The story
In the gardens of Villa Bardini, within the former stables of Stefano Bardini’s home, La Leggenda dei Frati looks out over Florence from its terrace. The restaurant’s name comes from a legend set in the abbey of Abbadia Isola in Siena: one July night, three monks gathered the best sprouts from their garden, ate and drank until they began to sing and dance, and their echoes can still be heard on the 11th of July. That abbey was the team’s original research and experimentation centre for Tuscan gastronomy, and today the spirit of that place has moved to Florence.
Chef Filippo Saporito and Ombretta Giovannini, along with Jenson and Dario, run the kitchen. Both Filippo and Ombretta have been drawn since childhood to the transformation of raw ingredients into stories on the plate. Their cooking draws on the roots of the Tuscan land where they grew up, a constant source of inspiration and creative stimulus. The kitchen works with a network of excellent artisans and producers, cultivating a deep love for the raw materials and their handling. The cuisine is designed to convey emotions, memories, and the culture of the place.
The restaurant holds a Michelin Recommended award, a recognition that reflects the care and consistency of the dining experience. Beyond the main dining room, the team offers a personal chef service, bringing their cuisine to private homes and events. There is also Coach Kitchen, an open laboratory for exchanging knowledge and flavours—not a simple cooking school, but a space where guests work with the chef on raw ingredients, cook together, and share the results in a social meal. In warmer months, the restaurant offers a picnic basket with a view over Florence, complete with five savoury proposals, a dessert, fruit, and water, set on the grounds of Villa Bardini.
Dinner is served from Wednesday to Sunday, 19:30 to 22:00.
Recognition
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