Za?a, a star on the Milanese food scene with a Middle Eastern flavour

In the shadow of the Darsena, an area that is constantly teeming with new trends – but how could it be otherwise in the beating heart of Milan design week? – there is an outstanding new addition to the city’s restaurants.

Za?a restaurant opened in the spring of this year, which is now drawing to a close. It is located in the Aethos Hotels Milan complex, which is part of an international chain of hotels, in a building that was previously occupied by the English-inspired concept hotel The Yard. It offers a place of refuge wrapped in a warm atmosphere, decorated with designer pieces. Its 32 suites and annex are adorned with design details, with retro touches and vintage furnishings that give its rooms a powerful identity, the result of the previous owners' incredible passion for collecting pieces that are eclectic as they are expertly coordinated, to which the current owners have added further enhancements.

The new restaurant subscribes to the philosophy of drawing on elements from all over the world and condensing them into a journey that begins in the culinary traditions of the Mediterranean, the roots of the menu, and travels to the Middle East. It offers a symphony of flavours rather than just dishes. The keywords here are pleasing the palate and conviviality: first courses, main courses and the classic boundaries disappear, to be replaced by the special experiences of each single course, which are like a separate island within an archipelago. Za?a is open for lunch, dinner and an exclusive Sunday brunch. It opens the doors to a multisensory journey.

The vision of its chefs Gigi Gagliardi and Dario Guffanti is to celebrate exotic aromas and traditional Italian elements. It surprises us with exceptional ingredients and daring combinations all the way through to the desserts. These culinary masters were trained at world-renowned temples of gastronomy, from Carlo e Camilla in Segheria to Maio, and at Il Marchesino, under the aegis of the legendary Gualtiero Marchesi.

The restaurant’s interior is the work of the Spanish designer Astet Studios, which has used relaxing tones like wood and dark green, with hints of shades such as pastel pink, mixed with a variety of materials in natural tones. The designer's aim was to create a warm atmosphere to be experienced in company. There is an open kitchen, a stage on which the brigade can be seen among pans and flames. A velvet curtain separates the restaurant area from the exclusive Aethos Club, which provides an oasis of calm in a private, intimate space.

The club is a crossroads for a cosmopolitan clientele. It offers a place of refuge in which its customers can relax, promote their exterior and inner well-being and form bonds and a sense of community that is the essence of how the Aethos brand approaches its customers. From art events to culinary evenings, the club's calendar covers a range of activities designed to satisfy the inclinations of all its members: joining it not only guarantee access to Za?a and the Doping Bar, but also open the doors to the hotel’s fitness area and a series of privileges that vary according to the chosen membership level.

Over the years, the Doping Bar has made its mark as a corner of luxury with a timeless British touch. It is a sophisticated, refined space with an atmosphere of London that has remained unchanged despite its recent restyling. It is a point of reference not just because of its memorable visible impact, with its vintage sofas, dim lighting and collections of antiques and memorabilia, but also thanks to its cutting-edge drinks menu, where iconic blends are interpreted with a cosmopolitan twist resulting in compositions with totally original flavour profiles created from the special skills of the bar's mixologists. It is a place that anyone who wants to taste cocktails that push the boundaries of creativity accompanied by Italian cuisine absolutely must visit.

Published on Claudia Chiari Blog