{"id":156811,"date":"2025-07-31T11:11:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T09:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/?p=156811"},"modified":"2025-09-03T11:18:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T09:18:11","slug":"the-heart-of-the-hotel-four-seasons-florence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/editorials\/the-heart-of-the-hotel-four-seasons-florence\/","title":{"rendered":"The Heart of the Hotel: Four Seasons Florence"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-125270″ back_image=”156599″ overlay_color=”color-125270″ overlay_alpha=”60″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”193083″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette” overlay_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”777078″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”3″ mobile_visibility=”yes”][vc_empty_space empty_h=”4″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”825806″ el_class=”home-events”]<\/p>\n

Four Seasons Florence<\/h2>\n

Bar is the Heart of the Hotel<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This year, in association with Altamura Distilleries, I\u2019ll be exploring some of the world\u2019s most legendary bars\u2014uncovering what makes them the beating heart of the hotel. Our next stop is Florence![\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space empty_h=”3″ mobile_visibility=”yes”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”113802″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”185297″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Episode #2<\/span><\/h1>\n

Bartolomeo Scala\u2019s motto really should have been Accomodatevi \u2013 Please, make yourself comfortable!<\/em> Of course, I know it was Gradiam\u2014\u201dstep-by-step\u201d\u2014literally carved in stone above the door of what was once his home and is now the magnificent Four Seasons Florence. Gradiam may well have been a clever play on his surname (scala meaning \u2018ladder\u2019 in Italian) and his remarkable rise from miller\u2019s son to trusted advisor of Florence\u2019s most powerful ruler, Lorenzo de\u2019 Medici. But today, every inch of the building he designed is an invitation to accomodatevi-no more so than its two bars \u2013 the Atrium Bar and Berni\u2019s.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ inverted_device_order=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”104098″ back_color_type=”uncode-solid” back_color_solid=”#f3eee7″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_horizontal=”left” position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”154791″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”938011″ el_class=”new-class-13″]It\u2019s easy to be swept away by the sheer beauty of the Four Seasons Florence. Spanning nearly an entire block between Via Giuseppe Giusti and Piazza Donatello, its scale hints at the grandeur within\u2014yet nothing quite prepares you for the splendor that awaits behind its historic walls.<\/p>\n

Like many Italian cities, Florence keeps many of its treasures hidden away behind plain plastered facades and imposing doors. Unless lucky enough to be invited inside, it\u2019s easy to feel left out. Today, the grand doors of the Four Season Florence stand wide open and beckoning you in are not one, not two, but four inspired takes on the city\u2019s most famous cocktail, the Negroni.<\/p>\n

One step inside and you are immediately delighted by the first of the many frescos and bas-reliefs that have survived almost 500 years. Many of these are original to Scala\u2019s time here, while others were added by later residents\u2014most notably the della Gherardesca family, who called this place home for more than three centuries starting in the 17th.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image media=”156835″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”106250″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”182520″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157012″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”238486″ media_width_pixel=”800″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”2″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ mobile_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”543854″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”272685″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”143916″ el_class=”new-class-01″]It\u2019s hardly surprising that, living at the height of the Renaissance, Bartolomeo Scala fully embraced its ideals\u2014especially the reverence for classical antiquity. When envisioning his own palazzo, he looked to the past for inspiration. His contemporary, scholar Leon Battista Alberti in his De re aedificatoria\u2014On the Art of Building, wrote…[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”124936″ el_class=”new-moduli-citazione-small”]<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the interior of the villa, the \u201cheart\u201d or \u201cbosom\u201d (\u201csinum\u201d) of the house, or atrium, is deemed the most important\u201d*<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”165749″ el_class=”new-class-01″]He took this idea and ran with it \u2013 creating not one, but two atria. How fitting, then, that I\u2019m now writing a series exploring the bar as the heart of the hotel\u2014and here, the bar bears the fortuitous name of The Atrium Bar.<\/p>\n

