THE CAFFE THAT STOLE MY HEART
Every time I speak with my friends living abroad, they ask me what my go-to spot is. Invariably, I answer the Armani Caffè, located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Reopened during the Paris Fashion Week in September 2016, I was amazed by the new SO Armani concept. When talking about Giorgio Armani and his empire (ranging from luxury clothing, cosmetics, interior design to restaurants and hotels), the word elegance, in all its meaning, is coming up to my mind.
With its metallic grey atmosphere, the Armani Caffè has this discretion that only true luxury can confer to a place. The superb bay window gives you a view on the mythic Café de Flore, allowing you to see without being seen. If you would rather be out of people sight, a little lounge is located upstairs - perfect for meetings or in my case working an a blog.
FYI: The Armani Caffè is composed of two entities: the caffè and the gastronomic restaurant. This is so good it can't be true!
I know what you are going to ask me. What about the food? Amazing.
Massimo Mori and Massimo Tringali's work on the caffè and the restaurant is just outstanding. Obviously, I am talking about Italian food, and by Italian food I mean that all the ingredients are produced in Italia from some of the finest producers. Some of the plates are also composed of rare ingredients such as pastas with truffles. Yummy!
Lately, I tried the Stracciatella de Burrata, the Vitello Tonnato the Carbonara Tradizionale, the Tagliata di Tonno and the Tiramisu (photos below). And you know what, I recommend them all.
If you just want to have a drink for the aperitivo, try at least the Presecco, one of Italian wines from the selection, a Spritz or an Amaretto Sour.
For all the cappuccino lovers, we all know that the Italian ones are incomparables. And you know what, they are true Italian cappuccini! Go for it guys! However, if you prefer tea, the Armani selection is one of the best I know in Paris. I completely in love the Lotus and the Rose Petals one. I even bought a box of it for my place!
#DETAILSMATTER
There are lot of high standard restaurants and brasseries in Paris - A LOT! So when it comes to stand out there are a few details that matter: the menu, the atmosphere, the location and the service.
As you already know, the location, the food and the atmosphere are amazing.
However, the truly most important criteria to my eyes is the service. A bad service can ruin the entire experience. You don't have to be a VIP to enjoy a great service and to be recognize when you are a regular customer of the restaurant.
Whenever I go to the Armani Caffè, as I come quite often, the waiters that recognize me come to say hi, even if they don't serve me. It gives you the feeling to be special. Another anecdote: recently I enjoyed a meal with a friend, we wanted to share pastas. We mentioned it to the waiter. You know what they did? They divided the pastas in two plates of equal size. This kind of attention makes your experience even better.
Oh and one last detail! We all have friends that eat vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free and I can be a nightmare when organizing a lunch or a diner at a restaurant. You want a no brainer? Go to the Armani Caffè!
So now you know where to find me, guys. If we happen to meet there, come say hi! I would love to have a chat with you. In any case, keep me posted about your experience at the Armani Caffè by leaving comments below!
ARMANI CAFFÈ INFORMATIONS:
149 boulevard Saint-Germain 75006 Paris
+33 1 45 48 62 15
(Photo credit: 4am Journal)