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Cipriani S.A.

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Cipriani S.A. is a global Italian hospitality and lifestyle company known for its restaurants, landmarked event spaces, private clubs, residences, hotels and a line of food and drinks. With a legacy rooted in traditional Italian cuisine and a high standard of service, Cipriani has shaped global hospitality while spreading Venetian culture since opening in 1931.

History

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The story of Cipriani S.A begins in Venice, with a gesture of generosity. In 1928, a young American named Harry Pickering was staying in Venice and was a patron of Hotel Europa, where Giuseppe Cipriani worked as a bartender. After facing financial difficulties, Pickering was forced to interrupt his stay. Moved by the young man’s situation, Cipriani lent him 10,000 liras so that he could go back to Boston. Two years later, Pickering returned to Venice and, in an act of gratitude, returned to Cipriani the amount with generous interest, suggesting that he open his own bar. Thus, on May 13, 1931, Harry's Bar was born, named in honor of the American who made his dream possible[1].

Pickering suggested that Cipriani use the money to start his own bar, and in gratitude, Cipriani named it after him. Nestled in a former rope warehouse near St. Mark’s Square, Harry’s Bar quickly became a favorite among writers, artists, and celebrities. Ernest Hemingway was a regular[2], often sitting at his personal table, and he later immortalized the bar in his 1950 novel Across the River and Into the Trees. Other famous patrons included Truman Capote, Orson Welles, Peggy Guggenheim, Aristotle Onassis, and Maria Callas[3].

Beyond its celebrated clientele, Harry’s Bar is also credited with introducing two culinary icons to the world: the Bellini cocktail and Carpaccio. In 1948, Cipriani created the Bellini, a blend of Prosecco and white peach purée, naming it after Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini due to its delicate pink hue[4]. Two years later, he invented Carpaccio, a dish of thinly sliced raw beef, for Countess Amalia Nani Mocenigo, who had been advised to avoid cooked meats. Inspired by the vivid red tones in the works of painter Vittore Carpaccio, Cipriani named the dish after him[5]. Carpaccio has since become a staple in Italian cuisine.

Recognized for its historical and cultural significance, Harry’s Bar was declared a national landmark by the Italian Ministry for Cultural Affairs in 2001[6]. But by then, the Cipriani name had already expanded far beyond Venice. In 1985, the Cipriani family introduced their brand to New York City with the opening of Harry Cipriani at the Sherry-Netherland Hotel on Fifth Avenue[7]. Designed as an exact replica of the original Venetian bar, it quickly became a popular among New Yorkers seeking an authentic Italian experience[8].

Encouraged by its success, Cipriani expanded further into New York, transforming several historic landmarks into premier dining and event venues. One of its most notable locations is Cipriani 42nd Street, housed in the former Bowery Savings Bank across from Grand Central Terminal.  This venue features chandeliers, marble columns, and high vaulted ceilings; Cipriani 42nd Street is one of the largest event venues in Midtown NYC, capable of seating 800 guests.

Another major acquisition was Cipriani Wall Street, situated in a Greek Revival building that once housed the New York Merchants’ Exchange and the United States Customs House. The space now serves as a venue for high-profile events such as the Gotham Awards in 2024. Similarly, Cipriani 25 Broadway, located in the historic Cunard Steamship Line headquarters, features soaring marble columns and hand-painted frescoes as the backdrop for private events and celebrations.

Cipriani also established a more casual presence in New York with Cipriani Dolci, an eatery inside Grand Central Terminal. Catering to commuters and tourists, it offers classic Italian dishes with Cipriani’s signature hospitality. Casa Cipriani opened in 2021 in the historic Battery Maritime Building with a large events space, Cipriani South Street. The private members’ club, Casa Cipriani offers appointed rooms, exclusive dining areas, a spa, and waterfront views. It has become one of the most sought-after private clubs in the city[9].

Three generations of Cipriani family members lead the company's the growth: Arrigo, Giuseppe and his sons Ignazio and Maggio. The family has helmed a leading international hospitality brand, with locations around the world including Venice, Milan, New York, Miami, Mexico City, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Monte Carlo, Ibiza, Marbella, Riyadh, Las Vegas, Istanbul, Doha, Bahrain, Los Angeles  and the upcoming Punta del Este, Uruguay, and Batumi, Georgia.