*Public and Private in the Writings of Leon Battista Alberti by Anne-Marie Sorrenti<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”2″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ desktop_visibility=”yes” medium_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”205121″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”272685″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”143916″ el_class=”new-class-01″]It\u2019s hardly surprising that, living at the height of the Renaissance, Bartolomeo Scala fully embraced its ideals\u2014especially the reverence for classical antiquity. When envisioning his own palazzo, he looked to the past for inspiration. His contemporary, scholar Leon Battista Alberti in his De re aedificatoria\u2014On the Art of Building, wrote…[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”124936″ el_class=”new-moduli-citazione-small”]<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the interior of the villa, the \u201cheart\u201d or \u201cbosom\u201d (\u201csinum\u201d) of the house, or atrium, is deemed the most important\u201d*<\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”165749″ el_class=”new-class-01″]He took this idea and ran with it \u2013 creating not one, but two atria. How fitting, then, that I\u2019m now writing a series exploring the bar as the heart of the hotel\u2014and here, the bar bears the fortuitous name of The Atrium Bar.<\/p>\n

*Public and Private in the Writings of Leon Battista Alberti by Anne-Marie Sorrenti<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”2″ bottom_padding=”2″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ mobile_visibility=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”913364″][vc_column column_width_percent=”95″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”835466″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”167531″][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image media=”157032″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”153904″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”915233″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”255680″ el_class=”new-class-02″]Only one step away from reception through its always open door, the Atrium Bar welcomes all from dawn to dusk\u2014whether in the need of a morning coffee or something stronger. This year, it\u2019s been nominated for the Oscars of the cocktail world: Tales of the Cocktail\u2019s Spirited Award for Best International Hotel Bar 2025. Every glass raised is a toast to Head Mixologist Edoardo Sandri and his remarkable team.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”157083″ media_width_percent=”65″ alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”161628″ el_class=”new-class-02″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/1″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”708979″ el_class=”new-class-01″]A true Florentine, Edoardo joined the team in December 2008, the same year the hotel officially opened. From the moment he walked through the doors, he knew he\u2019d found his place in the world.
\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”206881″ el_class=”new-moduli-citazione-small”]<\/p>\n

“It was like a lightning bolt. The open layout, the mirror, the ceiling\u2014I felt at home immediately. I didn\u2019t just want to work here. I knew I had to. There are no walls. There are no doors. Everyone is welcome inside this bar, whether you are a hotel guest or coming from outside, we welcome you and want you to feel at home.”<\/h3>\n

Edoardo Sandri, Head Mixologist, Atrium Bar<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”195061″ el_class=”new-class-01″]Surprisingly, in those early years, it wasn\u2019t always easy to convince locals to step inside. People used to call and ask if they were even allowed to come in for a drink. That all changed with the introduction of Sunday brunch\u2014although an American invention, here at the Atrium Bar it broke down barriers and introduced Fiorentini to a new kind of experience \u2013 the hotel bar. Modest though he may be, there\u2019s no doubt the Atrium Bar laid the groundwork for the popularity that hotel bars have now in Florence. Hotel guests required little persuasion. They were lured in not only by the classics, but also by the bar\u2019s imaginative signature cocktails\u2014reminders of just how innovative a truly great drink can be.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”621403″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157088″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”200052″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”211211″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Firenze Capitale<\/h3>\n

For 2025, the menu\u2019s inventive theme dives into the 19th century, with cocktails that reimagine classics through the lens of the era\u2019s most defining events, figures, and cultural moments. Of course, an homage to the hometown does not go amiss. Firenze Capitale harks back to the time when Florence served as Italy\u2019s capital for six brief years in the 1800s. A twist on the Americano and Champagne Cocktail, it captures the city\u2019s love of coffee and saffron at that time, combining coffee-infused Italian Mancino Vermouth and house-made saffron water kefir. Amaro Santoni adds a floral note of iris\u2014Florence\u2019s iconic symbol. All served in a glass with a mini model of the Palazzo Vecchio taking pride of place.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”113802″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157091″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”879159″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”658298″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Lira<\/h3>\n

Another Italian-themed standout is the Lira, a nod to Italy\u2019s dearly missed historic currency. A touch of the dramatic, a rice paper note shaped like the old coin is set aflame on top of the drink, sending up a mist of herbal smoke. Beneath its cognac base, barrel-aged Amaro Lucano Essenza and Artemisia hint at its inspiration \u2013 the Sazerac.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”113802″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157093″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”159426″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”123685″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Folies Berg\u00e8re<\/h3>\n

There is also a glamorous spin on the Rob Roy. The Folies Berg\u00e8re pays tribute to Paris\u2019s legendary dance theatre and its star, Josephine Baker. In a full pirouette, its profile does a 360 \u2014Altamura Vodka takes the lead in place of the usual Scotch. A jet\u00e9 of banana juice evokes her iconic skirt, while coconut oil adds a creamy glissade. Rinomato Americano White\u2014an Italian aperitivo\u2014is en pointe as a graceful substitute for sweet vermouth. It\u2019s finished with a petit pas de deux: a smoky almond that recalls the peaty depth of the original.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”113802″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157096″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”146217″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”193454″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Negronis<\/h3>\n

