Four Seasons Hotel Firenze Unveils New Restaurant Onde and the Renovated Palazzo Del Nero

The fall season is brimming with new openings and announcements at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze. Debuting on October 3, 2024 after an exciting launch party, Onde restaurant promises to be Florence’s next place-to-be.  Inspired by Tuscan, coastal culinary traditions, Onde is set within the newly renovated Palazzo Del Nero, one of the two Renaissance buildings at the Florentine property.

Onde

Onde is more than a seafood restaurant: its vibrant, stylish ambiance invites guests to unwind and savour the freshest flavours of the Mediterranean Sea.  Executive Chef Paolo Lavezzini has always had a passion for Tuscany’s Versilia region, where his family still lives. The connection was effortless: the Tyrrhenian waves (onde in Italian) were already flowing and rippling in his heart. Developing the concept with Sous Chef Giacomo Cavicchi, Restaurant Manager Roberto Pennacchiotti and Food and Beverage Director Alessio Anedda was quite natural. Everyone agreed that the Hotel’s fourth restaurant could fill a gap in the Florentine restaurant scene, traditionally known more for meat and hearty cuisine: a contemporary fish osteria, with a glamourous twist and a DJ set every night.

“Opening Onde was a dream we nurtured for years - combining the essence of the Versilia coast with the vibrant heart of Florence. We’ve crafted a place where guests can enjoy dishes that evoke a sense of nostalgia, like the seafood classics of the 80s, but with a contemporary twist. Onde is more than a restaurant; it’s a place where people feel at ease, like coming home after a long journey. It’s welcoming and never stiff: we will take care of our guests, as if they were old friends,” says Paolo Lavezzini, Executive Chef of Four Seasons Hotel Firenze.

The menu is conceived mostly to be shared. Dishes including raw fish, fried paranza, oysters and champagne, and naturally, the legendary spaghetto con le arselle, a traditional spaghetti with clams made in Viareggio, one hour drive from Florence, give a glimpse of the whole menu’s intentions. Usually paired with the best champagne and white wines, the sommeliers will tempt guests with unexpected offerings including cocktails from the adjacent, newly born, Bar Berni vermouth cocktail list.

Bar Berni

A playful homage to Bernardo Del Nero, the founder of the ancient noble house of Del Nero, Bar Berni is a lively all-day-dining and vermouth bar. Guests can relax and enjoy the botanical-inspired interiors and unparalleled views of the Italian-style garden. Bar Manager Antonello Palermo and his team created a cocktail list celebrating the Italian fortified wine and the spontaneous ingredients of the seven islands of the Tuscan archipelago, reflecting Onde’s concept.

Palazzo Del Nero

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze new restaurant and bar are set within Palazzo Del Nero, a 16th century building offering the tranquillity of a private residence, with 36 rooms and suites served by their own reception, concierge and a former neo-gothic church now turned into ballroom. With a stunning inspirational view of the city’s Duomo visible from the gardens, Palazzo Del Nero is the place to feel at home in the most refined Florentine way.

Once the country-house of the Del Nero family for more than 200 years, then passed to the Ruspoli family before becoming a convent in the 20th century, Palazzo Del Nero features one of the most breath-taking historical suites of Four Seasons Hotel Firenze. The Presidential Suite boasts a 19th century coffered ceiling and a flamboyant fresco lighting up its hallway, all combined with state-of-the-art technology. Palazzo Del Nero’s renewed rooms have been meticulously planned by interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon to preserve the timeless charm and heritage of the building, while introducing innovative elements to elevate the guest experience to unparalleled heights. Rich hues of deep red, regal gold, and lush greens infuse each room and corridor with timeless charm that pays homage to the allure of the Renaissance, while captivating wallpapers breathe new life into the spaces.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to transform this project over the years, from its luxurious accommodations to its new public spaces, including the restaurant Onde. Every detail is a dialogue with the legacy of Palazzo del Nero. The trust of our client, renewed for almost two decades, is our greatest reward,” says the French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon.