Beautiful Isaac - now I understand why the place has such a lived-in feeling. I will have to return for lunch this week. And what an incredible tattoo!
Long before Scotti’s Snack Bar became a fixture of Clerkenwell’s Italian café culture, it was the vision and hard work of Silvio Francescotti, an Italian immigrant who named, built, and ran the original business at 39 Clerkenwell Green.
⸻
🇮🇹 Early Life and Journey to London
Silvio emigrated from Stenico, Trentino-Alto Adige to London in 1955, joining his two brothers. His father had previously worked in London as a grinder, part of a long tradition of northern Italian artisans and workers contributing to British industry.
After working in a foundry in Stratford, Silvio saved enough to open several small cafés across London.
⸻
🏪 The “Scotti’s Snack Bar” Brand
Silvio personally opened and named several locations across the City of London, including:
• Minories
• Mansell Street
• Sun Street
• Clerkenwell Green (39 Clerkenwell Green)
Each café bore the name “Scotti’s Snack Bar,” a name Silvio personally invented and branded. He also personally refurbished every location — often doing the building work himself.
⸻
🏛️ The Clerkenwell Chapter
In the early 1960s, Silvio purchased and renovated 39 Clerkenwell Green. It quickly became the most beloved of his Scotti’s cafés.
In 1968, Silvio sold the Clerkenwell branch to Maria and Antonio, a couple from Piacenza. Although they ran the bar for decades, their surname was not “Scotti.” They kept the name that Silvio had already established.
⸻
📜 Legacy
Silvio Francescotti’s contributions to London include:
• Establishing the Scotti’s Snack Bar brand
• Personally designing and building his cafés
• Naming and running multiple successful businesses
• Contributing to the postwar Italian café culture in London
He represents the untold story of many Italian immigrants who helped shape the working-class and cultural fabric of the city.
⸻
🏅 Submitted by his family, July 2025
To preserve the true origin of Scotti’s Snack Bar and honour a hardworking father, immigrant, and entrepreneur
Great article on the Best Cafe! I can't recommend Scotti's enough. Great food, great company, great surroundings. All good!
My favourites are obviously the escalope, but also the egg, mayo and salad roll, or liver sausage and salad roll. I simply couldn't make these anywhere near as good as Al and Max do them. A proper treat!
Beautiful Isaac - now I understand why the place has such a lived-in feeling. I will have to return for lunch this week. And what an incredible tattoo!
Thank you for this-- a beautiful piece. I study in Holborn and feel inspired to make the mini field trip for a sandwich.
What a brilliant piece of writing about what seems an incredible place. Thank you
Terrific piece, good job!
Tribute to Silvio Francescotti
Founder of Scotti’s Snack Bar – Clerkenwell, London
⸻
The Forgotten Founder of Scotti’s Snack Bar
Honouring Silvio Francescotti (Stenico, Trento → London, 1955)
Long before Scotti’s Snack Bar became a fixture of Clerkenwell’s Italian café culture, it was the vision and hard work of Silvio Francescotti, an Italian immigrant who named, built, and ran the original business at 39 Clerkenwell Green.
⸻
🇮🇹 Early Life and Journey to London
Silvio emigrated from Stenico, Trentino-Alto Adige to London in 1955, joining his two brothers. His father had previously worked in London as a grinder, part of a long tradition of northern Italian artisans and workers contributing to British industry.
After working in a foundry in Stratford, Silvio saved enough to open several small cafés across London.
⸻
🏪 The “Scotti’s Snack Bar” Brand
Silvio personally opened and named several locations across the City of London, including:
• Minories
• Mansell Street
• Sun Street
• Clerkenwell Green (39 Clerkenwell Green)
Each café bore the name “Scotti’s Snack Bar,” a name Silvio personally invented and branded. He also personally refurbished every location — often doing the building work himself.
⸻
🏛️ The Clerkenwell Chapter
In the early 1960s, Silvio purchased and renovated 39 Clerkenwell Green. It quickly became the most beloved of his Scotti’s cafés.
In 1968, Silvio sold the Clerkenwell branch to Maria and Antonio, a couple from Piacenza. Although they ran the bar for decades, their surname was not “Scotti.” They kept the name that Silvio had already established.
⸻
📜 Legacy
Silvio Francescotti’s contributions to London include:
• Establishing the Scotti’s Snack Bar brand
• Personally designing and building his cafés
• Naming and running multiple successful businesses
• Contributing to the postwar Italian café culture in London
He represents the untold story of many Italian immigrants who helped shape the working-class and cultural fabric of the city.
⸻
🏅 Submitted by his family, July 2025
To preserve the true origin of Scotti’s Snack Bar and honour a hardworking father, immigrant, and entrepreneur
Really enjoyed reading this. Luckily im in the area Monday!
Great article on the Best Cafe! I can't recommend Scotti's enough. Great food, great company, great surroundings. All good!
My favourites are obviously the escalope, but also the egg, mayo and salad roll, or liver sausage and salad roll. I simply couldn't make these anywhere near as good as Al and Max do them. A proper treat!
Vittles and Scotti's are the reason to live in London
This was one of the best pieces of writing you've published in ages.
It sounds lovely and a lot of words, but I can’t see the address.
They are on Clerkenwell Green, nearest station is Farringdon.