At the gates of Florence, with a magnificent view of the city and the dome of its Duomo, the restaurant is located inside the luxury resort Il Salviatino where the heritage of the histrionic chef Giacomo Bulleri intertwines with the refined decorative art of the designer and owner Alessandra Rovati Vitali.
Sometimes there are homecomings that are designs of destiny. Our story begins when, at a very young age, Giacomo Bulleri leaves Tuscany and, after having worked his way up in Turin, in 1958 he opens his first restaurant in via Donizetti in Milan, dedicated to the good food and conviviality typical of his homeland.
It is a success that grows over the years until the restaurants “da Giacomo” become a classic of Italian hospitality, frequented by both local regulars and celebrities from all over the world, with several locations in Milan and Lombardy.
Since 1958, Giacomo’s restaurants have been synonymous with good food, a culinary parlor made of encounters, warmth, kindness and great Italian cuisine.
In 2023, the Rovati family, already founders of the Luigi Rovati Foundation Art Museum in Milan and of various activities in the hospitality sector, acquired the group, bringing Giacomo “symbolically” back home to Tuscany with the gastronomic project of the restaurant of the 5-star hotel Il Salviatino opened in 2017 just outside Florence, on the hills near Fiesole, by Alessandra Rovati Vitali, its muse and creator of the famous brand Tearose.
An attention to the authenticity of the recipes and the high-level hospitality today carried forward by chef Rudy Saderi chef and maître d’ Luigi Cagnazzi who offer a menu that combines simplicity and refinement, using aromatic herbs, vegetables from the resort’s organic garden and a careful selection of local raw materials.
The setting for this gastronomic experience is the wonderful panoramic terrace of Il Salviatino with a view of the Italian garden and the skyline of Florence and, in winter, the magnificent historic rooms of the hotel, including the Library and the Orangerie Sala Affresco, as well as the open kitchen that recalls memories of grandma’s pantries with its chef table.
On the menu, we find many of Giacomo’s delicious traditional dishes, such as the tartare of red prawns from Mazara and mandarin sorbet, or the tortelli cacio e pepe, tartare of red prawns, lime and bottarga and the tagliatelle with wild boar ragù.
And even though Giacomo is famous for his fish dishes, such as fried fish or the catch of the day served in various preparations, here of course you can’t miss the traditional Bistecca alla Fiorentina.
The wine list is excellent, containing the best of the Tuscan tradition with forays into the major wine-growing regions of the world.
On Sunday lunchtime, Da Giacomo Al Salviatino transforms itself for its famous Brunch: a banquet set up for the occasion, where guests are invited to serve themselves at the various stations that cross the beautiful halls of the hotel.
The Secret
In 1914 the villa became the home of Ugo Ojetti, a famous writer and journalist, who used to host the great artists and men of letters of the time with whom he entertained himself, from Gabriele D’Annunzio to Salvador Dalì.
Useful Info
Da Giacomo Al Salviatino
Via del Salviatino 21
50137 Firenze
Tel. +39 055 9041111
Starters: from 28 euro
First courses: from 28 euro
Second courses: from 28 euro
Brunch set menu (for Nov to Jan): 110 euro adults, 50 euro children
