In the historic center of Vimercate, the ancient fifteenth-century residence of the Corio Counts hosts a romantic restaurant where the magical encounter between history and contemporary research gives life to a truly enchanting atmosphere and a secret garden.
The entrance to the Vico Mercati restaurant is located at number 12 in Piazza Castellana, just behind the Romanesque Church of Santo Stefano, framed by a façade decorated with original frescoes and the wrought iron initials of the village ‘VM’, evidence of the ancient history of the building that houses it.
The property was born, in fact, as the Villa of the Counts Corio first and then of the Orsini-De Roma, where in 1450 the noble Gaspare da Vimercate signed the treaty that decreed Francesco Sforza to the power of the Duchy of Milan, as the celebratory inscription positioned in the atrium of the house reminds us, today splendidly renovated by the current owners, the Beltramme family.
It is a privilege to be able to host our guests in a place so full of charm, which we love to enrich with special atmospheres and flavors capable of honoring the value of the structure.
(Stella Martina, owner)
The Vico Mercati restaurant was born in 2008, since 10 years managed by Stella Martina, perfect hostess always ready to welcome guests and pamper them, starting with an extraordinary homemade bread and the refined Tuscan Laudemio oil.
The environments perfectly marry the two souls of the restaurant: Renaissance and contemporary. The main room is, in fact, furnished with modern designer furniture with perfect light points that illuminate the floral centerpieces, and modern bottle racks act as backdrops between the tables, telling Stella’s great passion for good wine.
The ancient soul is captured in the Sala dei Fiori that leads to the garden, 15 square meters of history and charm obtained in what was once the atrium of Villa Corio, decorated with frescoes dating back to the 18th-19th century that envelop guests, giving them an intimate atmosphere of times gone by. Given the preciousness of the decorations, the room is available only by reservation (even for 2 people) and for private events.
The “secret” garden is beautiful, immersed in plants and clouds of hydrangeas, which becomes magical in the summer with rows of lights and many candles. From this season, the park of Villa Corio is also open, where parties for about 50 people can be organized (which can be moved inside in case of bad weather).
Another “secret” of the restaurant is the wine cellar, with over 250 references, housed in what was the ancient icehouse of the villa used until the end of the 19th century for slaughtering and preserving meat, where today Stella organizes tastings and small private events.
The kitchen is orchestrated by chef Davide Margutti, with previous experience at the “school” of the Aimo e Nadia Group, who together with sous chef Alessandro Caio creates an offer that starts from the Lombard tradition to enrich itself with experience and contemporary technique.
The menu always features traditional classics, such as Mondeghini meatballs, beef tartare served on roasted marrow, or risotto alla Milanese with saffron pistils and ossobuco in gremolada.
The chef’s creative flair also includes many recipes that change with the seasons, such as the tartlet with Taleggio cheese and mixed mushroom salad, cannelloni with a double consistency of pumpkin, black truffle, vegetable Périgord sauce, and a Toma Orobica fondue, or venison with parsnip cream and braised cardoncello mushroom. The menu also features dishes that cater to vegan and vegetarian diets.
Selected and top-quality ingredients, a continuous evolution of the recipes and a perfect hospitality make Vico Mercati “at home” for its loyal customers who come from all over the region for Sunday lunch or special occasions, as well as for all the guests who discover it by word of mouth or in the best international guides.
The Secret
In the fifteenth-century cellar, the well used by all the village inhabitants for water supplies, until it was incorporated into the ice house of the Corio Counts, is still visible. Today it is the place where the wine bottles are stored and displayed, taking advantage of the constant temperature and humidity, guaranteed by the historic stone walls.
Useful Info
Vico Mercati
Piazza Castellana 12
20871 Vimercate, Monza Brianza
Tel. +39 0396612209
Starters: 20 — 29 euro
First courses: 22 euro
Second courses: 20 — 34 euro
Business lunch: starting from 22 euro, excluding wines
Privatization of the frescoed room: from approximately 150 euro
Privatization of the garden: from approximately 1000 euro
Visits to Villa Corio: upon request
