Peek Inside the Wine Cellar of a Famous Italian Two Michelin Star Restaurant

In the heart of Milan, on the top floor of the Luigi Rovati Foundation, lies a two Michelin star restaurant led by Andrea Aprea...

This haute cuisine project represents the chef's philosophy in exploring the relationship between memory and taste. Above its inner courtyard sits the Caffè Bistrot, a space designed to satisfy guests at any time of day, with high-quality ingredients and the typical style of Neapolitan chef.

The restaurant's interior, designed by Flaviano Capriotti, was conceived to create a path of discovery and surprise, in a continuous interplay of light and darkness, like a dialogue between black buchero surfaces and a long glass corridor, giving the space a sense of theatrical intensity. The same architectural studio also designed the Caffè Bistrot, offering a narrative that revolves around a palette of neutral tones and the undisputed dominance of wood combined in different finishes and processes - from natural to colored, light and burnt, smooth and ribbed - creating a warm, yet not overwhelming environment that welcomes guests without overburdening the atmosphere.

The restaurant covers an area of 400 square meters, with 36 seats arranged for 8 tables overlooking the kitchen, which is entirely open. One of the main elements of this restaurant is its wine cellar, a hallway seamlessly integrated with the dining room, where guests can admire 650 labels from around the world on display.

The exceptionally valuable collection required the creation of special units in terms of dimensions and technical characteristics, which would be unique to preserve all wine bottles while highlighting them. The custom project was produced by Prisma, a Venetian company with over 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry, as well as specialized knowledge of wine cellars.

The wine cellar doors are glass and display stainless steel cooling divided into shelves of different heights, enhanced by a specially designed lighting system that highlights the labels, making them decorative elements. Internal ventilation ensures even temperature distribution, crucial not only for proper wine storage but above all for tasting. Finally, cooling chambers for storing water bottles and other beverages are installed in the lower part of the columns.

On the other hand, the Caffè Bistrot, on the ground floor, welcomes its guests in a more relaxed atmosphere, with twenty-two seats, plus another twelve in the outdoor area overlooking the palace's secret garden. The panorama is directly connected to the interior, as if framed, also thanks to the spacious windows. Once again, Prisma contributed by creating display cases, cooling and heating ones, to preserve labels and some of the sweet and savory offerings, combining elements of subtle elegance that blend well with the timeless elegance of Capriotti's design.