And of course, there are the Negronis\u2014the aforementioned four\u2014each reinterpreted by Edoardo and his team:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Vintage<\/strong>: Since 2010, Edoardo has been aging these in barrels and stored at -18\u00b0C, always served over a pristine clear ice cube.<\/p>\n

Retro<\/strong>: A distillate of Campari\u2014yes, they distill the Campari\u2014removes sugar and dials up the bitterness, balanced with white vermouth, and Plamb, an Italian orange liqueur, then aged in clay for a mineral edge.
\nVanguard<\/strong>: Mezcal and bourbon-aged Campari meet Santa Maria Novella\u2019s Alkermes- a favorite of Scala\u2019s friends, the Medicis, in a smoky, spiced tribute to Florence\u2019s most famous drugstore.
\nFuturo<\/strong>: Made with yogurt and rum, this creamy riff proves there\u2019s no limit to how far a Negroni can go.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”3″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”938639″][vc_column column_width_percent=”95″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”100338″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”164554″][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”691490″ el_class=”new-class-07″]After a Negroni or two, you might feel the pull of the stone path leading you through one of central Florence\u2019s largest private gardens. There you will be introduced to The Atrium\u2019s casual cousin \u2013 Berni\u2019s. [\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”157101″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”423260″ el_class=”new-class-02″ media_width_pixel=”800″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”121568″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”879206″ el_class=”new-class-02″]Berni\u2019s is short for Bernardo del Nero, namesake of Palazzo del Nero-now the newest wing of the Four Seasons Florence. Sadly, unlike his neighbor Bartolomeo Scala, Bernardo wasn\u2019t so lucky. He was beheaded after attempting to overthrow the notorious Dominican cleric Savonarola and restore Piero de\u2019 Medici, Lorenzo\u2019s son and sadly known as Piero the Unfortunate, to power in the late 15th century. It\u2019s not quite a political comeback\u2014but it\u2019s certainly a more glamorous ending.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ mobile_visibility=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”173107″][vc_column column_width_percent=”95″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”835466″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”167531″][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”994177″][vc_single_image media=”157103″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”159478″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”915233″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”209352″ el_class=”new-class-02″]The garden at Berni\u2019s is open year-round, both inside and out, and has an easygoing, casual vibe. The bar team wears khaki jackets and even sneakers. Once again, you can hear Bartolomeo\u2019s battle cry, Accomodatevi!\u2014\u201dMake yourself comfortable.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”113802″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157106″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”105641″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”108706″ el_class=”new-class-01″]This relaxed approach is underscored by Berni\u2019s Bar Manager, Antonello Palermo, a veteran of the Atrium Bar who was brought on to launch this second bar at the Four Seasons, which opened in September 2024. With the debut of Onde Restaurant in the same Palazzo del Nero\u2014its menu inspired by the flavors of the Tuscan coast\u2014Antonello proposed a cocktail program to match. His vision? Drinks rooted in the history, herbs, and ingredients of Tuscany\u2019s seven islands: Elba, Giglio, Giannutri, Capraia, Pianosa, Montecristo, and Gorgona.
\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”867609″ el_class=”new-moduli-citazione-small”]<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s your first experience at the hotel. When you check in you are asked, \u201cWould you like a drink while you\u2019re waiting? That\u2019s going to be from the bar. You might not go to the restaurant, you might not go to the spa, but for sure you\u2019re gonna have a least a coffee at the bar. It\u2019s a place you pass by at least once.”<\/h3>\n

Antonello Palermo, Bar Manager, Berni\u2019s Bar<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ mobile_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”117343″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157109″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”204777″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”214237″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

The Elba<\/h3>\n

One of the most popular drinks on the menu is The Elba, inspired by the island\u2019s storied past. Napoleon was exiled there, and it\u2019s known for its chestnut honey (which may have inspired his use of the bee as a royal symbol), apple orchards, and the many minerals that made it famous, like tourmaline and hematite. Antonello\u2019s riff on a French 75 brings all of that together: chestnut honey, apple juice, and Altamura Vodka are combined with a white vermouth from Mugello, then topped with Champagne and finished with a green apple foam. It\u2019s one of the few originals that\u2019s carried over onto the 2025 menu, which now features cocktails inspired by all nine of Italy\u2019s major islands\u2014including Sardinia and Pantelleria in Sicily.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ desktop_visibility=”yes” medium_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”117846″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157109″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”743310″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”834902″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

