Villa Agrippina, a Gran Melia, Leading Hotels of the World and VIRTUOSO property, Rome’s leading urban luxury resort, is proud to announce the opening of its new fine-dining restaurant FOLLIE, launching Thursday September 29th, as the hotel celebrates its ten-year anniversary this year.
The Roman hotel, an icon in Meliá Hotels International’s luxury portfolio, welcomes Michelin- starred chef Luciano Monosilio to take the helm of this bold and creative venue where cuisine and art fuse together to form a unique new concept.
Having paved his career with some of the most renowned Italian chefs including Fulvio Pierangelini, Mauro Uliassi and Enrico Crippa, ‘The King of Carbonara’ Monosilio will create an experimental and unmatched menu focusing on pasta with a novel Italian twist. Guests can choose between a six or 12-course tasting menu with accompanying wine flight, or à la carte. Monosilio hones in on local ingredients and suppliers including Marengo beef from Civitavecchia, fish and seafood from Gaeta, Pecorino from Viterbo, and aromatic herbs from Castelli Romani, grown in Hydroponic culture.
Dishes include raw goose with apple and mustard, and scampo with pistachio, cucumber, and dill, stuffed ‘bottoni’ pasta with burrata scarola and marinated anchovies, and smoked lamb fillet with raspberries and oyster emulsion.
“We are excited to announce this brand-new restaurant at one of our most iconic Gran Meliá hotels, and to be working with the celebrated Luciano Monosilio to capture his creative culinary flair and offer a remarkable experience. To present a striking new flagship restaurant and concept to Rome during such a significant year for us, the ten-year anniversary of Villa Agrippina, a Gran Meliá member, is a major milestone and reaffirms our commitment to providing luxury hospitality”, says Andrea Fiorentini, General Manager of Villa Agrippina, a Gran Meliá hotel.
FOLLIE is the ultimate destination for discerning palates offering guests perfect pasta, earthy flavors, and ingredients of ancient origins which date back to the Roman Empire era. This new restaurant is a tribute to joie de vivre, passion and art in a space which exudes culture and history. Guests will be immersed in an elegant environment featuring deep colors with bold textures and taken on a theatrical experience, spearheaded by the creative mastermind Monosilio.
“Not only is this a major milestone for Villa Agrippina, a Gran Meliá hotel, but also reflection of the Meliá’s growth strategy as we witness an impressive expanding footprint and pipeline in Italy, including Palazzo Cordusio, a Gran Meliá property, in Milan opening in 2023. Proudly combining our and Monosilio’s prestige and echoing class, FOLLIE creates an elite dining destination for residents and guests for an elevated experience”, says Enrique Ortiz, Vice President of Operations EMEA & APAC of Meliá Hotels International.
FOLLIE will join the hotel’s live music and cocktail bar Amaro, and al-fresco dining at Gala Pool which sits surrounded by lemon trees, strawberry plants, and olive groves. Housed in a former villa at the bottom of the Janiculum Hill, Villa Agrippina, a Gran Meliá hotel, is a unique refuge spanning 9,600 square feet filled with history, luxury, and sophistication. A stone’s throw from The Vatican and walking distance from St Peter’s Square, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon, the hotel boasts one of the most desirable addresses in Rome and provides a calming oasis with landscaped gardens and pools, amidst the riverside cobbled streets.
FOLLIE is also available for private events. The six-course tasting menu starts at 100€ and the twelve-course tasting menu starts at 150€ per person.FOLLIE is open on Tuesdays to Saturdays for dinner only.
About Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts
Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts is the first Spanish luxury hotel brand, which take residence in some of the world’s most beautiful landmarks, combining timeless luxury, stunning architecture and Spanish culture. Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts offers exceptional experiences and services, which are a modern expression of Spanish culture. There are currently 15 Gran Meliá properties worldwide, with the brand continuing to expand its global footprint. All properties are located in the most important global travel destinations, such as Villa Le Blanc (Menorca), Palacio de los Duques and Hotel Fénix (Madrid, Spain), Hotel de Mar and Hotel Victoria (Mallorca, Spain), Hotel Don Pepe (Marbella, Spain), Hotel Colón (Seville, Spain), Gran Meliá Sancti Petri (Cádiz, Spain), Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora (Tenerife, Spain), Villa Agrippina (Rome, Italy), Gran Meliá Iguazú (Argentina), Gran Meliá Arusha (Tanzania), Gran Meliá Jakarta (Indonesia), Gran Meliá Xian and Gran Meliá Chengdu (China). The brand is also set to expand further in Europe with Palazzo Cordusio (Milan, Italy) and in Asia, with the launch of Gran Meliá Zhengzhou (China), Gran Meliá Cam Ranh Bay (Vietnam), Gran Meliá Nha Trang (Vietnam), Gran Meliá Lombok (Indonesia) and Gran Meliá Kish (Iran). Follow Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts on Instagram @gran_Meliá and Facebook @GranMeliáHotels. www.granMeliá.com
