That Time of the Year: Florence Shows Off Its New Hot Spots
Men’s fashion season is here again and Florence is ready to welcome those attending the Pitti Uomo trade show running from June 11 to 13. Here’s some of the new places in town:
Mezè
Inside the new west wing of Calimala hotel, near Piazza della Repubblica, there’s a new food destination: Mezè. The menu is inspired by Mediterranean recipes divided into three main categories: from the sea, from the farm and from the field.
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The kitchen is led by Chef Mor Micheli and it is based on the “Wild Dining” sharing concept of small plates and bistro-style ambiance. Dishes can include homemade breads and dips, prime cuts of sashimi and fresh tartares, delicately grilled oysters and a mix of vegetables such as cauliflower, beans and fennel, delicious skewers with fine red meats, and various heartwarming desserts to be accompanied by a Champagne menu, signature cocktails and a selection of red and white wines.
Black-and-white patterned tile flooring, contemporary lighting fixtures, colorful artworks and accessories decorate the space. A semicircular marble seated bar is at one end of the restaurant, encased in a gold-painted structure that holds liquor and glassware.
Mezè
Via dei Lamberti, 5 – 50123
Tel. 34-53-52-6387
hotelcalimala.com
Binomio
Binomio is located inside the Hotel Indigo Florence, a few steps away from the neighborhood of Santa Maria Novella. Binomio seats 80 and boasts a terrace. At the entrance, guests will be welcomed into a lounge area, which includes the bar and a private area for events.
Giulio Squilloni is food and beverage manager who together with the sommeliers has selected more than 100 labels for the wine list, mainly focusing on small producers, especially Tuscan ones. The kitchen is led by Donato Volpe, who trained at Park Hyatt in Milan and Belmond Hotels among others.
His cuisine is inspired by the Tuscan tradition, made a bit international. Among his signature dishes are arancini with truffle, the “Mezzo pacchero Binomio” (pacchero pasta with tomato, pesto, burrata and basil), and an interpretation of the “Filetto Rossini” (Tuscan style fillet with chicken livers and Chianti sauce). Sofia Sufi Abdi oversees the bar and is in charge of the signature drinks list which includes “San Mary” (Patron Silver, red wine, nutmeg, lime, sugar), “Golden Heaven” (Angel’s Envy with black tea, Medicean liqueur, Italicus, Angostura bitters) and “Pur Flor” (Labaro Viola, creme de cassis, lemon, sugar, bitter cocoa).
Binomio
Via Jacopo da Diacceto, 20 – 50123
Tel. 05-52-73-9198
binomiofirenze.com
Giacosa
Overlooking Via della Spada, which crosses luxury shopping street Via de’ Tornabuoni, Giacosa has come back, thanks to the new owner Valenza Group.The locale was first opened in 1860 by the Giacosa brothers who chose the location because of its attraction, drawing in Grand Tour travelers. It soon became a meeting point for artists and intellectuals. Giacosa closed in 2017 after being acquired from Roberto Cavalli in 2001 and became Giacosa by Roberto Cavalli.
The renovation and interior project entrusted respectively to the architect Alessandro Consigli and the architects Paolo Becagli and Alessandro Interlando, enhances the architectural geometric shapes such as the round arch and the stone capitals of the space.
The color contrasts are highlighted by the use of mahogany, Portoro marble, a fine-grained black marble with golden and white veins extracted from the quarries of Portovenere in Liguria, and the fine velvet fabrics, selected mainly in dark blue and combined with brass.
A Negroni cocktail painted by Hola Lou, a Mexican artist, designer and muralist, is featured on the walls as way to remind visitors of the origins of the drink in the Casoni bar which the Giacosa took over in 1934. Massimo Davitti, teacher at the Tessieri School and pastry chef of the Valenza Group, which has owned Caffè Gilli, Paszkowski in Florence since 2017, shares the pastry production with his right-hand man Ivan Santoro.
The menu designed by the Giacosa team, led by bar manager Mirko Maurello and supervisor Luca Manni, is entirely focused on the Italian tradition and includes a selection of “classic” Negronis.
“Thanks to the help of our collaborators and their study and research work, we understood that we had the opportunity, but also and above all, the responsibility, to bring back to life an important page of Florentine history of international resonance,” said Marco Valenza, chief executive officer of Valenza Group.
Giacosa
Via Della Spada, 15R – 50123
Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi Firenze
Tivoli Hotels and Resorts is expanding in Italy with the Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi Firenze hotel. Situated in a storied building that dates back to the 16th century, it is located in the heart of Florence, a few steps away from the Duomo complex, the Piazzale Michelangelo, the Medici Chapel and the San Lorenzo market.
Originally made up of two edifices belonging to two aristocratic Florentine families, the Gaddi and the Arrighetti, it features typically Florentine architecture and was recently renovated by internationally renowned interior designers Patrizia Quartero and Guy Oliver, preserving the features of the Renaissance period.
It accommodates 86 guest rooms, including four suites, blending authentic period furnishings and Florentine art with contemporary comfort and functionality. The presidential suite has a panoramic terrace with breathtaking views over the cathedral and the city.
Led by Iside de Cesare, the Michelin star-rated chef, the new fine dining restaurant promises an innovative gastronomic journey through Tuscan and Italian cuisine.
The hotel’s elegant rooftop bar is the perfect place to enjoy the unforgettable summer sunsets with refreshing cocktails, light snacks and one of the best views over the city and the Duomo.
Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi Firenze
Via del Giglio, 9 – 50123
Tel. 05-52-39-80957
tivolihotels.com
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