Minor Hotels Elevates Italy’s UNESCO Designated Culinary Heritage Through Six Distinguished Signature Dining Destinations

Italian cuisine, officially recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is far more than a collection of recipes: it is a language shaped by memory and territory. A living knowledge that reveals itself through travel—by crossing places, traditions and regional identities—and which, across Minor Hotels’ properties in Italy, becomes a gastronomic experience capable of narrating the Bel Paese through its flavours.

From the northern elegance of Venice to the sundrenched sophistication of the Amalfi Coast, Minor Hotels curates an extraordinary culinary voyage through Italy’s most iconic destinations. Each stop reveals a distinct expression of Italian heritage reimagined through the vision of award‑-winning‑ chefs: intimate fine dining rooted in Venetian tradition, refined gastronomic artistry in Florence, contemporary haute cuisine in the heart of Rome, and Mediterranean brilliance overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.

In Venice, where culinary art converses with the suspended rhythm of the lagoon, the restaurant Da Lorenzo – Al Giardino Segreto by Paulo Airaudo, located inside the renowned NH Collection Venezia Grand Hotel Palazzo dei Dogi, offers an intimate dining experience deeply connected to the soul of the city. Within the walls of a historic 17th century palace, the restaurant overlooks one of the oldest private gardens in Venice. Under the guidance of Michelin‑ starred‑ Chef Paulo Airaudo, the menu — featured in the MICHELIN Guide — takes shape as contemporary Italian cuisine enriched with international influences. The tasting journeys reinterpret Venetian heritage through technique, creativity and a rigorous respect for seasonality.

The same equilibrium between memory and modernity defines Florence, expressed through a culinary identity that is both refined and deeply rooted in the territory. At Terrae Restaurant, located within Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi Firenze Hotel, the fine dining experience is shaped by Michelin‑ starred Chef Patronne Iside De Cesare together with Resident Chef Salvatore Canargiu‑. Signature creations, such as Cartellata with rabbit and preserved peppers or handmade “garlic, extra virgin olive oil and chili” ravioli, fish soup, reflect a philosophy in which fresh pasta serves as the connective thread between craftsmanship, sustainability and a genuine sense of place. Evolving month by month in harmony with the seasons, the menu highlights local ingredients while honouring Tuscan’s enduring culinary heritage.

In the heart of the Eternal City, on the iconic Piazza della Repubblica, INEO Restaurant at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel stands as a true landmark of contemporary haute cuisine. Awarded one prestigious MICHELIN star, the restaurant—helmed by Executive Chef Heros De Agostinis—embraces a culinary philosophy he defines as creative métissage: a refined dialogue between Italian heritage and global influences, enriched by spices, techniques and inspirations gathered throughout his international career. Offering an elevated selection of tasting journeys and à‑lacarte creations, INEO also distinguishes itself through its exceptional bread programme. With only 22 seats, the restaurant embodies an atmosphere of rare intimacy and exclusivity, where meticulous attention to detail and a strong sense‑ of personality transform every moment into a sophisticated, memorable gastronomic experience.

For those wishing to experience Rome through a cuisine that blends elegance, creativity and true Italian flair, Oro Bistrot Restaurant by Natale Giunta at NH Collection Roma Fori Imperiali offers a journey through flavours with an unmistakably Italian soul. The renowned Sicilian chef reinterprets tradition with a forward-looking sensibility, elevating seasonal ingredients and premium raw materials in a setting adorned with sophisticated gold and aquamarine accents inspired by the sun and the wisdom of ancient Greece. Set atop a panoramic rooftop with unique, front‑ row‑ views of the Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II and the Roman Forum, the dining experience becomes an exceptional encounter with both gastronomy and the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Also in the Eternal City, in the Prati district, Antéla Restaurant at NH Collection Roma Centro presents itself as an urban oasis with a private garden, where gastronomy and mixology blend harmoniously. Here too, the culinary vision is signed by Natale Giunta, offering a selection that ranges from exquisite raw seafood to innovative creations such as spaghetti with coconut milk and olive crumble, paired with a wine list featuring iconic labels and a curated selection of independent producers. The cocktail bar completes the experience with a menu inspired by famous Latin maxims, transformed into stories meant to be savoured.

This dialogue between cuisine and landscape finds one of its most evocative expressions along the Amalfi Coast. Suspended between sky and sea, the signature restaurant Dei Cappuccini at Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel, housed within a restored 13^th century Capuchin convent perched above the Mediterranean, offers a refined culinary tribute to the flavours of southern Italy. Blending monastic heritage with contemporary elegance, Dei‑ Cappuccini showcases the finest local ingredients and traditional Amalfitan recipes reimagined with modern finesse, all framed by sweeping views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. From sunset aperitivi to intimate cliffside dinners, each experience invites guests on a sensory journey that celebrates the authentic spirit of the Amalfi Coast in one of its most breathtaking and historically rich settings.