Since 1785, Antica Macelleria Filippini Cristiano, perched on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in the Tuscan town of Castelfranco di Sopra, has been a beloved destination for generations of local meat lovers. Passed down through the Filippini family line, the butcher shop remains a cornerstone of the community—perhaps now more cherished than ever.
Building on that enduring legacy, the Filippini family has opened a new chapter just steps away from the original shop: a bold, modern trattoria named Il Ristoro di Cristiano Filippini. While the kitchen stays loyal to the family’s tradition of uncompromising quality, the atmosphere tells a funkier story—part retro flair, part culinary theatre.
To realize this vision, the family partnered with Timothee Studio, a Florence-based design firm known for marrying heritage with playful modernism. The result is a space that respects its roots while reimagining them for a design-savvy, cosmopolitan crowd.
Founded in 2018 by Niccoló Antonielli, Cosimo Bonciani, and Andrea Mascagni, Timothee Studio has built a reputation for seamlessly blending past and present. Their portfolio spans disciplines, but always returns to the idea of timeless character with contemporary edge.
Stepping inside, the restaurant unfolds like a stage set—each room gradually revealed, each turn designed to surprise. The drama builds not just in form but in detail, rewarding those who wander deeper into the historic interiors.
The bold blood-red palette makes an immediate impact, but it’s the timeworn elements—sandy brick walls, vaulted ceilings—that truly seduce. These textures anchor the space, connecting the glossy new concept with centuries of Tuscan tradition.
Sleek steel accents, a vivid mural, and the iconic Quaderna 2600 tables by Superstudio (designed 1969–1972, produced by Zanotta) inject a dose of retro-futurism. Still, the historic bones of the building give warmth and authenticity to the contemporary buzz.
With moody, cinematic lighting heightening the intrigue of this windowless interior, Il Ristoro di Cristiano Filippini brings a bold new energy to the ancient piazza—a welcome fusion of family heritage and fearless design.
It’s a space that honors the past without being confined by it—a rare balance of reverence and reinvention. From the inherited butcher’s wisdom to the bold strokes of contemporary design, Il Ristoro di Cristiano Filippini is a celebration of what it means to evolve without forgetting where you come from.
In this small Tuscan town, under vaulted ceilings and blood-red walls, a new generation carries forward the Filippini legacy—serving not only food, but also history, hospitality, and a quietly radical sense of style.
