Bulgari Hotel London reveals a new lounge with cakes by Gianluca Fusto

Change of look at the Bulgari Hotel London, signed by Milanese firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel (ACPV), where they have just opened a new lounge called Il Cioccolato, a sweet space curated by Gianluca Fusto. There's an assonance between the brand and the pastry chef, given that the offer is characterised by luxury and elegance but is also interpreted through an essential and sober design.

The new lounge at the Bulgari hotel London

The Il Cioccolato lounge offers an all-day dining formula in a setting characterised by silk rugs that recall the colour of gems, from emerald to blue diamonds, and citrine quartz. A fresh injection of colour compensated by cognac-coloured sofas, neutral-toned armchairs, Calacatta marble tables and a central table in black oak. Here and there, there are the eight-pointed stars of Bulgari, embroidered in gold on the green silk curtains.

Pastry chef Gianluca Fusto

Thanks to a silver chromed wall, the spaces are divided into separate and more intimate areas, where you can taste the Dolci by Gianluca Fusto menu. The mise en place also shows an Italian character with the creations served on porcelain plates with a floral design from Ginori 1735. On the walls, artworks from the Bulgari archive like vintaged ads, and photos of actors and models from the Dolce Vita, from Benedetta Barzini to Marisa Berenson, and Virna Lisi. The savoury offer, instead, includes dishes like burratina pugliese, pizza alla romana, club sandwich and mixed salads enriched with superfoods.

«Bulgari Lounge is already very popular in the area because it's considered a space where you can meet with the utmost relax - Patricia Viel, General manager and co-founder of Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel explains -. The reason behind the success is the sense of “modern Italian comfort”. We're enthusiastic of the result and we're sure that this place will be, in the next decade, a point of reference in the heart of Knightsbridge».

Dessert Giallo Milano

But let's move to the sweet offer, designed for Bulgari hotel London by Gianluca Fusto, one of the gurus of contemporary artisanal pastry making. To begin with, there are 4 single-serving cakes: Sicilian, with citrus fruits from Sicily, fennel and almonds from Val di Noto, Esotico, a delicious recipe with coconut, Alphonso mango from India and passion fruit, Orchidea, with Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar, vanilla from Tahiti and pecan nuts, Maya, a cake with caramelised sesame seeds, chocolate from Belize and two types of caramel.

Sicilian

And of course, we have the cakes, like Caprese Nera, a new take with olive oil, black olives, chocolate and almonds, and Hazelnut Slice, for chocolate lovers, with hazelnuts and dark gianduia. The clou is in the part called Dolci, which includes Tiramisù, the most iconic cake which Fusto prepares in the shape of a flower, with a creamy mix of mascarpone, coffee from Colombia, a blend of coffees toasted in Paris and tiramisu sorbet.

Trilogia

We continue with Trilogia, made of four types of the finest chocolate, single-origin Macaé, Azelia and Dulcey, plus a sweet note of Polynesian vanilla; Giallo Milano, a vegan cake, made unique by the unmistakable taste of saffron, with Alphonso mango from India and maple syrup; and finally Giardino, a mix of fresh and candied fruits and nuts, herbs, star anise gel and lemon soup.

Bvlgari chocolate gems 

There's also space for the chocolate gems, a collection of precious artisanal chocolates. You can buy them and eat them in the lounge of the hotel, or take away. The golden boxes include 5, 10, 24 and 50 pieces. If you don't feel like flying to London, you can also find them in Milano in 6 different flavours: Zafferano, covered with 61% dark chocolate and filled with saffron from Sardinia and raw almond from Noto; Fichi e Balsamico, a square chocolate with a heart of white figs, fine balsamic vinegar and 80%dark chocolate; Pera e Caramello, also round, with a ganache of white chocolate, Williams pears and caramel; Gelsomino, aromatised with jasmine tea leaves and Jivara 40% milk chocolate, Extra Vergine, with pure Venezuela 72% chocolate and extra virgin olive oil from Nocellara del Belice; Porcini e Pepe Nero, the most original mix with dried porcini from Aquiterme and black Sarawak pepper. An exclusive for Milan, also the pralines with Peanuts, sea salt from Pirano and a mix of 19 spices; Tripla Nocciola Igp e cioccolato al latte; Almond from Avola and single-origin Madagascar chocolate.

Bulgari hotel London – Lounge

171 Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DW, UK

Tel. +44 20 7151 1010

Opening hours: from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight; Sundays from 11 a.m. to midnight

Translated into English by Slawka G. Scarso