Notable Moments

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In 1958, the elder Cipriani built the Hotel Cipriani in Venice. In 1967, Cipriani Sr. sold rights to the Cipriani name trademark.[10]

The family went international in 1985 under the Cipriani name when it opened Harry Cipriani in New York City in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel.[11] Within two years the family was evicted from the hotel and opened the Cipriani Bellini bar nearby.[12] Eventually they would return to the hotel.

Entrance of 110 East 42nd Street
110 East 42nd Street

In 1997, the Ciprianis bought 55 Wall Street, noted for its huge ornate former First National Bank lobby. They sold it in 1999 and bought the Bowery Savings Bank's 110 East 42nd Street building across from Grand Central, again noted for its huge ornate lobby.[13] 55 Wall Street Cipriani's, Grand Central Cipriani's and Cipriani Tribeca were designed by Anthony Morali of Morali Architects.[14]

In 1998, they leased the Rainbow Room, performed minor modification / major gutting of the 87' Rockefeller Restoration and fired the members of Local 6 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union which picketed it. The labor dispute was settled in 1999, resulting in a recall of the displaced Local 6 employees for 10 years until 2009, when Cipriani was evicted by the owner / operator Tishman Speyer.

In 2005, the company won the rights from the Hudson River Park board to develop Pier 57 into Leonardo's, a luxury complex that included a museum, catering hall, shops, restaurants, a rooftop pool and a public park.[15] Their principal competition was the Chelsea Piers, just north of Pier 57.[16] After winning the bid, Michael DiLeonardo, an associate of Peter Gotti, turned state's evidence against the accused mobster. In his testimony, DiLeonardo said that the Ciprianis had paid $120,000 to the Gambino crime family to make union problems at the Rainbow Room disappear.[17] The charges were never confirmed. However, the Ciprianis were unsuccessful in firing the union workers. The Ciprianis relinquished their rights to develop the pier after co-investors in the project withdrew.[11][18]

In April 2004, Cipriani opened in London. The site on Davies Street in Mayfair was co-founded and established by Fabrizio Cerina of the Swiss banking group Credit des Alpes, who also acted as strategic advisor to Cipriani in the sale and leaseback of the Saxony Hotel, Miami in 2009, one of the biggest ever property deals in Miami.[19]

In 2006, in partnership with attorney and real estate developer Steve Witkoff, Cipriani bought 55 Wall Street again.[13]

Arrigo and Giuseppe pleaded guilty in 2007 to misdemeanor tax evasion for defrauding $3.5 million in state and city taxes for six years beginning in 1998. They were placed on probation through 2011 and an independent auditor was assigned to monitor future payments.[11]

In December 2008, the High Court of England and Wales ruled that Orient-Express Hotels (which owns the Hotel Cipriani) owns the Cipriani trademark and that the use of "Cipriani" in the name of the London restaurant infringed its trademark rights.[10][20] The decision was upheld on appeal by the Court of Appeal on 24 February 2010, which ordered that the restaurant's name would have to be changed by 24 April 2010.[21] The new name of the restaurant is "C".[22]

In January 2009, the Ciprianis announced plans to close the Rainbow Room in a dispute with the owner of 30 Rock, Tishman Speyer Properties. Tishman in turn responded that it was evicting the Ciprianis from the Rainbow Room.[23]

Casa Cipriani opened in the Battery Maritime Building in September 2021 and in that same month, the company announced a new restaurant within Grand Central Terminal.[24][25]

In 2025, Cipriani is facing financial difficulties due to property developments in Uruguay and Dubai. French billionaire Xavier Niel provided a significant loan to support the company.[26]

Properties

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Venice
New York City
London
Los Angeles
  • Cipriani Beverly Hills (planned in 2010 in the former Tower Beverly Hills Hotel).[36]
Ibiza
  • Cipriani's Downtown & Bellini Lounge Club
  • Booom! IBIZA
Porto Cervo
  • Cipriani Porto Cervo.[37]
Hong Kong
  • Cipriani Hong Kong.[38]
Miami Beach
Istanbul
Mexico
  • Cipriani Mexico City
Monaco
  • Cipriani Monaco
Saint-Tropez
  • Cipriani Saint-Tropez
Uruguay

