A long-time Wallpaper* collaborator, Antonino Cardillo’s latest oeuvre marks a defining moment for the Sicilian architect, who is not afraid to reference numerous influences under one explicitly textured roof.
Called the Off Club – not a members’ club but an Asian fusion restaurant, mixology cocktail bar and lounge – the venue is owned by former Rome footballers Francesco Curcio and Matteo Di Persio, who struck gold – as well as granite – in their encouragement of Cardillo’s abilities to create a cosmopolitan urban hub.
The establishment is set over the two lower floors of a residential block in the city’s Casal Bertone neighbourhood and was given the working title, ‘Paradiso’ from the old Persian ‘for an enclosure’ – paradeyda – which has resulted in a mix of ancient and modern geometries lined with rough plaster, raw gold and glossy black surfaces- it is a safe, urban place in Cardillo’s mind. The medley of reference continues, and the space is further defined by continuity consciously akin to Escher, punctuated by Kubrickian monoliths, which are the holding markers and the anchors of the space.
From behind the two seven-metre long twin granite ‘altars’, bartender Patrizio Boschetto serves Japanese-inspired cocktails with ingredients such as yuzu rice syrup, sake and nikka vodka, while downstairs, the restaurant, which is anchored by contrasting elongated copper arches – that reference Byzantine icons – is helmed by chef Dario Tasca who doles out dishes like the black cod marinated with coconut milk, kefir and turmeric and served with enoki mushrooms and crispy skin.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
64 Via Casal Bertone
-
Norman Foster and Porsche reimagine movement at the 19th Venice Architecture BiennaleNorman Foster Foundation and Porsche collaborate on 'Gateway to Venice's Waterway', a flagship installation at the 19th global architecture biennale
-
What not to miss at NYCxDesign 2025, according to our editorsFrom mega furniture fairs to can't-miss parties, here's what to catch at North America's biggest celebration of design
-
These Loro Piana sunglasses are inspired by the house’s superlative garmentsContinuing the house’s continent-crossing journey to find the very best materials – from Mongolia to New Zealand – Loro Piana’s new sunglasses collection takes it to Japan, where the first titanium frames were made in the 1980s
-
Five tranquil suites by Patricia Urquiola suspend visitors ‘between sea and sky’ in CapriPatricia Urquiola dreams up a study in contrast and tradition for the next chapter of Jumeirah Capri Palace
-
Sun-soaked European destinations to visit in springDreaming of Florentine palazzos and Greek islands now that the weather is starting to turn? Check into one of these beautiful European hotels and holiday homes
-
Everything you need to know about Italy's Lake Maggiore, according to FormafantasmaFrom baroque gardens to panoramic views, Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin show us around this Italian escape
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Romeo Roma: a new hotel that’s one of Zaha Hadid’s last projectsLocated within Rome’s Tridente, Romeo Roma is a palimpsest of periods in which the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid left her avant-garde mark
-
Five influential women hoteliers reflect on the changing face of hospitalityAs women continue to gain ground in the hotel sector, despite still being underrepresented in senior positions, five female moguls share their experiences of the past and projections for the future
-
Must-visit cinemas with award-worthy designThere’s more magic to the movies at these design-led cinemas, from Busan Cinema Centre’s ‘flying’ roof to The Gem Cinema Jaipur’s art deco allure
-
The best Milan bars for a fashionable aperitivoMilan’s after-dark renaissance is evident in a new wave of design-led cocktail bars, setting the right mood for enticing aperitivos and nightcaps; Milan editor Laura May Todd recommends the best
-
How Four Seasons Hotels became The White Lotus’ unofficial starAs The White Lotus season three whisks us to Thailand, Marc Speichert, chief commercial officer of Four Seasons Hotels, discusses the luxury group’s perfect synergy with the hit HBO series – and where you can live the experience
