when you look up at the signs do you see the difference; the sophisticated sharp and red “Segafredo” logo and the “Sorriso Gelato” in a bubbly font, complete with an ice cream cone for an “O”.
A closer feel into the cafés seals the deal; the cafés are nothing alike past appearances.
Entering Segafredo past the outside bustling area feels like stepping foot into calmness. From the greyed out tones of the furniture to the dim and blue-tone lights, the atmosphere dictates sophistication and invitation. Only the bold writing in the inner part of the L-shaped restaurant awakens you to prepare to take it all in. In a few words, despite being a street café, Segafredo exudes the civilized European standard of fine dining. Personnel are polite, matching the aura of the establishment, fast, yet somehow go unnoticed.
The food is superb. It is consistent across visits and never disappoints. It is tasty, fresh, and matches a certain quality. Though the selection of menu items is standard, you understand what pleasure in eating truly means. Segafredo has mastered culinary technique and the art of taste. The staples are especially noteworthy, a combination you cannot go wrong here; fries, burger, caesar salad, even the simple chicken soup transport you to a place of deep appreciation for food.
Prices sit in the average-to-high range for Yerevan cafés, fair for the quality. The savory dishes and meals are unmatched, however, where Segafredo loses to Sorriso is in the sweets selection.
The bubbly, quick and on-the-feet ambiance of Sorriso spills over the outdoor area emanating the inside warmness. Everyone’s busy, waiters are many, zipping like bees, sometimes handling multiple trays and tables at the same time. The only thing “icy” here is the gelato itself. Everything else, especially the warm and friendly politeness growing into Armenian friendliness almost melts the intricate behind-the-glass desserts. Sorriso is much bigger in square meters, taking up a second floor too. Finding a place to sit here, especially at evening hours, even on weekdays is nearly impossible.
Sorriso Gelato Interior
The furniture is of warm woody undertones, the yellow of the light reflecting off the brown glossy countertops. The barista shakes the drink under the beat of the music, while bantering with the flying waiters. It’s homey.
Homey in more than one way; the food quality is somewhat inconsistent. A burger that’s fresh and juicy one day might be dry and crumbly the next. Savory dishes are a gamble, except for the pepperoni pizza, which never disappoints.
Sorriso triumphs in its desserts. The selection is vast and playful: crepes, waffles, pancakes, cakes, ice cream, and endless combinations of Nutella, banana, strawberry, and pastry. Every plate feels like a sweet experiment done right.
And the service? Persistently kind. Even during peak hours, a waiter once brought me a small table and chair just to make sure I could sit inside, away from the cold.
Whether Sorriso and Segafredo are true rivals or quietly complement each other remains a mystery. But one thing is certain; their shared crowd isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.