In this workshop you will practice a short café exchange about sitting down just for drinks. You will first learn what each recorded line means, then use those lines in a guided exchange, choose the right reply, and finally recall the conversation with the correct roles. The recordings give you the exact Italian you need, so you can practice speaking without inventing new phrases.
Asking to Sit for Drinks Only
The first step is getting permission to sit when you only want something to drink. A polite opening is «È possibile sedersi solo per bere qualcosa?», which means that you are asking whether it is possible to sit just to have something to drink. A shorter version with the same purpose is «Prendiamo solo qualcosa da bere.», meaning that you will just have something to drink. When you are with someone else and you want to order only drinks, you can say «Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.», which means that you would like to order only drinks. These lines are useful because they make your intention clear before you sit down.
The Reply and the Order
After you ask to sit, the staff member may answer with «Sì, certo. Prego, si accomodi.», which means yes, of course, and invites you to have a seat. Once you are seated, you can repeat your intention with «Grazie. Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.», meaning thank you, we would like to order only drinks. The staff member then asks «Va bene. Cosa desiderate bere?», which means all right, what would you like to drink? Notice that the conversation moves in a clear order: you ask, the staff member replies, you state your order, and the staff member asks what you want. Keeping that order helps you stay in the right role.
Putting the Whole Exchange Together
A full polite exchange can begin with «Buongiorno, è possibile sedersi solo per bere qualcosa?», which means good morning, is it possible to sit just to have something to drink? The staff member can answer with «Sì, certo. Prego, si accomodi.», inviting you to sit. You then say «Grazie. Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.», stating that you would like to order only drinks. The staff member responds with «Va bene. Cosa desiderate bere?», asking what you would like to drink. If you are practicing alone, you can read both roles aloud, but remember that the order of the lines stays the same: request, reply, request, reply.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
È possibile sedersi solo per bere qualcosa?
Is it possible to sit just to have something to drink?
eh pos-SEE-bee-leh seh-DER-see SO-lo per BEH-reh kwal-KOH-zah
Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.
We would like to order only drinks.
vor-REM-mo or-dee-NAH-reh SO-lo da BEH-reh
Possiamo sederci qui?
Can we sit here?
pos-SYA-mo seh-DER-chee kwee
Prendiamo solo qualcosa da bere.
We'll just have something to drink.
prehn-DYAH-mo SO-lo kwal-KOH-zah da BEH-reh
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buongiorno, è possibile sedersi solo per bere qualcosa?
Good morning, is it possible to sit just to have something to drink?Sì, certo. Prego, si accomodi.
Yes, of course. Please, have a seat.Grazie. Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.
Thank you. We would like to order only drinks.Va bene. Cosa desiderate bere?
All right. What would you like to drink?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Café Exchange
You are a customer entering a café in the morning. You want to sit down only to have something to drink. A staff member is ready to help you.
Your task: Read the customer part aloud, then read the staff part aloud. Customer: «Buongiorno, è possibile sedersi solo per bere qualcosa?». Staff: «Sì, certo. Prego, si accomodi.». Customer: «Grazie. Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.». Staff: «Va bene. Cosa desiderate bere?». After reading, say which line asked for permission to sit and which line asked what you would like to drink.
Choose the Right Reply
You have just asked whether it is possible to sit just to have something to drink. The staff member answers you.
Your task: Read the staff reply «Sì, certo. Prego, si accomodi.» aloud. Then choose the customer line that best follows it: «Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.» or «Va bene. Cosa desiderate bere?». Say your choice aloud and explain what it means.
Recall the Conversation with Correct Roles
You will now recall the short exchange from memory. One person is the customer and one person is the staff member.
Your task: Without looking back, say the four lines in order. Customer first: «Buongiorno, è possibile sedersi solo per bere qualcosa?». Staff reply: «Sì, certo. Prego, si accomodi.». Customer order: «Grazie. Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.». Staff question: «Va bene. Cosa desiderate bere?». Then say who asks for permission to sit and who asks what to drink.
Common questions
Can I use these lines if I only want a drink and not a meal?
Yes. The lines are about sitting just to have something to drink and ordering only drinks. «È possibile sedersi solo per bere qualcosa?» asks whether it is possible to sit just to have something to drink, and «Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.» states that you would like to order only drinks.
What should I say after the staff member invites me to sit?
After «Sì, certo. Prego, si accomodi.», which means yes, of course, and invites you to have a seat, you can say «Grazie. Vorremmo ordinare solo da bere.», meaning thank you, we would like to order only drinks. Then the staff member may ask «Va bene. Cosa desiderate bere?», which means all right, what would you like to drink?
Sources and further reading
- italian: table only drinks solo da bereChecked September 2026
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