As for the new digs, the interior of this two-story Starbucks is a stylish departure from most of the chain’s American shops. Downstairs, a neutral palette of tan walls and mottled marble floors make for a luxurious but inviting-looking backdrop. Upstairs, artwork sporting soothing earth tones shares space with the warm blonde wood and caramel-hued upholstery that make up the location’s furnishings. Each of these details was selected to reflect the materials used in the Piazza di Montecitorio in the hope of organically blending in with the neighboring architecture.
And then, of course, there’s the dynamic view of the Chamber of Deputies, an amalgamation of the many design styles of Rome. Customers can take one of the 80 available seats or grab their order to-go and head out to the nearby Pantheon, Column of Marcus Aurelias, and other historical sites.
What’s next for the Starbucks expansion in Italy? In addition to two new grab&go spots in Termini Station, the chain hopes to count 36 Starbucks locations in the country by the end of 2023. As Percassi Retail CEO Matteo Morandi put it, this “opening will be the first in a series of wonderful surprises for the city.”