The Elba<\/h3>\n

One of the most popular drinks on the menu is The Elba, inspired by the island\u2019s storied past. Napoleon was exiled there, and it\u2019s known for its chestnut honey (which may have inspired his use of the bee as a royal symbol), apple orchards, and the many minerals that made it famous, like tourmaline and hematite. Antonello\u2019s riff on a French 75 brings all of that together: chestnut honey, apple juice, and Altamura Vodka are combined with a white vermouth from Mugello, then topped with Champagne and finished with a green apple foam. It\u2019s one of the few originals that\u2019s carried over onto the 2025 menu, which now features cocktails inspired by all nine of Italy\u2019s major islands\u2014including Sardinia and Pantelleria in Sicily.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ mobile_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”117343″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157112″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”713268″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”261934″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Capraia<\/h3>\n

A favorite on the original menu was the Capraia, named after the goats (capra) that once roamed the island. Capraia is the only volcanic island of the Tuscan nine. Wild mirto (myrtle) plant runs rampant and is used to make a local liqueur. A smoky take on the Negroni: mezcal replaces gin, mirto liqueur for Campari, Cocchi Dopo Teatro\u2014fortified with Barolo Chinato\u2014adds richness as the vermouth. Lest we forget the island\u2019s most important denizens, it is all clarified with goat yogurt for a silky texture and a touch of salinity, then finished with a mist of basil, also found on the island.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ desktop_visibility=”yes” medium_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”117846″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157112″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”165824″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”121503″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Capraia<\/h3>\n

A favorite on the original menu was the Capraia, named after the goats (capra) that once roamed the island. Capraia is the only volcanic island of the Tuscan nine. Wild mirto (myrtle) plant runs rampant and is used to make a local liqueur. A smoky take on the Negroni: mezcal replaces gin, mirto liqueur for Campari, Cocchi Dopo Teatro\u2014fortified with Barolo Chinato\u2014adds richness as the vermouth. Lest we forget the island\u2019s most important denizens, it is all clarified with goat yogurt for a silky texture and a touch of salinity, then finished with a mist of basil, also found on the island.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ mobile_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”117343″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157116″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”212188″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”183488″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Tremiti<\/h3>\n

On the new menu, we head down Puglia. A reinterpretation of the Capraia cocktail, the Tremiti pays homage to the bishops who were sent to the islands before ascending to cardinalship. It\u2019s not much of a leap to clock this as a twist on the classic Cardinale \u2013 traditionally a mix of gin, Campari, and dry vermouth. On the Tremiti Islands, it wasn\u2019t goats but sheep doing the roaming, so naturally, this version is clarified with sheep\u2019s yogurt instead. The bitter bite comes courtesy of Cynar, a nod to the wild artichokes growing across the island, rounded out with vermouth from Puglia. Oregano\u2014a native herb of the Tremiti\u2014is used to garnish the cocktail, the heady aroma whisks you straight to the sun-soaked heel of Italy with a single sniff.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ desktop_visibility=”yes” medium_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”117846″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_single_image media=”157116″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”879778″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”201782″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Tremiti<\/h3>\n

On the new menu, we head down Puglia. A reinterpretation of the Capraia cocktail, the\u00a0Tremiti\u00a0<\/em>pays homage to the bishops who were sent to the islands before ascending to cardinalship. It\u2019s not much of a leap to clock this as a twist on the classic Cardinale \u2013 traditionally a mix of gin, Campari, and dry vermouth. On the Tremiti Islands, it wasn\u2019t goats but sheep doing the roaming, so naturally, this version is clarified with sheep\u2019s yogurt instead. The bitter bite comes courtesy of Cynar, a nod to the wild artichokes growing across the island, rounded out with vermouth from Puglia. Oregano\u2014a native herb of the Tremiti\u2014is used to garnish the cocktail, the heady aroma whisks you straight to the sun-soaked heel of Italy with a single sniff.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”3″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ mobile_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”106441″][vc_column column_width_percent=”95″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”100338″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”164554″][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”128320″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”179628″ el_class=”new-class-07″]So yes\u2014Bartolomeo was right with his Gradiam\u2014step by step, his palazzo has been transformed into the Four Seasons Florence, one of the most dazzling hotels in the world. But it\u2019s the spirit of Accomodatevi that makes the bars the true heart of the hotel. They\u2019re where guests become regulars, locals rediscover their own city, and cocktails transport you from the streets of Florence to the shores of Elba in a single sip\u2014no packing required.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”157121″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”150487″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”121568″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”148023″ el_class=”new-moduli-citazione-small”]<\/p>\n

