MILAN, ITALY — There’s a delightful and luxe culinary destination in Italy’s fashion capital called Torre restaurant. Situated on the sixth and seventh floors of the famed Fondazione Prada, Torre covers an area of more than 200 m², divided into two areas: the bar and the restaurant.
Torre Restaurant
The space, described by Rem Koolhaas as a “collage of pre-existing themes and elements”, comprises two areas characterised by the contrast between large floor-to-ceiling windows and the warm tones of the parquet, walnut panelling and hemp panels covering the walls.
The bar features a central counter with a spectacular suspended bottle rack displaying international spirits and liqueurs, creating an evocative dialogue between the interior and the spacious terrace, which overlooks an ever-changing urban panorama. To the left is a fireplace surrounded by Soviet armchairs and Tulip tables by Eero Saarinen.
This area features two works by Lucio Fontana: Fireplace Hood (1949) and Head of Medusa (1948–54). The artist’s polychrome ceramic piece Pilastro (1947) leads into the restaurant dining room.
The dining area, with a capacity of 84 seated guests, is arranged across three staggered levels to create an ideal perspective. The first two levels are furnished with wooden tables and Eero Saarinen’s Executive chairs, and feature a selection of paintings and photographs by Thomas Demand, Jeff Koons, Goshka Macuga and Federico Pompignoli of the OMA architectural firm.
Torre Restaurant
Drawing inspiration from the tradition of Italian restaurants, the walls display art plates created for Torre by John Baldessari, Thomas Demand, Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg, among others, as part of a series that remains open to new contributions.
The outdoor terrace, with its triangular layout, overlooks the urban landscape and has a capacity for 20 guests. Torre provides a hub for meeting and socialising, enhanced by a view that offers one of Milan’s most enchanting sunsets.
Simplicity blends with unexpected techniques to create unique flavours. Above all, Torre is about the authenticity of genuine, seasonal ingredients. The principles of ethical cooking and the careful handling of raw ingredients guide the cuisine of Lorenzo Lunghi, chef at Torre. Suppliers are carefully selected from across Italy’s gastronomic landscape, including Macelleria Varvara in Altamura and rice from Riserva San Massimo.
Food at Torre Restaurant
Every scrap left over from the kitchen is given a new lease of life, transformed into crisps, vinegars, sauces and flavoured oils. Leftovers from the bar are likewise transformed into condiments such as mandarin or bergamot kosho.
Within Torre’s gastronomic approach, every detail thus finds its precise place in the culinary mosaic that Chef Lunghi expresses to the full through the tasting menu. In addition to the à la carte menu, the gastronomic offering includes a seven-course tasting menu that changes frequently to reflect the micro-seasons of Northern Italy and the seasonality of the fish, encapsulating the chef’s dynamism and creativity. It is a free-form menu in which seasonality, harmony, balance, sustainability and flavour come together.
This culinary dynamism is reflected in the cocktail menu, which takes centre stage at the bar, as well as in the wine list. The bar’s offering ranges from classics given a fresh twist to more original creations. Torre’s Signature selection brings together some of its most iconic cocktails, such as the Taste of Negroni—a tasting of four reinterpretations of the Negroni crafted by Torre’s bartenders—or the Torre-style Dirty Martini, made with Sipsmith Gin, Torre dirty sauce and salty vermouth.
Food at Torre Restaurant
The menu is also enriched with seasonal cocktails, created around a single unifying theme. Currently, the selection is inspired by the most ancient Eastern philosophies. The new cocktail list explores the seven chakras: earth, water, fire, air, sound, light and thought.
The extensive wine list strikes a perfect balance between natural wines, indigenous grape varieties, niche products and the very best offerings from both large and small Italian producers, giving guests the chance to embark on a stimulating wine-tasting experience. This unexpected selection welcomes guests with renowned names – including Bollinger, Pascal Cotatte and Conterno – alongside carefully chosen wineries from across Europe and the Middle East.
On the seventh floor, one can find the Chef’s Table, an exclusive private space with personalised service. The area features a glass wall offering a view of the kitchens, as well as a private terrace. The Chef’s Table is an intimate setting, ideal for enjoying the exclusive seven-course tasting menu in close contact with chef Lorenzo Lunghi.
by Chidozie Obasi
Find Ristorante Torre at Via Lorenzini 14, 20139 Milan. Open Wednesday to Friday, from 6 pm to midnight; Saturday and Sunday, from 12 pm to midnight.