Palermo's historic Antica Focacceria San Francesco has now opened a branch in downtown Milan, only steps from the Duomo. The same great Sicilian snacks like eggplant caponata, fresh sardines prepared a beccafico and sandwiches such as panelle (fried pancakes of chickpea flour on a roll) and pane ca' meusa are available for take out or to eat in the self-service restaurant. It's open every day from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. and is well-situated for a quick meal before or after La Scala.

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Among the historic, century-old coffee bars on Florence's central Piazza della Repubblica, Hard Rock Cafe' stands out for its international ubiquity. With more than 140 cafes worldwide, it's installed in the old Gambrinus Cinema just off the piazza, and follows the chain's standard model with an espresso bar, cocktail bar, restaurant and the all-important souvenir shop. The menu doesn't deviate much from the usual burgers and fries, but celebrity memorabilia on display in the Florence outpost are John Lennon's black leather jacket, David Bowie's guitar and the Vespa that singer Sting used in the movie, "Quadrophenia," based on a world-famous rock opera by The Who.

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