DATA SHEET
Owner: Campari Group
Interior design: Lissoni Associati
Furnishings: DePadova, Knoll, Living Divani, Olivari, Salvatori
Lighting: Flos, Oluce
Bathroom: Fantini Rubinetti
Photo credits: courtesy of Il Camparino
An institution in Milan for over a century. The Camparino in Galleria reopens its doors in a completely renovated guise, in terms of both interior design and the food & drink experience.
The studio Lissoni Associati has picked up the legacy and modernized it, without disrupting its original beauty, but bringing it out as it were, in keeping with the style of the Art Nouveau era on which it is based.
Restyling of the Camparino in the Galleria
Three levels, three different spirits, ideally connected by a full-height wall decorated with the original historic bottles and objects that tell the story of the brand.
Directly facing the magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Sala Spiritello, on the first floor – containing the work ‘Spiritello’ by the painter and illustrator Leonetto Cappiello, made in 1921 – features a true icon of the Campari brand. The space develops around the central counter (redesigned to enhance the preparation of cocktails), with luminous reflecting facings with a grosgrain effect; the image conveys a sense of uniformity thanks to the flooring (in Venetian terrazzo), the walls, clad in walnut lined paneling, and a luminous suspended ceiling supplying a cloak of soft light.
Spiritello Room
In the Bar di Passo, on the ground floor, the conservative restoration has made the space even more enjoyable, relying on the Liberty heritage, from the counter to the lights, the coffered ceiling to the floral mosaic by the painter Angelo D’Andrea, which has become the symbol of this bar.
Finally, the basement spaces (once used for storage) have been revitalized to create the new Sala Gaspare Campari, utilized for bartending courses, tastings and private events.
“In this project we have tried to be as ‘quiet’ as possible, to be honest and sincere with the historic part of this venue – says the architect Piero Lissoni. – Our work as architects has been to add a small touch of modernity, but it has been an interpretation, as when a musical score is played by someone else. I imagined the contrast between classic, natural elegance and modernity, in a marvelous hybrid between Camparino in Galleria, our project and the cuisine of Davide Oldani.”
Passo’s Bar
“For me, Camparino is not just a place for an aperitif, but also a place where things happen, from morning to evening. Not simply a bar… it is simply Camparino.”
Gaspare Room
The history of Milan seen throught the Camparino
The collaboration with Davide Oldani – a chef with ties to the city, who for Camparino has developed a new modern, informal cuisine – is just the latest development in the symbiotic relationship between the venue and the history of Milan.
Founded in 1915 by Davide Campari, the Camparino was created as the “little brother of Caffè Campari,” but it soon became a reference point, synonymous with an aperitif in town. The location has a way of generating a true ritual of social contact – constantly reprised and appreciated even today – also involving illustrious figures and intellectuals: Arrigo Boito, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and other exponents of Italian Futurism frequented the place, contributing to make it a true Milanese institution.
