The ever-expanding Mercato Centrale Firenze has opened Ai Banchi at I Gigli, the popular Campi Bisenzio shopping centre close to Florence.
Continuing the Mercato Centrale ethos, the food artisans are at the heart of the new opening, promising the best of Italian food. Every stall is a cooking show in its own right—you can see the artisans prepare and present their dishes. The new outlet is located on the first floor of I Gigli in the Corte dell’Oste: 17 market stalls, 2,000 square metres, 400 seats, open from 9am to 11pm everyday. The artisan include Gelato by Chiara Cremilla, Sicilian specialities by Carmelo Pannocchietti, Truffles by Luciano Savini, Fresh pasta by Raimondo Mendolia, Pizza by Pier Daniele Seu, Fish by Piero Bizzarri, Chianina burgers by Enrico Lagorio, Beer by Luigi Moretti, Vegetarian and vegan food by Marcella Bianchi, Artichokes and mushrooms by Alessandro Conti and Gabriele La Rocca, Lampredotto by Lorenzo Nigro, Chinese dumplings by Agie Zhou, Bread by Stefano Callegari, Meat by Fausto Savigni, Bread by David Bedu, Coffee by Mondicaffè and the Chianti Classico Wine Bar.
The airy, white-tiled space was designed by Florentine architectural firm Q-bic.
President of Mercato Centrale Umberto Montano commented, “The shopping centre is a brand-new challenge for the Mercato Centrale, which was designed to be located in the heart of vibrant cities like Florence and Rome. At I Gigli there will be different customers, probably a different target, from different regions, but who said that you have to compromise on the quality of taste artisans in a shopping centre?”
Ai Banchi at I Gigli is the latest opening by the Mercato Centrale brand, following Mercato Centrale Firenze in 2014 and Mercato Centrale Roma in 2016. I Gigli is celebrating its twentieth year of business.
