A design by Studio Benaim that reimagines a space devoted to
international excellence, fusing tradition and innovation in a uniquely creative mixology experience.
Fede Cocktail Lab is a unique place in the heart of Florence, a rare gem in the Italian hospitality scene: a cocktail bar that offers an innovative concept. Located in the heart of Florence within the historic Hotel Balestri, it is not simply a place to enjoy a refined drink in good company – it is a fully operational, open-view professional lab where experimentation and production take centre stage.
Guests are welcomed with high-quality signature drinks and a curated selection of advanced cocktails and internationally inspired. Here, mixology is never taken for granted. But it aspires to become a refined tasting experience driven by a clear desire to experiment that pushes sensory boundaries and encourages exploration.
The interior design of Fede Cocktail Lab was commissioned by Giulio Fratini to Studio Benaim – a Florence-based architectural practice renowned for creating distinctive spaces that honour the history and identity of their locations.
The project was developed with dedication by Project Manager Albert Dallago, together with Simone Covan and F&B Manager Simone Ulivi – all seasoned professionals in the hospitality and mixology industry.
The result is a beautiful space designed according to the highest standards of hospitality, where the entire creative process is on display, promoting a philosophy of transparency and sharing.
Fede Cocktail Lab is one of the very few hotels cocktail bars in Italy with a professional laboratory in full view. In Florence, there are no others like it. We can proudly say it offers a unique experience in the city’s mixology landscape.
Albert Dallago, Project Manager
A name with a story
The name Fede Lab tells a story. About 20 years ago, entrepreneur Sandro Fratini acquired Hotel Balestri, a landmark building located in the centre of Florence that has welcomed travellers since the late 1800s. There, his son – Giulio Fratini – came across a portrait of an elderly woman, Fede Annunziata Wittum Balestri. Intrigued, he discovered she had been a pioneering figure of female emancipation in her time, boldly challenging roles and conventions. Today, Giulio Fratini– CEO of Belvedere Angelico Holding – dedicates this venue to her legacy – drawing inspiration from her courage and creative spirit, which defied the expectations placed on women in early 20th-century Italy 20th-century Italy.
The restyling: Studio Benaim at work
Architect Oscar Benaim of Studio Benaim explains the project’s development and how he and Giulio Fratini, CEO of Holding Belvedere Angelico, owner of Fede Cocktail Lab,envisioned this evocative space.
We asked ourselves which emotional notes we wanted to strike. How do we create an experience that speaks to both international travellers and locals?
Oscar Benaim
The aim was to create a place where the guest is not just a spectator, but an active participant: free to observe, interact, and engage. A space that can shift naturally throughout different moments of the day and needs: from breakfast guests crossing the space in the morning, to a relaxing midday pause in the afternoon, and finally transforming in the evening into a lively destination for aperitifs, dinner, and after-hours conversation.
Design choices respectfully embrace strong aesthetic references to the early decades of the 20th century, fused with unconventional material treatments and interpretations. The goal was not merely to furnish a space, but to create an experience filled with wonder. Each detail aims to surprise, breaking expectations with unique forms, unusual combinations, and an unconventional spatial narrative.
Everything within Fede Cocktail Lab is designed to spark curiosity and to narrate – wordlessly– that something truly different is happening here.
Fede Cocktail Lab is the outcome of a design process that placed experience, materiality, and surprise at its core. But above all, people. A space conceived to be lived in, explored, and shared. The result of a participatory and immersive design approach, every element and material acts as part of a scenography, aimed at turning the interiors into a visual and sensory narrative for all who pass through.
“Some projects begin as true adventures,” concludes Oscar Benaim. “From the very start, you sense that you’re shaping something special – without clear references, without precedents. This was one of those projects.”
