Eataly is truly an experience for all senses! From the moment you walk through the door, Eataly grabs your attention and lures you in. For us, spending a few hours in this environment is hard to beat. We truly love food, especially Italian food.
Eataly stands for “Eating Italian” which encompasses the history and the food culture of Italy, the ease to prepare its dishes, and the many qualities that Italy has to offer. Laura and I had the opportunity to spend time at the largest U.S. location in Chicago on a quiet, lazy day.
Pasta and Bread and Wine…Oh my!
Not to mention beautiful cheeses, meats, seafood, produce and desserts. Everywhere you look, there are so many options!
Looking for olive oil? Or balsamic vinegar? Or anything else needed to prepare that fabulous Italian meal? Eataly’s selection can be overwhelming and exciting at the same time because of the seemingly endless options. Well beyond your standard grocery store fare, Eataly gives you the option to try products you’ve never seen before.
Don’t have an Eataly nearby? Take a look at the online store!
Eataly Dining
In addition to shopping/browsing, many go to Eataly for drinks and/or to dine. It has an expected food hall atmosphere, with super-casual up to a little fancier options. You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco, a wood-fired pizza, pasta, veal, beef, pork or seafood. And fresh-baked bread with olive oil… a personal favorite.
Eataly concept began as a sketch on a piece of paper
In November 2002, the Eataly concept was born from Oscar Farinetti’s idea sketched on a piece of paper. The idea was simple: to gather under one roof high-quality food at sustainable and reasonable prices for ALL, celebrate Italian biodiversity, and create an informal, natural, and simple place to eat, shop, and learn.
Five years later…
After five years of research and hard work, the first Eataly opened its doors in Torino on January 27, 2007, when an old vermouth factory was transformed into Eataly Torino Lingotto – the very first multifunctional marketplace dedicated to Italian excellence in the world.
Today
And the rest is history. Eataly has expanded, with more than 35 locations throughout Italy and the world. In the United States, there locations include New York (2), Los Angeles, Boston, Las Vegas, Chicago and coming soon to Dallas.
If you manage to save any room, don’t leave without trying dessert!
Time well spent
We enjoyed our time in Eataly. It was fun to browse the unending options and our lunch was delicious and relaxing. And while the online shopping options pale in comparison to the actual Eataly, I’m excited to be able to shop for specialty items I can’t get at home.
We’re both looking forward to another Eataly visit!
