Pepe Barra Italiana: Luca Fantin's show kitchen overlooking Milan
Amazement is the first feeling you experience when entering Pepe – Barra Italiana, the new restaurant from the Langosteria Group that recently opened on the fourth floor of Palazzo Lancia, between Montenapoleone and San Babila. Milan flows beneath the windows, but it's what happens inside that steals the show.
The project, designed by the Fendi architecture team, plays on a vibrant, material palette: brick-red suspended hoods, terracotta surfaces, and Alicante marble. Thirty-six guests are seated at the bar, with another 16 spread across the counters beneath the windows and the bar, where an Italian aperitivo—including mixology classics and select bitters—leads to a contemporary experience that feels like a live show, in a constant, convivial dialogue between the audience and the kitchen.
Orchestrating it all is the excellent Luca Fantin, who returns to Italy after more than fifteen years at the helm of Bulgari Il Ristorante Luca Fantin in Tokyo. He's inspired by an ambitious and innovative project that celebrates Italy through its most iconic dishes. "We've worked on techniques to lighten traditional recipes," explains the chef, who will also oversee the brand's future Italian and international openings, "without sacrificing depth. We wanted dishes that were even tastier, but also more delicate. Ours is a clear, straightforward proposal, with few rules and no pressure on the guest. Generosity, not ego, is what counts. We've returned to the essence of Italian cuisine, beyond trends."
Among the menu's highlights are the grilled salad, Roman-style artichokes, Fassona beef tartare alla Pepe, and Valdostana veal. But above all, the Tagliatelle Giallo a Milano, a delicious and balanced reinterpretation of Milanese risotto, destined to become the restaurant's bestseller. The menu also features pan pizzas, accompanied by an excellent selection of cheeses and cured meats. The menu concludes with desserts by Daniele Bonzi, including a nostalgic (and irresistible) Rice pudding with vanilla. The impressive wine list is curated—as at other Langosteria restaurants—by Valentina Bertini.
The building is a true gastronomic hub for the Group: one floor up is Langosteria Montenapoleone, the brand's latest addition, and on the sixth floor is Langosteria Ally's Bar, a private lounge (with a terrace) where you can taste excellent signature dishes.
