In Florence, you can pop into a luxury hotel just for some pintxos and a high-quality cocktail.
In the heart of Florence, a few steps from Palazzo Strozzi, there is a place that embodies a contemporary idea of hospitality:
Hotel La Gemma, a five-star boutique hotel that, on the occasion of Pitti Taste, is celebrating with a gastronomic novelty called “Fuori di Taste,” designed for the city, not just for guests.
At La Gemma Cafè, the hotel lounge open from breakfast to aperitif time, the pintxos created by multi-starred Italian-Argentinian chef Paulo Airaudo, already at the helm of the gourmet restaurant Lucas’ inside the hotel, provide the perfect accompaniment to a delicious gourmet aperitif.
Signature pintxos, Basque soul and Italian ingredients
Small, immediate, convivial: pintxos – iconic appetizers on bread typical of the Basque Country – find their place in a nimble and contemporary offering. Airaudo’s creations reinterpret Iberian tradition through Italian ingredients, in direct dialogue with Ibai, the restaurant opened by the chef in San Sebastián.
Quick but carefully prepared, simple only in appearance, the pintxos complement Lucas’ signature dishes and expand the gastronomic identity of the Café, which already alternates Italian and Tuscan cuisine with international offerings such as sandwiches and burgers.
Bite and sip: the cocktail bar as an experience
La Gemma Cafè is not just about food. It is also a place dedicated to signature cocktails, designed to complement the pintxos in a play of balance and contrasts. The cocktails, creative but measured, are designed to accompany the tasting: fresh, elegant, never redundant.
The result is a refined but informal “bite and drink” experience, where the aperitif becomes an urban and accessible ritual, capable of attracting those seeking quality without formality.
Marta de Dominicis ( popmartacorn_66) is at the helm of the high-quality offerings and signature mixology.
The project is based on a clear idea of conviviality. Lucas’ restaurant was created as a tribute to Luca Cecchi, an entrepreneur and great lover of cooking and socializing. In his memory, La Gemma continues to pursue an authentic vision of dining: excellent ingredients, recognizable flavors, and a spontaneous and refined atmosphere.
At La Gemma Café today, this philosophy takes shape in a simple yet powerful gesture: walk in, order some pintxos, choose a cocktail. And feel part of the city.
A place where luxury is not flaunted, but savored, one bite and one sip at a time.
