Restyling project by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel for the Milan flagship store of illycaffè, the global leader in high-quality sustainable coffee: The new flagship store is inaugurated in the heart of the city’s Via Montenapoleone fashion district. Located in the elegant courtyard of a historic building at 19 Via Monte Napoleone, Milan’s most renowned street for shopping, the new illy Monte Napoleone café welcomes visitors with a multi-sensory experience to discover the illy universe. 

The restyling project, curated by Italy’s leading architectural and interior design firm, ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, expresses illy’s identity through the use of the color red, the elegance of its design, and the art and beauty evoked in the iconic, decorative and communicative elements that shine a spotlight on the world of coffee. 

The café’s laid-back, elegant ambiance reflects the use of natural materials such as wood and the warm, coffee-toned hues. Inspired by the dynamic style of Milanese cafes, the new illy Monte Napoleone café is a flexible space that combines the materials of classically Milanese interiors, such as hand-worked terrazzo flooring, with the walls’ recycled glass mosaic tiles and the bar’s oak wood paneling. Enriched by elements of greenery such as the bamboo on the backdrop and the magnolia in the center, the courtyard establishes a dialogue with the interiors to create a unique experience of typically Milanese taste. 

Covering an area of 300 square meters, the new spaces guide the visitor through the illy coffee universe, starting from the welcome area that features a spectacular chandelier comprising 100 cups that symbolize a journey through the illy Art Collection. The courtyard offers a one-of-a-kind urban garden with oak benches, tables e chairs, where guests can appreciate the restaurant’s menu, enjoy an aperitif, or start the day with a breakfast in the shade of a splendid magnolia, in an oasis of peace sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

The large red illy front counter with its marble top is the soul of the place, just like in the largest traditional cafés in Italy. Positioned behind large sliding panels animated by a visual dedicated to the latest edition of the illy Art Collection, the back counter displays 14 glass jars with coffee beans in the different stages of the illy coffee roasting process. The store also houses two glass display cabinets: one on the wall dedicated to cakes and ice cream, and one dedicated to small patisserie items. 

In two indoor rooms dedicated to art – displaying some of the most iconic illy Art Collection pieces created by the most famous contemporary artists since 1992 – visitors can enjoy a longer break savoring seasonal and exclusive coffee-based recipes, or the gourmet creations of the restaurant. Both rooms are set with leather benches, wooden seats and black resin tables.