Escape to Italy

Shop 5/24 Riverview St, North Richmond NSW 2754, Australia
+61 494 197 296
$$$ Cafe , Cake shop , Food products supplier , Italian grocery store
(24 Reviews)
Price Range $1–20

Welcome to Escape to Italy, a charming café nestled in the heart of North Richmond, where the essence of Italy comes alive with every sip and bite. Located at Shop 5/24 Riverview St, North Richmond NSW 2754, Australia, this delightful spot has carved out a niche for itself as a local favorite for those seeking authentic Italian flavors in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Step inside and let the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee wrap around you like a comforting embrace. With over 40 years of experience, Alessandra crafts each cup with a mastery that is both evident and impressive. Customers rave about the coffee, noting its excellence in taste that transports them straight to an Italian café. As John Garrett puts it, “If you appreciate great coffee then visit Escape to Italy.”

The menu is a delightful showcase of Italian culinary delights, featuring made-to-order sandwiches that MJ describes as “super fresh and delicious.” One highlight is the “Ottimo Burrata,” a creation filled with amazing complimentary flavors that will have your taste buds dancing with joy. Pair your meal with their delicious focaccia and panini rolls—each bite bursts with flavor, as Rosie shares from her lovely lunch experience.

But it's not just about the food; the café exudes a friendly atmosphere that makes you feel like part of the family. Regulars like Nathan & Joel Pacchiarotta appreciate Sandra's warm hospitality, always leaving with not just a satisfied palate but a smile. The welcoming staff is always ready to help you choose from their selection of cold meats, ensuring you leave with a meal as tailored to your liking as it is fresh.

Ritchie William describes Escape to Italy as “North Richmond’s hidden gem,” emphasizing the authenticity in both cuisine and service. This cozy café also offers a range of take-home options, allowing you to relish the Italian experience even when you're at home—truly excellent value that keeps customers coming back for more. Don’t forget to grab one of their refreshing Italian drinks to complement your meal, as Nikolett Sumegi discovered in her visit.

While the café itself is a treasure, it also strategically serves as a perfect pitstop for those exploring the vibrant Richmond area. So, whether you’re looking to indulge in delicious food, relish a top-notch coffee, or simply escape the everyday hustle, Escape to Italy promises an experience that will leave you longing for your next visit. Bring your loved ones, share great moments, and immerse yourself in the flavors and warmth of true Italian hospitality.

Contact them today at +61 494 197 296 to find out about daily specials or simply stop by to see what culinary magic awaits you!

Service options
No-contact delivery
Takeaway
Dine-in
Delivery
Highlights
Great coffee
Popular for
Lunch
Solo dining
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Coffee
Prepared foods
Quick bite
Small plates
Dining options
Brunch
Lunch
Dessert
Amenities
Toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Tourists
Transgender safe space
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Parking
Pets
Dogs allowed outside
Openings Hours

Monday

07:30 AM - 03:00 PM

Tuesday

07:30 AM - 03:00 PM

Wednesday

07:30 AM - 03:00 PM

Thursday

07:30 AM - 04:00 PM

Friday

07:30 AM - 04:00 PM

Saturday

08:30 AM - 03:00 PM

Sunday

08:00 AM - 01:00 PM

24 Reviews
John Garrett

22 Sep 2025

If you appreciate great coffee then visit “Escape to Italy”. Alessandra has been preparing coffee for 40 years and it shows in her choice of coffee and the preparation which results in an excellent cup. Visiting here really felt like I’d “escaped to Italy”! Lots of delicious Italian food is available and the atmosphere is inviting and friendly. Definitely worth visiting and staying to enjoy what’s on offer. I felt so welcomed as if I were a guest in her home.

MJ

15 Sep 2025

Truly a taste of Italy in the Hawkesbury, these made to order sandwiches were super fresh and delicious. This was our first visit and definitely won't be our last. Today our family shared and thoroughly enjoyed these three freshly made sandwiches... #1 on the new blackboard menu (see photo) It has no name yet, so I would like to suggest "Ottimo Burrata" which had amazing complimentary flavours with soft burrata cheese, prosciutto, eggplant wild rocket and bocconcini and pesto. On the regular blackboard menu we chose the Venito salami with antipasto on toasted focaccia. The last was Il Polo (chicken) roll with aioli sauce. We were able to customise the ingredients so chose the marinated red pepper together with grilled eggplant. Yummm! We would highly recommend you visit "Escape to Italy" and customise your favourite fresh, made to order sandwiches for your own taste of Italy. Bellissimo grazie mille

Nathan & Joel Pacchiarotta

02 Sep 2025

We always love popping into Escape to Italy on our days off. The coffee is always excellent and Sandra is also so kind and welcoming. Last visit, Sandra helped us pick a selection of cold meats and gave great recommendations. We recommend any locals looking for fresh and tasty cold meats, sandwiches and the best coffee to pay a visit. Thank you Sandra for bringing a slice of Italy to the Hawkesbury. We look forward to our next visit!

Rosie lovesmusic

24 Jul 2025

Had a lovely lunch at this delightful cafe. The focaccia and panini rolls are so tasty, and the coffee is top notch! The service from the friendly staff is excellent. Back again soon.

Ritchie William

09 Jul 2025

North Richmond’s hidden gem, Escape to Italy, offering an authentic Italian experience with warm and friendly service and dinning experience, with a simple yet fresh and tasty menu of true authentic Italian cuisine, along with great coffee and other beverages. You can even find something in the fridge to take home with freshly prepared foods you can enjoy at home. Excellent value! Plenty of car parking, Public amenities at shopping centre. Would highly recommend a visit

Nikolett Sumegi

02 Jul 2025

A true hidden gem! The coffee is absolutely beautiful, the focaccias are bursting with flavors, and the range of authentic Italian drinks makes it feel like a quick escape to Italy. They also have many more dishes.. I can’t wait to try!

Amanda Dick

01 Jul 2025

Wow, finally found a place where you can get real Italian quality sandwich. Loved it and I recommend it. Sandwiches fantastic coffee amazing. Can't believe I had not heard about this place. It is small and well worth a trip to Richmond I will definitely be back for more.

Hayley

29 Jun 2025

The sandwiches are lovely and fresh, very customisable and have plenty of ingredients to choose from. We've had sandwiches from there three times now, and the amount of toppings and size of the sandwiches do fluctuate quite a bit, so some times are better than others. The most recent time had about 1/4 the amount of chicken in it compared to the last time, and much less bocconcini. I would definitely recommend getting the untoasted fresh roll if you're having rocket and chicken, because the rocket does wilt and the sandwiches don't get heated enough to know that the chicken is totally safe. The grilled eggplant and antipasto mix make the sandwiches shine, while the capsicum is quite vinegary, so it can be a bit overpowering. Freshly grilled vegetables would be so much better. Customising the sandwiches does make them quite expensive, so I hope the owner would consider adding prices for extras/add ons to the menu to make it easier to understand how much things cost. Overall, this is a lovely cafe and they do great sandwiches, I just wish they were more consistent.

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