References

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  1. ^ Cipriani, Arrigo (2011). Harry's Bar: The Life and Times of the Legendary Venice Landmark (2nd ed.). ebook: Skyhorse Publishing (published 12 October 2011). ISBN 9781628721935.
  2. ^ Josh (27 June 2012). ""HARRY'S BAR IN VENICE" by Mary Hemingway – June 1968". HOLIDAY. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  3. ^ Magazine, Eataly. "Bellini - Cocktail History". Eataly. Retrieved 2 May 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "St. Mark Preaching in Alexandria". Pinacoteca di Brera. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple". Pinacoteca di Brera. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  6. ^ Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali. (2000, September 19). Ufficio Centrale per i Beni Architettonici Archeologici Artistici e Storici: Direttore Generale. Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, Venice, Italy.
  7. ^ "Harry Cipriani NYC - Fine Italian Dining on Fifth Avenue | New York". Cipriani. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Everybody Eats Where? Harry Cipriani". HuffPost. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  9. ^ Zimmerman, Will (16 April 2025). "NYNext Guide To: Members-Only Clubs". Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Hit London restaurant told to drop Cipriani name". Reuters. 10 December 2008.
  11. ^ a b c "Father and Son Restaurateurs in New York City Plead Guilty to Tax Evasion". The New York Times. 1 August 2007.
  12. ^ "Behind the Coup at Cipriani" (Google Books). New York. 19 October 1987.
  13. ^ a b "Mr. Cipriani Takes His Name to Wall Street Condominiums". The New York Times. 26 February 2006.
  14. ^ "Morali Architects". Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  15. ^ Bagli, Charles V. (7 April 2005). "Cipriani Wins Bid for Italian Makeover of a West Side Pier". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  16. ^ Bagli, Charles V. (5 February 2005). "On the Waterfront, Dueling Developers; Two Visions and the Challenge of Making a Choice". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  17. ^ Gray, Geoffrey (13 December 2009). "Bellini Troubles". New York. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  18. ^ Anderson, Lincoln (10 May 2006). "Cipriani says arrivederci to Pier 57 Leonardo plan". The Villager. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Florida hotel added to Cipriani empire". The Independent (5 February 2008). Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  20. ^ Hotel Cipriani SRL & Others v Cipriani (Grosvenor Street) Ltd & Others [2008] EWHC 3032 (Ch), [2009] Bus LR D81, [2009] RPC 9 (9 December 2008)
  21. ^ Hotel Cipriani SRL & Others v Cipriani (Grosvenor Street) Ltd & Others [2010] EWCA Civ 110, [2010] RPC 16 (24 February 2010), Court of Appeal
  22. ^ a b "C London". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  23. ^ "Rainbow Room's Lease Terminated". The New York Times. 9 January 2009.
  24. ^ Adams, Erika (21 September 2021). "Grand Central Terminal Lands New Steakhouse From Glitzy Italian Group Cipriani". Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  25. ^ a b Maida, Stephanie (7 September 2021). "Inside Casa Cipriani, NYC's Most Exclusive New Hotel & Members' Club". Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  26. ^ "France/Italy : Harry's Bar owners loaned millions by Xavier Niel's family office". Glitz. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  27. ^ "Harry's Bar". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011.
  28. ^ "Harry's Dolci". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  29. ^ "Harry Cipriani Bar". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  30. ^ "Club 55". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  31. ^ "55 Wall Street". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  32. ^ "Cipriani Wall Street". cipriani.com.
  33. ^ "Cipriani 42nd Street". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  34. ^ "Cipriano Dolci". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  35. ^ "NYC Landmarks Re-Opening as Event Spaces". sequence. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  36. ^ "Cipriani Beverly Hills". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  37. ^ "Cipriani Porto Cervo". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  38. ^ "Cipriani Hong Kong". cipriani.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  39. ^ "Cipriani Miami" (dead link?). ciprianimiami.com.
  40. ^ Vendieron Hotel San Rafael en US$ 30 millones. 6 de octubre de 2011 El País
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