Idyllically located in the center of Piazza dei Signori across from the Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza, Italy, El Coq —the once traditional restaurant from Chef Lorenzo Cogo—is open for business and ready to present its recent other-worldly transformation as the region bounces back following the COVID-19 shutdowns.

Feeling that the restaurant’s menu and interiors no longer reflected his attitude and artistry, late last year Lorenzo, the youngest Michelin-starred Italian chef-owner—an honor received in 2012 when he was just 25—embarked on a revamp of his menu, while enlisting his friend, designer and artist Matteo Cibic , to reinvent the space. “We are both living in Vicenza now, and we want to make the city a destination,” explains Matteo.

The previous look of the restaurant was very classic and muted.

This iteration of El Coq marked a quintessential Michelin dining experience with the simple linens and understated centerpieces.

Since 2016, when Lorenzo relocated El Coq from his hometown of Marano Vicentino to its current location, the interiors reflected a more modern design in line with its historic surroundings. Light woods were juxtaposed against pale gray walls, and sheer curtains welcomed an abundance of natural light. The tables with their white linen cloths, white plates, and the most minimal of floral centerpieces, marked a quintessential Michelin dining experience.

Just a casual list of elements in the dining room: carnivorous plants that emit pungent scents and hourglasses that play soft melodies. Dining at El Coq is definitely a multisensory experience.