LOUNGE /
EAT
February 25, 2015
Santa Maria Novella | Gion Store Opens
Santa Maria Novella
Featuring Giaggiolo Gion, a Modern French Restaurant
Santa Maria Novella Gion Opens
Gion, a flower district that has developed around Shijo Street since the Edo period, serving as the approach to Yasaka Shrine.──Two establishments have opened in a building, over 100 years old, renovated from a traditional Kyoto townhouse. Santa Maria Novella Gion, the new store from Italy's Florence, the world's oldest pharmacy. Alongside it, Giaggiolo Gion, its sister restaurant in Ginza, has also opened.
Text by KAJII Makoto (OPENERS)
A Sophisticated Hideaway in the Ancient Capital's Streets
Santa Maria Novella offers fragrances, known as the "art of scent," that strictly adhere to the teachings from its founding, along with numerous products, called "healing works of art," created with traditional recipes. The Gion store has finally opened in Kyoto, Florence's sister city.
The adjacent Giaggiolo Gion is the sister restaurant to Giaggiolo Ginza in Tokyo. Chef Kentaro Fujioka, with his skills honed in French cuisine, arranges high-quality ingredients. Based on the identity and culinary philosophy cultivated in Ginza, it offers a style that can be called neo-cuisine. With a focus on flavors and cooking methods that bring out the best in ingredients, it resonates with the spirit of Kyoto cuisine—"not overcooked, not over-grilled, not over-seasoned"—proposing European dishes that are approachable for the Japanese palate.
Its greatest appeal lies in its menu and pricing, allowing for casual drop-ins without the need for a full course meal or a lengthy seated dining experience, much like a trattoria. Enjoy dishes featuring abundant local Kyoto vegetables, as well as small plates and à la carte options.
After enjoying the food and service in a comfortable space, take home a masterpiece of scent from Santa Maria Novella, backed by tradition. Here, cuisine, fragrance, and the unique atmosphere of Kyoto merge to create an elegant experience for adults.
Santa Maria Novella Gion
373-3 Kiyomotocho, Hanamikoji, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City
(Corner of Kutsuro-dori, Sueyoshi-cho, Gion, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City)
Tel. 075-533-7716
Hours: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Closed New Year's holidays
http://www.santamarianovella.jp/
Giaggiolo Gion
Tel. 075-533-7717
Hours: Lunch 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM (Last Order); Dinner 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM (Last Order)
Closed Tuesdays
http://www.fukunaga-tf.com/giaggiolo/
Chef: Kentaro Fujioka
Born in Osaka Prefecture. After working at restaurants "Hôtel de Mikuni" and "La Rochelle," he moved to France in 2003. After working at French restaurants such as "Bruno," "Lancaster," "Kitchen Gallery," "L'Orangerie," and "Magnolia," he returned to Japan. In March 2009, he joined Fukunaga Co., Ltd. He was involved in product development and became the chef upon the opening of Giaggiolo Gion in December 2011.