Buccellati Opens a Private Caviar Bar Inside Its Historic Milanese Flagship
Located inside Palazzo Gavazzi on Via Montenapoleone, the new Chahan Minassian-designed space translates the Italian house’s iconic silverwork into a private salon for entertaining clients
Founded in Milan in 1919 by Mario Buccellati, the house’s jewels and silverware have long been symbols of Italian beauty and exceptional craftsmanship—a tribute to the art of living well and appreciating the finer things in life. Now, inside the courtyard of its Milanese flagship at Palazzo Gavazzi on Via Montenapoleone, the storied Italian maison is celebrating that philosophy with the unveiling of a private Caviar Bar designed by acclaimed Paris-based interior designer Chahan Minassian.
The project is the latest chapter in a creative partnership between Minassian and the maison, following his 2024 restoration of the palazzo’s grand Piano Nobile, where he transformed the first floor into a series of residential-style salons. This time, Minassian found inspiration in one of Buccellati’s most recognizable tableware signatures: the Caviar collection, known for its intricate, micro-beaded silverwork that recalls the smooth, round shape of caviar eggs. The elegant new space translates that tactile, beaded pattern into a discreet hideaway reserved for special clients and friends of the house.
Tucked behind a classical gallery reminiscent of 19th-century Milanese processional entries, the double-height bar spreads across two intimate levels. There is a glass-walled upper mezzanine that overlooks the main lounge below, where custom vaulted ceilings are decorated with antiqued mirror panels tinted in warm copper, lunar silver, and smoky grey that capture the ambient surrounding light.
Minassian uses an elegant jewelry-inspired palette of silvered greys, taupe, bronze, and brushed gold, rounded out with an assortment of velvets, vintage Fortuny textiles, textured leathers, and bespoke floor coverings. Glass chandeliers handmade in Murano make a statement above the custom sculptural lounge seating and bistro tables designed by Minassian specifically for the space.
“Maintaining a residential approach was fundamental,” says Chahan Minassian. “The goal was to create a welcoming and lived-in interior, while preserving the architectural rigor of Palazzo Gavazzi. The mirrors introduce light, movement, and depth, while materials, fabrics, and Murano glass restore warmth and intimacy.”
Pieces from the silver Caviar line, porcelain made with Florentine house Ginori 1735, hand-blown Murano glassware, and whimsical silver table sculptures elevate the overall dining experience, offering guests the best of Milanese lifestyle.