Lunch at Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura

Sezane dress (similar)
H&M heels
Louis Vuitton handbag
Zara sunglasses (similar)
Wolf Circus necklace (similar)
& Other Stories necklace (similar)
Madewell rings
Location: Gucci Garden – Florence, Italy

The moment I discovered the Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, I knew we had to visit. To be clear, the discovery came after we booked our tickets to Florence; the fact that the iconic brand opened their restaurant in the European city we visited this year was pure happenstance. In fact, I will go so far as to admit that until recently, I wasn’t a great fan of Gucci. I admire the history and craftsmanship of the Italian design house, there is no doubt about it. But most of their designs have always felt a bit over the top for me.

It was Gucci’s customer service that converted me. I began an ultimately fruitless search for one of their belts over a year ago. I never did find it, but every sales person I spoke to in every boutique across Europe, Canada and the United States went out of their way to help with my treasure hunt. When I bought my beloved Gucci bag in DC, the service was equally exceptional. After that, I was hooked. I’ll probably still never wear a lot of Gucci, but I will forever be a member of the Gucci gang.

Naturally, we had to eat at the Gucci Osteria. As far as I know, it’s the only luxury fashion restaurant in the world aside from Ralph’s – which I love, but don’t consider to be quite the same, considering how many outposts it has all over the world, each with identical decor and menus. The Gucci Osteria is unique – a special destination for fans of the brand in the city where it all began.

For me, the meal at the Gucci Osteria was all about the experience. The restaurant is part of Gucci Garden, a larger complex dedicated to all things Gucci that houses a museum and two colourful boutiques that sell exclusive designs. When we arrived, a bit early for our reservation, I perused both stores at a leisurely pace, capturing far more iPhone photos than strictly necessary and seriously contemplating the purchase of a Gucci Garden hoodie. (I eventually came to my senses – but barely.) Since we had reserved an early lunch, at least by Italian standards, I was allowed to choose my table along the turquoise velvet banquet. I chose a seat right in the middle of the action and eagerly awaited the arrival of my bright pink menu. It was as perfectly eccentric as I imagined. And don’t get me started on the Bloom-patterned crockery…

If our visit to the Gucci Osteria was all about the experience for me, it was all about the food for Ian. And neither one of us left disappointed. We chose a tasting menu, which offered an amuse-bouche, four dishes, and dessert. And we shared a bottle of Lambrusco, deep red sparkling wine, because when in Italy, it only seems right. (Admittedly, after all that food and wine, I went straight home for a nap.) We continue to struggle to say what our favourite dish was – the hamburger, served in a pink Gucci box, was adorable beyond measure. But the flavour of the citrusy quinoa salad with a rainbow of sliced carrots was positively divine – nothing like what I think of when I see the word salad, which is a type of food I would almost never choose to eat if it weren’t required.

Still, it’s hard to say, because I loved everything. The food, the atmosphere, the decor… it was all so perfectly Gucci, making the meal a truly immersive experience. I would visit again in a heartbeat – in fact, if there hadn’t be so much amazing food to sample in Florence, we likely would have found a way to visit twice in the one week we spent there!