Nestled in the heart of Monte Carlo, where the shimmer of luxury meets the intimacy of tradition, La Piazza has long stood as a discreet monument to Italian excellence. Now, under the refined stewardship of Andrea Ori — a man whose culinary journey is as rich as his plates — this legendary restaurant is experiencing a rebirth. One that whispers elegance, exudes warmth, and delivers the kind of authenticity that only memory and mastery can create.

“I grew up in a family of restaurateurs in Italy,” Andrea Ori says, his voice soft but assured, like someone who knows his way around both a kitchen and a conversation. “For us, food was never just a job — it was our language.” That early immersion in the art of hospitality became the foundation for a career that took him through some of Europe’s most renowned kitchens, gathering experience, refining technique, but always keeping one thing at the core: human connection.

When Andrea first joined La Piazza in 1996, he was a young employee, eager to learn. What he found was a mentor in founder Gianni Orsolini — “like a father to me,” he recalls — and a philosophy that mirrored his own. “Gianni Orsolini showed me the human side of the restaurant business. It wasn’t just about food. It was about creating moments.”

Years later, when Gianni Orsolini passed away,  Andrea Ori felt the pull not only of grief, but of responsibility. “I needed to continue his legacy,” he says. Together with partners Marcus Frey and Marc Poppner, he acquired the restaurant, not to reinvent, but to elevate — to honor the soul of La Piazza while shaping it with his own hands.

The Soul of La Piazza: Truth, Family, and Elegant Simplicity

In a city brimming with glittering culinary temples, La Piazza stands out precisely because it resists the urge to dazzle. “We are Italy at heart — but not the clichés,” Ori notes. “Authenticity, generosity, and excellence. That’s our philosophy.”

Here, the cuisine is guided by respect — for ingredients, for tradition, for people. Every dish begins with the product. “We know our producers. We know their names, their values.   Artichoke, burrata, Sicilian red prawns, bottarga…. That’s where it all starts,”  Andrea says.

The menu? A living testament to Andrea Ori’s culinary vision. “It’s a team effort, but I’m at the heart of it,” he admits. Some dishes, like the Penne Siciliana with fried eggplant and melting mozzarella, are non-negotiable. Others — like the foie gras and truffle ravioli or the Lemon Risotto with langoustine carpaccio — emerge from seasonal inspiration and a precise creative instinct. “I’d be that risotto,” Andrea Ori jokes. “Classic, unexpected, subtle, fresh — with character.”

Monaco Meets Italy — With Heart

At La Piazza, the clientele is as loyal as the recipes. “Ninety-eight percent of our guests are regulars,” Andrea Ori says with quiet pride. “But everyone is welcome. From Monégasque families to international visitors — if you love good food and honest hospitality, you belong here.”

That’s precisely what sets La Piazza apart in Monaco’s often polished-but-distant dining scene. “We’re not about showiness,” Andrea Ori insists. “We focus on flavor, consistency, and warmth. When people leave, I want them to feel like they’ve been cared for. Like they’ve been home — but better.”

A Future Built on Celebration and Subtle Innovation

And what’s next? Ori grins, “That’s top secret,” but he lets slip a few clues — themed dinners, tasting menus built around truffles, Sicilian citrus nights, private events. “We love when the restaurant becomes a place of celebration.”

Despite its low-key elegance, La Piazza is not static. It evolves — slowly, thoughtfully — like a well-aged wine. “We don’t follow trends. We follow truth,” says Andrea. That truth, served on white linen with a glass of Barolo and the gentle lilt of Italian in the air, is unmistakable.

La Piazza in One Sentence?
“Honest, generous, and elegant Italian cuisine, served with heart in Monaco,” Andrea Ori says without hesitation.

And that, perhaps, is Ori’s true genius — not merely reviving a legendary restaurant, but breathing into it a soul so present, so personal, it can’t help but feel like home.

La Piazza, 9 Rue du Portier, Monaco. Reservations recommended.