HOTEL/RESTAURANT WATCH: Italy

HOTEL/RESTAURANT WATCH: Italy

A list of recent openings/re-openings 

of hotels in Italy ...and updates on 

some interesting restaurants 

- all with live website links to more information

PORTRAIT FIRENZE (5*) IN FLORENCE,

www.portraitfirenze.com

The Lungarno Collection, owned by the Ferragamo family, opened Portrait Firenze in May 2014.  With views over the River Arno and iconic Ponte Vecchio, Florence, the hotel is inspired by the birth of Italian haute couture the 1950s.  Each of the thirty-four suites is designed using hand-crafted furniture, a kitchenette, includes complimentary use of an iPad, access to a music and film library and a 'gourmet' stocked mini bar which can also be stocked in advance with personalised preferences. www.portraitfirenze.com
INDIGO ROME – ST. GEORGE HOTEL (5*) IN ROME
Intercontinental Hotel's new boutique hotel in Rome, in Via Giulia, in the heart of old Rome opened in June 2014. The 64 room hotel is a mixture of Renaissance and modern design and offers a spa, a restaurant, a terrace with bar and free wi-fi in all areas. www.hotelindigorome.com

NH PALAZZO BAROCCI (4*) IN VENICE

www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/italy/venice/nh-palazzo-barocci.html

The old Manin NH Hotel has been totally overhauled and upgraded by the NH Hotel Group and re-opened May 2014. The hotel is located facing the Rialto Bridge and it is built on the site of the old Teatro Sant’Angelo, dating back to the 18th century. The 59 rooms are furnished in 5 different styles, a bar “Doge” with a true Venetian atmosphere and a garden.
www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/italy/venice/nh-palazzo-barocci.html
NH PARMA HOTEL (4*) IN PARMA
Just opened, the new NH Parma Hotel is set in a new architectural complex which also includes a renovated railway station. Near the historic centre of Parma, it offers 120 rooms, restaurant serving local and Italian dishes.
www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/italy/parma/nh-parma.html
VILLE SULL’ARNO HOTEL (5*) IN FLORENCE

www.hotelvillesullarno.com

The Ville sull’Arno Hotel has re-opened after extensive renovation and improvement work. The Hotel has 45 rooms, a spa, open air garden swimming pool, the “Flora e Fauno” Restaurant, Dante’s Bar designed in a 19th century feel. The Ville sull’Arno was originally built in the 15th century and it was a country retreat for the Florentine nobility, in the 19th century was a workshop for the Macchiaioli painters. www.hotelvillesullarno.com
THE PALAZZO PARIGI HOTEL IN MILAN

www.palazzoparigi.com

The Palazzo Parigi has recently opened the new Duomo Suite with views over the city. The new suite comprises a living area with kitchenette, walk-in wardrobe, main bathroom and second bathroom. The suite can be combined with the interconnecting Suite Prestige and Deluxe Room for a total of 3 bedrooms to form an apartment. www.palazzoparigi.com
VAIR SPA AT BORGO EGNAZIA IN PUGLIA
The new Vair Spa is located within Borgo Egnazia Resort in Puglia, promising to to 'nurture the visitor's physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.' Built in typical Apulina style, 11 treatment rooms, a couple’s spa suite with private garden and a Roman water therapy suite at the heart of the building. www.vairspa.com



FUTURE WATCH
THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL GALLIA (5*) IN MILAN
Starwood hotel and resorts have recently announced the re-opening of the historic Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan which is scheduled for November 2014. The hotel will have 235 rooms and suites, a restaurant and a bar with panoramic terrace on the top floor, a lounge bar and cigar room, a spa, swimming pool and gym, two ballrooms and meeting spaces. www.starwoodhotels.com
JW MARRIOTT (5*) RESORT AND SPA  IN VENICE
A new hotel is being re-developed by JW Marriott Hotels in Venice at Sacca Sessola and is scheduled to open mid March 2015. The hotel will have 266 rooms.
www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/hotel-information/travel/vcejw-jw-marriott-venice-resort-and-spa/
MELIA SIRACUSA MARE RESORT IN SICILY
The new Melia Siracusa Mare Resort is scheduled to open in 2015 in Syracuse. It will have 235 rooms, 140 apartments, sport facilities, an 18-hole golf course, swimming pools, spa and a private beach. www.melia.com


NEW RESTAURANTS
ORO RESTAURANT AT THE BELMOND HOTEL CIPRIANI IN VENICE

www.belmond.com/hotel-cipriani-venice/cipriani_restaurants

Michelin starred Chef Andrea Berton
 www.ristoranteberton.com

The Oro, just opened at the iconic Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, overlooking the lagoon, is headed up by Chef Davide Bisetto who was awarded two Michelin stars in France. Gold leaf ceiling, handmade Murano glass chandelier, fine Rubelli chair fabrics, three emerald green glass sculptures, blown glass candelabra contribute - need we say more?
www.belmond.com/hotel-cipriani-venice/cipriani_restaurants
RISTORANTE BERTON IN MILAN
Ristorante Berton, opened earlier this year, is the brainchild of Michelin starred Chef Andrea Berton. Berton prides himself in offering traditional and unusual dishes in a la carte and tasting menus. www.ristoranteberton.com
D&G MARTINI BISTROT IN MILAN
All the glamour of the 50’s in the heart of Milan in Corso Venezia,  the new D&G Martini Bistrot, is, we gather, ideal to grab a quick lunch, sip an aperitif or have dinner inspired by true Sicilian tradition. www.dolcegabbana.com/martini
RISTORANTE UNICO MILANO IN MILAN

Michelin stared
Chef Felice Lo Basso
www.unicorestaurant.it

Felice Lo Basso is the new chef at the Unico Milano Restaurant on the 20th floor of the WCT Tower in Milan. Breathtaking views over the city, a cuisine reflecting the skills of Chef Lo Basso, combining sea and mountain ingredients, give a new direction for the restaurant - now aiming for its second Michelin star. www.unicorestaurant.it
GREZZO RAW FOOD CHOCOLATERIE 
AND PATISSERIE IN ROME
In the trendy Monti district of Rome it calls itself to be the first raw food patisserie and chocolaterie in Rome. Raw chocolate without any added fat promises to be more healthy, genuine, but also delicious, they recommend semifreddo with pears and chocolate, tiramisu’ and sachertorte.  www.grezzoitalia.it
CAFFE’ MARINETTI  AT THE MAJESTIC HOTEL IN BOLOGNA
The new Caffe’ Marinetti opened earlier this year at the Grand Hotel Majestic (formerly Baglioni Hotel) in Bologna. The Caffe’ s name is   homage to the founder of the Futuristic Movement, Filippo Tommaso Farinetti whose Futuristic exhibition was hosted in the basement of the same hotel a hundred years ago.  http://grandhotelmajestic.duetorrihotels.com/en/hotel-5-stars-luxury-bologna/caf%C3%A8-marinetti


The hotels, restaurants above are listed for information only. They are sourced from information received and, as yet, we have not sampled or visited any of them and so this listing is just that and is not meant to be interpreted as a recommendation.