The restaurant Secure your table at the newly updated and hotly anticipated Emporio Armani Caffè and Ristorante

Secure your table at Milan’s newly updated and hotly anticipated eatery, overseen by Giorgio Armani himself

Long-time haunt of the Italian fashion set, Milan’s Emporio Armani Caffè & Ristorante in the Quadrilatero district has a new look. Its soft, iridescent tones, metallic finishes and clean lines are very much in keeping with the brand’s spirit. ‘I was inspired by elements from the 1930s, the period the building dates back to,’ explains Giorgio Armani, who has been closely involved with the historic venue’s refurbishment. ‘The layout and colour scheme create an elegant and contemporary look. I wanted it to be a welcoming space,’ he adds.

The café, which sits together with Armani’s flagship store and hotel, gets an additional touch of glamour with large, dark terrazzo tiles – a modern nod to traditional Venetian flooring – and gleaming brass trims. In this luxurious setting, customers can devour sweet treats made by the in-house pastry chef and ‘Armani/Dolci’ delicacies by famed chocolatier Guido Gobino, all while relaxing on armchairs and banquettes upholstered in lustrous blue, green and red Rubelli fabrics. Come evening, brunch and lunch are exchanged for aperitifs – often accompanied by live DJ sets.

Upstairs, the formal restaurant (right) and Champagne bar are adorned in the same elegant palette of glistening green and blue, while slender glass panels decorated in a palm leaf print from the ‘Armani/Casa’ collection create an intimate feel. The menu comprises light Italian and Mediterranean fare, such as spaghetti with tomatoes from the Mount Vesuvius region and saffron risotto: classics with a twist – nothing less than you’d expect from Armani (armani.com/restaurant/it).

‘THE LAYOUT AND COLOUR SCHEME CREATE AN ELEGANT, CONTEMPORARY LOOK. I WANTED IT TO BE A WELCOMING SPACE’