Italian Phrase
Cosa c'è da bere?
Meaning
Literally, “What is there to drink?” It is the polite way to ask what drinks are available or what the speaker would like to have. In a café or restaurant it can also function as a suggestion, inviting the other person to choose a beverage.
When to use
Use this question when you arrive at a bar, café, or restaurant and want to know the drink options, or when you’re offering someone a drink in a casual setting. It works both in formal and informal contexts, but the tone is slightly more neutral than the very informal “Che vuoi da bere?”.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosac'èdabere
Cosa
Interrogative pronoun meaning “what”. It can appear alone or as “che cosa”.
c'è
Contraction of “ci è”, literally “there is”. Used to indicate existence.
da + infinitive
A construction that expresses purpose or something that is available to be done, similar to “to” or “for”.
bere
Infinitive of the verb “bere” (to drink).
🗨In Conversation
Cosa c'è da bere?
What’s there to drink?
Abbiamo acqua, vino rosso e un caffè.
We have water, red wine, and a coffee.
✕Common Mistakes
Cosa è da bere?
Missing the clitic “ci”. The correct form is the contraction “c’è”.
Cosa c'è di bere?
The preposition “di” is not used in this construction; use “da”.
Cosa c'è per bere?
While understandable, “per” changes the nuance to “for drinking” rather than “available to drink”. Stick with “da”.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa c'è da bere?
What’s there to drink?
Cosa possiamo bere?
What can we drink?
Che vuoi da bere?
What would you like to drink?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, it’s common for the server to ask “Cosa desidera?” (What would you like?) before offering drinks. Using “Cosa c'è da bere?” shows you’re interested in the selection rather than just ordering a specific item. Remember that in many regions, ordering a “caffè” means an espresso, not a large coffee as in the U.S.