Café Ginori Brings Fancy Italian Flair to Bergdorf Goodman With its New Restaurant Space

A stroll through the subterranean level at Bergdorf’s has always been a treat, thanks to its proliferation of luxury beauty brands, but now, nestled behind a velvet curtain, a whole other indulgent experience awaits. As of this summer, Ginori 1735, Italy’s preeminent purveyor of porcelain, has moved in and transformed the corner space into an oasis where you can enjoy an aperitivo (or three) after working up a thirst while shopping.

Thursday evening saw an official welcome event to christen the eatery, and give the incomparable Fifth Avenue retailer’s customers a literal taste of what to expect. Think: passed samplers of primi options, including Italian-style crab tacos, arancini in spicy pomodoro sauce, and herb robiola cannolis. All devoured alongside Aperol Tea Spritzes, Tuscan gin and tonics, and Ginori Negronis, and sugar cookies served in dainty trinket boxes.

Interiors editors marveled at the colorful and fancy surroundings, which look like a veritable sweet shop—good enough to eat, one may even say. Everything from the wallpaper and the chandelier to the cushions, pillows, and chairs from the brand’s Domus home collectsion, and of course, the gorgeous tableware, has been created with attention to detail by the historic company founded almost 300 years ago. Fun fact: If you order the beetroot risotto, it has been executed to turn the exact same shade of pink as your Oriente Italiano plate once you swirl the ingredients together.

Tastemakers including designer and culinary enthusiast Peter Som, Jalil Johnson of the newsletter Consider Yourself Cultured, curator and scholar Isolde Brielmaier, and Alice Russotti and Francesca del Balzo of Brooklyn-based Porta were among the well-dressed crowd for the opening reception—and are all likely faces you’ll see at Café Ginori going forward, once aperitivo hour begins at 4 p.m. each day. (Tea, coffee, and treats are available to enjoy once the doors open at 11.30 a.m.)

At one point, flashbulbs illuminated the room, prompting everyone to turn around. The reason being the arrival of fully scarlet-clad couple Isabelle Chaput and Nelson Tiberghien of Young Emperors, who looked ready to star in an editorial shoot for the eatery.

Café Ginori is the heritage company’s first-ever physical hospitality concept—and it makes perfect sense. After all, if you like that plate as much as you liked your meal, you can mosey upstairs to the seventh floor and buy it to take home with you. Stranger purchases have happened after an afternoon drink at Bergdorf's...