Beefbar Milano at the Portrait Milano Hotel was named the most beautiful restaurant in Europe by the 2023 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, honoring interior architects Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet for their sensitive conversion of the chapel in a former seminary.
© Francis Amiand
Opened in 2023 in the lively historic center of Milan, Beefbar Milano occupies the former Archiepiscopal Seminary’s chapel. Humbert & Poyet drew on the spirit of Milanese design from the 1940s through the 1960s to redesign the dining environment, balancing contemporary interventions with respect for the building’s memory and architectural identity.
Under an impressively tall nave, an open kitchen, bar and dining room flow together over a striking terrazzo floor. The floor blends greens, black, white and burgundy in a flowing wave motif that pays tribute to architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni and anchors the restaurant’s visual narrative.
© Francis Amiand
Details throughout the space recall Milanese café culture: half-height dark walnut panelling, Verde Alpi marble tables and Vico Magistretti chairs create a refined, timeless look. Suspended Asterios lamps in bronze and frosted glass add warmth and a sculptural quality to the dining room.
Situated in Piazza del Quadrilatero, a short walk from the San Babila area, the five-star Portrait Milano Hotel offers 73 suites and embodies the city’s reputation for opera, fashion, design and cuisine. Beefbar Milano is led by Executive Chef Alberto Quadrio, who is known for engaging personally with guests whenever possible.
© Francis Amiand
For two decades the seminary complex remained largely hidden behind closed gates and little known to locals. That changed after a decade-long restoration when Portrait Milano opened in December 2022, with the city’s mayor Giuseppe Sala presiding over the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The renovation transformed the seminary into a hotel, restaurant and retail destination while preserving its historic character.
The former seminary’s expansive courtyard, now called Piazza del Quadrilatero, was opened to the public for the first time, creating a new pedestrian link between the neighborhood’s main streets. The complex now houses boutiques, food and beverage outlets and cultural programming, hosting exhibitions, performances and events that activate the space and reconnect it with the life of the city.