A 19th-century building houses nine suites created by island artists and designers, a restaurant with Mediterranean cuisine, and an elegant lounge bar: Casa Clàt opens in Cagliari, between the bastion of Saint Remy and the Marina.
The Soul of Cagliari The hotel with its eclectic vibe featuring a restaurant and lounge bar becomes a natural extension of the city center and its movida. Casa Clàt houses nine suites characterized by a contemporary style, which are fun and distinct one from another, created by artists and designers who were inspired by the sea and its wonders.
A well-chosen design project that gives new life to the old Palazzo Frau on Viale Regina Margherita, one of the liveliest streets in the Sardinian capital. Casa Clàt is now a cozy place where guests can stay, gather at the table or have drinks, and enjoy the fine weather that is always present in Cagliari. Adding to the location this coming spring will be the opening of a secret garden, an en plein air salon with a corner dedicated to the island’s best raw seafood.
Casa Clàt: the suites
The Mediterranean is the theme that has inspired the work of Giorgio Casu, artistic director of Casa Clàt: corals, dunes and abysses are some of the elements he has played with to create environments with a strong creative accent, all different from each other. The artist wanted some of Sardinia’s most esteemed artisans and designers, such as Carolina Melis and Mauro Patta, to contribute. Frescoed walls, graphic works, and handmade tapestries combine well with pieces of the finest Italian design.
Arranged on three floors, each suite features suspended king-size beds, sound systems, and state-of-the-art home automation. Parquet floors, exposed beams, and custom-made furnishings create cozy and original environments. Each room holds a surprise, such as a whirlpool in the center of the Smeraldo suite or the circular bed in the Isola suite. Bathrooms are spacious and equipped with every comfort: double sinks, spa showers with a rainfall showerhead, chromotherapy, and a relaxation corner with a Turkish bath ensure the utmost well-being in the privacy of each suite.
In the Eclàt suite, on the top floor, modern and vintage blend to provide a warm and surprising atmosphere. Striking is the recovery of the old cement floor from the late 1800s and the red bricks from the historic S.Paolo kiln, left exposed on the walls. In the master bedroom, just behind the Poltrona Frau four-poster bed, a mural by Giorgio Casu evokes the Poetto, the Sella del Diavolo e la Basilica di Bonaria, icons of a city waiting to be discovered. The suite leads to the Torrino, the highest point of the building: an original space to reserve for a romantic dinner or private event with a 360-degree view of Cagliari and the sea in the background.
Casa Clàt: the kitchen
The entrance on Viale Regina Margherita gives direct access to the areas open to outside guests. On one side, the lounge bar welcomes starting in the morning for a gourmet breakfast, in the afternoon for a quick lunch, or as the day progresses with a bespoke aperitif created by head bartender Marco Madeddu to accompany the house’s raw fish plates or other small delicacies.
A Mediterranean restaurant located on the other side, is open for both lunch and dinner. Its tantalizing menu is headed by young Executive Chef Filippo Monaco with the advice of Umberto Vezzoli, a globetrotting chef whose career has led the kitchens of prestigious restaurants and hotels.
The menu tells the story of the encounter between local ingredients of the highest quality and the scents of distant countries, the same ones where chefs Monaco and Vezzoli trained, who describe Casa Clàt’s offerings this way: “A cuisine that has stripped away the superfluous and kept the meaning, that of an island rich in ingredients and traditions, which has always been open to influences.”
Leeks cooked at a low temperature served with vermouth and old mustard mousse, hazelnut praline with Selargius caper powder; Parsnip aguachile served with a mousse of Nieddittas and toasted pine nuts; Fresh pasta buttons filled with octopus, potatoes and pecorino cheese are just a few of the dishes guests can enjoy while watching the chef and his brigade at work through the glass panes of the open kitchen.
The modern, intimate dining room is decorated by a full-wall bas-relief in which archaic features of island decor are reused to create a tree of life with a decidedly contemporary flavor. Wine aficionados will not be disappointed by the labels stored in the wine cellar, a space carved out of what was once the building’s stable, the original walls of which it retains. Tastings accompanied by the island’s cured meats and cheeses can be organized here.
At the back of Casa Clàt, a long walkway gently slopes down revealing the wonders of a secret garden deep in the heart of the city. Guests can take advantage of the always mild temperatures of southern Sardinia and enjoy an aperitif or al fresco dinner of raw fish and the local catch to be chosen directly at the counter.
Casa Clàt and Nieddittas Mussels
The name Casa Clàt comes from the union of the names of the two owners, Caterina and Claudio Murgia, siblings and former directors of Nieddittas, a symbolic company of quality mussel farming in Sardinia. A reality that in over 50 years has grown to transform a small fishermen’s cooperative into one of the best-known Italian companies in the sector. Synonymous with certified quality and a short supply chain from producer to consumer, Nieddittas products are at the center of the menu at Casa Clàt, a new must-visit gourmet address in the heart of Cagliari.