Florence, second destination: La Ménagère

When I thought of Florence as the next city to visit, the first thing that crossed my mind was whether I could share something special. This city of 102 km² is home to the highest concentration of art in all its expressions. It is not necessary, but recommended, to enter any museum or gallery to be amazed by so much beauty. A leisurely walk can be a delight for your senses.

It was for this very reason that recommending one really special place in this city, just one, was such a challenge. As you can imagine, I'm not going to give you a list of must-visit places, but I'm going to bet it all on one card: La Ménagère.

Although it has an excellent gastronomic offer, La Ménagère is not a traditional restaurant, as the space is also a bistro, cocktail bar, concert hall, florist, and decoration shop. Its difficult classification makes it a unique place with character that will certainly impress its visitors.

This old hardware store, founded in 1896, architecturally preserves the essential features of its construction: its columns, its arches, its brick walls... which reveal to visitors the soul of the place and its history.

Its 1500 square metres are opened to the exterior thanks to its large windows. Its ground floor is divided into three areas, and it also has a spectacular and welcoming covered patio that separates the music area from the kitchens.

Although its uniqueness lies in the mixture of materials, decoration and styles, the strength of this space lies in the coherence of its design, which makes harmony and balance predominate, making it an extremely refined place.

This unusual combination brings together food, drink, music, flowers, and design objects so that you can choose a floral arrangement for your home over a coffee, read a book while enjoying a cocktail along with a selected snack, dine while listening to live music... and so on and so forth, making each visit unrepeatable.

The musical area has an elegant grand piano that crowns the place, where the aim is for it to be a meeting point between musicians and the public. This way it became a reference point for jazz and live music lovers.

Its gastronomic offer, both at the table and at the bar, deserves special attention for its outstanding quality. Its cuisine is a blend of tradition and innovation and follows seasonal trends to guarantee the freshness of its ingredients. The combination of textures, temperatures and flavours is a version of the culinary base of its traditional cuisine. The skill and meticulous attention to detail of the restaurant can transform a short lunch break in a top meal.

It is difficult, therefore, to choose among all their offer but if I had to select one of their dishes I would choose the tuna with pumpkin, figs, and sultanas with soya reduction. Buon appetito!

These are some tips to make your home a mix of styles. Your guests will certainly refuse to leave!

1. Aimara runner , gives warmth to your corridors or to the foot of your bed thanks to its size. 2. Firenze plate ,honouring its name, this tableware couldn’t miss. Its relief with the fleur-de-lis will give a very special touch to your table. 3. Olga dining chair, aged finish, upholstered seat, and mat back. 4.  Chennai mug , its granite effect reveals millenary stories carved in its ceramic. 5. Set of 3 cheese knives , without any doubt the protagonists are the handles. With them your appetizer board will become the centre of any meal. 6.  Rattan baskets Lind , tidiness and style are perfectly compatible with this storage set. 7. Flowerpot Fuji, its porous texture and degraded effect will make you love it.