Claris, a new restaurant and cocktail bar on Lungarno Vespucci

In the premises of the former Harry's Bar, Tuscan cuisine reinterpreted in a modern key and a cocktail bar with a spectacular counter

On Lungarno Vespucci, one of the most elegant stretches of the Arno, Claris opens, a new restaurant that breathes new life into one of Florence's historic dining destinations, home to the iconic Harry's Bar for years. An opening that combines memory and modernity, bringing light back to a symbolic space of 20th-century Florence.

More than just a restaurant, Claris is also a cocktail bar with a beautiful, dramatic backlit onyx counter, perfect for a pre-dinner drink.

Claris

The project bears the signature of Roman entrepreneur Antonio Galati, already well known in the city for Villa Tolomei, a charming resort in the Florentine hills. With Claris, Galati strengthens his presence in the high-end hospitality scene in Florence, investing in a place that is part of the city's imagination.

Owned by GIN S.r.l., the holding company of the Olivetti Rason family group, the restaurant returns to its original vocation: to be a meeting point between Florentine tradition and a contemporary vision of cuisine and hospitality. Even the name, Claris, evokes the idea of light, rebirth, and openness, elements that define the identity of the project.

The interiors have been carefully redesigned: elegant and welcoming spaces, refined materials, and fine fabrics interact with the history of the place, updating it with a contemporary and sustainable language. On the first floor, there are private rooms perfect for private dinners or exclusive events, making Claris a versatile venue, suitable for both everyday conviviality and special occasions.

Capasanta, catalogna e salsa al corallo di Claris

The kitchen is led by chef Niccolò Timpanaro, a young talent with experience gained in Italy and abroad, including in contemporary French cuisine. His career highlights include a period at Alain Ducasse's bistro, which is now reflected in a menu that combines technical rigor and expressive lightness, reinterpreting Tuscan roots with a modern and personal touch. The dishes—from pumpkin gnocchi, shiitake mushrooms, and Tarese del Valdarno to veal tartare, hazelnut praline, and tarragon, to scallops, catalogna, and coral sauce, to beef, potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, and seaweed - showcase an elegant yet accessible cuisine, where tradition dialogues with innovation without excess, focusing on selected ingredients and an essential aesthetic. The goal is to offer a culinary experience that combines research and conviviality.

Alongside the kitchen, the cocktail bar is a central component of Claris' identity. The bar is one of the most striking elements of the venue: the backlit stone enhances its transparency, becoming the visual focal point of the space. Christian Pampo, who has worked at the St. Regis Florence bar and as bar manager at the historic Caffè Gilli, where he helped to revamp the cocktail menu with a contemporary twist, is in charge of the mixology.

With Claris, Florence has gained a restaurant that looks to the present without forgetting the past, giving Lungarno Vespucci a venue that is destined to become once again central to the city's gastronomic scene.

Claris
Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, 22r
ph. +39 055 0123328
www.clarisfirenze.com