An urban retreat in the heart of Rome

In the heart of Rome, just a short walk from Porta Cavalleggeri, Osteria Sant’Uffizio explores the concept of the contemporary trattoria through an interior design by Studio GAD. Opened in June 2025, the restaurant grew out of brothers Leonardo and Enrico Di Bartolomeo’s desire to express Roman tradition in a contemporary language, free from the usual osteria stereotypes.

“Working in Rome’s historic heart is always an enormous challenge, but also a great privilege,” explain the designers. “For Osteria Sant’Uffizio, our aim was to create a harmonious dialogue between the history of traditional osterias and contemporary dining. We conceived the refurbishment as an evolution rather than a break with the past: we wanted the restaurant to whisper its story without compromising on comfort, design or the demands of modern hospitality.” The scheme enhances the original features, starting with the brick vaults, highlighted by a lighting design that combines dramatic effects with intimate atmospheres, with a contribution from Toscot wall lights. Streamlined furnishings, black metal, mirrors and lacquered wood establish a contemporary language that complements the building’s historic material character. Fioranese’s Alchimia collection was chosen for the floors and some of the tabletops. This terrazzo-effect porcelain tile, used in the Grigio Azzurro shade in a 60 × 60 cm format and 9 mm thickness, plays a central role in the design. A palette drawing on powder blue and sienna creates a balanced, distinctive setting. “We were looking for a surface with a strong yet understated character, capable of visually bringing old and new together,” explain the designers. “Fioranese’s Alchimia collection was the perfect choice: it reinterprets the timeless appeal of coloured terrazzo-effect cement and traditional stone chips with a contemporary sensibility. Its distinctive patterns and wealth of mineral detail complement the restaurant’s walls, while offering the durability and ease of maintenance required in a busy setting such as an osteria.”

The choice of porcelain tiles therefore meets both aesthetic and practical needs: continuity of materials, durability and ease of day-to-day care are particularly valuable qualities in restaurant interiors. The selection of durable materials also reflects the owners’ commitment to a sustainable supply chain, an approach that extends to the kitchen.

Completing the interior is a counter clad in antiqued mirror with an engineered marble top from Santa Margherita, introducing a classical note. The result is a setting that avoids nostalgia, turning the constraints of the historic centre into a design asset. “The secret was balancing contrasts,” conclude the designers. “We wanted every material, every light and every detail to work together to make guests feel welcome, as though that table in the heart of Rome had always been waiting for them.”