Pepèn

Parma


Prepare to battle the throngs of locals that crowd into this buzzing little sandwich shop, where panini get piled high with prosciutto di Parma, cheeses and countless other tasty ingredients. After seven decades, it's a dearly beloved Parma institution, though getting served can be an exercise in elbow-throwing frustration for non-Italian speakers.

Most popular are arrosto spaccaballe (roast pork, mayo, ketchup, tomato and spicy peperoncino – it means 'ball-busting roast!') and pesto di cavallo crudo (raw minced horse meat, lemon oil, salt, mayo and lettuce – we dare you!). Otherwise the carciofa savoury pie (artichoke hearts, parmigiano reggiano, ricotta and spinach) is a sublime vegetarian treat for a mere €2.50.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Parma attractions

1. Palazzo del Governatore

0.05 MILES

With its dramatic tower and a giant sundial added in 1829, this 17th-century palazzo dominates the north side of Piazza Garibaldi, Parma's central square…

2. Piazza Garibaldi

0.06 MILES

On the site of the ancient Roman forum, Piazza Garibaldi is Parma's cobbled hub bisected by the city's main east–west artery, Via Mazzini, and its…

3. Chiesa di Santa Maria della Steccata

0.1 MILES

Behind the Palazzo del Governatore in the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Steccata, you’ll find some of Parmigianino’s most extraordinary work, notably the…

4. Battistero

0.13 MILES

Overshadowing even the cathedral, the octagonal pink-marble baptistery on the south side of the piazza is one of the most important such structures in…

5. Piazza del Duomo

0.15 MILES

Flanked by a harmonious trio of buildings – the duomo, campanile and baptistry – Parma's cathedral square is one of the city's most elegant public spaces.

6. Duomo

0.16 MILES

Another daring Romanesque beauty? Well, yes and no. Consecrated in 1106, Parma has a classic Lombard-Romanesque facade, but inside, the gilded pulpit and…

7. Museo Diocesano

0.17 MILES

On the other side of the square to the duomo, in the cellars of the former bishop's palace, this museum displays statuary. Highlights include a finely…

8. Ape Parma Museu

0.17 MILES

This 2018 addition to Parma's cultural landscape houses the relocated works of Amedeo Bocchi, a 20th-century Parma-born artist whose painting owes a debt…