“Atrium Bar is the beating heart of the property \u2014 it welcomes and envelops guests from the moment they arrive, offering a menu that blends local flavors with an international twist to create a sense of comfort and belonging. Bar Berni, by contrast, is a niche retreat: a sun-kissed hideaway nestled in our lush garden \u2014 a true oasis in the heart of the city that comes alive during aperitivo hour with live music. Together, they play distinct roles in the hotel experience. Atrium Bar sets the tone \u2014 lively, inclusive, and vibrant \u2014 while Bar Berni invites a slower rhythm, perfect for unwinding, reconnecting, or easing into dinner in a relaxed, green setting. With both, the goal is to make guests feel not just welcomed, but truly at home, wherever they are on their journey.”<\/h3>\n

Max Musto, General Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”2″ bottom_padding=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ mobile_visibility=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”923368″ row_height_pixel=”400px”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”106885″ el_class=”new-class-01″]The partnership between Altamura Distilleries and Four Seasons Hotel Firenze began after the first Cortina Cocktail Weekend in 2022. Since their introduction, the relationship has flourished through exclusive events and curated experiences that highlight the best of both brands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Edoardo elegantly describes: “Most vodkas are quite similar, but Altamura is different. It\u2019s not just about the aromatic profile\u2014it’s about the entire experience and what the bottle represents. Altamura feels like a family. Every time I pour Altamura into a glass, I think of Frank, Lorenzo, Steve, Justin, and the others, because I know them well. I love collaborating with them. They\u2019re not just behind a premium brand\u2014they’re premium[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”156501″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”920907″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”731569″ el_class=”new-class-01″]Whether you\u2019re settled into the Atrium Bar with a perfectly aged Negroni or lounging under the trees at Berni\u2019s with something breezy and botanical, your hosts have only one request: Accomodatevi.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ desktop_visibility=”yes” medium_visibility=”yes” auto_height_device=”yes” content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”211035″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”123829″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”106885″ el_class=”new-class-01″]The partnership between Altamura Distilleries and Four Seasons Hotel Firenze began after the first Cortina Cocktail Weekend in 2022. Since their introduction, the relationship has flourished through exclusive events and curated experiences that highlight the best of both brands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Edoardo elegantly describes: “Most vodkas are quite similar, but Altamura is different. It\u2019s not just about the aromatic profile\u2014it’s about the entire experience and what the bottle represents. Altamura feels like a family. Every time I pour Altamura into a glass, I think of Frank, Lorenzo, Steve, Justin, and the others, because I know them well. I love collaborating with them. They\u2019re not just behind a premium brand\u2014they’re premium[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”156501″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” alignment=”center” uncode_shortcode_id=”920907″ media_width_pixel=”800″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”731569″ el_class=”new-class-01″]Whether you\u2019re settled into the Atrium Bar with a perfectly aged Negroni or lounging under the trees at Berni\u2019s with something breezy and botanical, your hosts have only one request: Accomodatevi.
\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ content_parallax=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”735633″ back_color_type=”uncode-solid” back_color_solid=”#f3eee7″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ align_medium=”align_center_tablet” medium_width=”0″ align_mobile=”align_center_mobile” mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ uncode_shortcode_id=”152948″][vc_single_image media=”156078″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” media_ratio=”one-one” alignment=”center” shape=”img-circle” uncode_shortcode_id=”149198″ media_width_pixel=”100″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”838511″ el_class=”new-class-01″]<\/p>\n

Susan L. Schwartz<\/h2>\n

Susan L. Schwartz is the award-winning creator of A Lush Life Manual and host of the Lush Life Podcast. She writes widely on drinks and travel, leads London and Venice Cocktail Tours, and has been recognised with multiple industry awards.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This year, in association with Altamura Distilleries, I\u2019ll be exploring some of the world\u2019s most legendary bars, the beating heart of the hotel. Our next stop is Florence!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":157128,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[191,200],"tags":[201],"class_list":["post-156811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-hotel-bars","tag-hotel-bars"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156811"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":157135,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156811\/revisions\/157135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/157128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.altamuradistilleries.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}