The Kitchen & The Bar, the restaurant at THE PLACE Florence overlooking Piazza Santa Maria Novella, is a space that combines contemporary cuisine, conviviality, and a strong connection to the region’s artisan excellence. Open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. until after dinner, it is designed not only for hotel guests but also—and above all—for Florentines. The Kitchen & The Bar interprets tradition with a contemporary twist, becoming a place for meeting, storytelling, and experience.
In this spirit, the calendar of events that will accompany Florence towards the end of the year continues with a new evening dedicated to the Fondazione THE PLACE of WONDERS.
December 9 – Friends of THE PLACE of WONDERS Christmas Party
An event open to the city, designed to share and support crafts of excellence in a concrete way.
For the occasion, THE PLACE Florence will exhibit eight photographic prints by Dario Garofalo, dedicated to the artisans who are part of the Foundation. Each print is authenticated and numbered, representing a unique piece. The works will be available for purchase and the proceeds will be donated entirely to the THE PLACE of WONDERS Foundation.
Michela Canzi Blanc, President of the Foundation, will be present to introduce the work carried out in recent months and present the young artisans selected for scholarships at LAO – Le Arti Orafe, who are now engaged in a path that combines learning, attention to detail, and responsibility towards their craft.
Alongside them, two artisans from the Foundation, custodians of a knowledge handed down through the generations and a manual skill that tells the story of continuity, will be present during the evening to show their work and share their stories, offering direct testimony of an experience gained over time.
Valbisenzio Cashmere
A short supply chain that is conscious of the Val di Bisenzio area, where cashmere is processed with sartorial criteria and attention to raw materials. The garments are produced in limited numbers, designed to last, following the slow and consistent rhythm of Tuscan textile craftsmanship.
Traversari – Commesso Fiorentino
A historic workshop specializing in the technique of “commesso fiorentino”, a type of semi-precious stone inlay renowned since the Renaissance. Each piece is a mosaic of fragments of marble and natural minerals, cut and polished by hand according to a precise and rigorous tradition.
In dialogue with them, there will also be two producers who share the same attention to craftsmanship cultivated by The Kitchen & The Bar and the Foundation: realities linked to the territory, the quality of raw materials, and work that comes from time and experience. Presences that harmonize with the spirit of the initiative, in an intertwining of hands, earth, and flavors.
Consorzio della Cinta Senese DOP
The Consorzio della Cinta Senese DOP protects and promotes one of the rarest excellences of Tuscan agriculture. The Cinta Senese DOP is a native breed of pig raised in limited numbers, according to practices that combine farming experience and artisanal care. Every stage of the supply chain—from breeding to meat processing—is carried out with careful manual attention and expertise, respecting the timing and quality of the final product. The animals are raised in a semi-wild state in the woods and hillside pastures, feeding naturally: a sustainable model that produces meat and cured meats with a distinctive character. The Consortium brings together breeders and producers who, with their artisan knowledge, preserve a supply chain of excellence that is recognized and appreciated throughout Italy.
Castello di Ama – Chianti Classico
A historic winery in the heart of Chianti Classico, where the production of distinctive wines coexists with an important site-specific contemporary art program. A place where landscape, culture, and agricultural sensibility have been in dialogue for over forty years. For the occasion, Purple Rose, a rosé made from Sangiovese grapes; Il Chiuso 2022, an expression of Pinot Noir grown in Ama; and Montebuoni 2021, a Chianti Classico Riserva that reflects the structure and elegance of the territory, will be offered.
The evening, accompanied by the creations of chef Asso Migliore, offers guests the opportunity to taste, converse, and get to know the protagonists up close.
An invitation to beauty and sharing
With this event, The Kitchen & The Bar renews its vocation to be more than a restaurant: a place where flavors, stories, and people intertwine, transforming conviviality into a gesture of beauty, craftsmanship, and solidarity.
THE PLACE of WONDERS Foundation
The THE PLACE of WONDERS Foundation is a social responsibility project promoted by the Babini family, owners of The Hospitality Experience collection. Founded in 2023, its goal is to defend, promote, and transmit Italian craftsmanship, creating concrete opportunities for young people through scholarships and training courses in the most prestigious workshops.
Chaired by Michela Canzi Blanc and inspired by Claudio Meli, the Foundation now operates in Florence, Venice, and Perugia, with programs that include three-year scholarships, immersive experiences, and projects that combine hospitality, craftsmanship, and community. Since 2023, it has already funded over 30 scholarships, transforming every gesture of solidarity into a cultural and human investment.
Participation is by donation, which will go towards supporting the programs of the THE PLACE of WONDERS Foundation.
Information and reservations
The Kitchen & The Bar – THE PLACE Florence
Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 7 – 50123 Florence
www.theplacefirenze.com – Tel. +39 055 26 45 181
