Giampiero Tagliaferri Designs Sant Ambroeus’ Aspen Restaurant

Set along Main Street in Aspen, in a landmark building dating back to 1889, the recently opened Sant Ambroeus restaurant exudes a chalet-style warmth that feels right at home in the luxe mountain town. The opening follows the success of the Milanese coffee bar and culinary institution’s 2023 café, less than ten minutes away on foot. Giampiero Tagliaferri, founder of the eponymous design studio and former creative director of Oliver Peoples, authored the aesthetic of both, as well as Sant Ambroeus Aspen’s bar, Il Baretto, which features a central stone hearth, plush banquettes, and vibrant botanicals in a dedicated wood cabin.

Born in Milan but a resident of Los Angeles, Tagliaferri’s background is uniquely aligned with the project. “As a Milanese, I have always seen Sant Ambroeus as an institution of the city,” he tells Surface. “Some of my fondest childhood memories are of wonderful breakfasts there, a tradition that has stayed with me over the years. When I moved to the U.S. and traveled to New York City for work, I kept returning to Sant Ambroeus, eventually befriending the team.” During his time at Oliver Peoples, Tagliaferri even orchestrated a sunglass capsule collection between the luxury eyewear brand and Sant Ambroeus.

Their next collaboration was the Aspen café, though “almost simultaneously, we began designing the restaurant,” he says. His mission was “to craft a space that seamlessly merges two distinct yet complementary aesthetics: the raw, sculptural essence of Alpine Brutalism and the refined, old-world sophistication of Milanese design. This fusion creates an atmosphere that is at once true to the DNA of Sant Ambroeus yet uniquely attuned to its mountain setting.”

Tagliaferri used materiality to achieve this. “Textured raw concrete and warm wood paneling establish a foundation of organic ruggedness, while lacquered ceilings and deep green marble details introduce a sense of polish and luxury,” he explains. “Mirrored pole dividers—wrapped in faux fur—offer an unexpected nod to the alpine aesthetic, playfully bridging the gap between rustic and urban.”

According to Tagliaferri, Il Baretto furthered their exploration of Alpine Brutalism. “The concept of a ‘chic mountain bunker’ takes shape through slanted walls clad in rich wood paneling, creating an enveloping sense of warmth and intimacy,” he says. “A coffered ceiling—interpreted through a modernist lens—adds an architectural rhythm to the space, reinforcing its structured yet inviting atmosphere.” Altogether, Tagliaferri embraces an “interplay of light and shadow, texture and tone.”

From here, the collaboration continues in two other markets. “We are now working on upcoming Sant Ambroeus locations in Miami Beach and Beverly Hills,” Tagliaferri says. The former will open at the end of this year, and the latter is expected late next spring.