George Clooney Brings High-End Italian Dining to Provençal Village
Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney is expanding his culinary footprint from the shores of Lake Como to the south of France, launching a high-end Italian restaurant in the village of Cotignac for spring 2027. The project transforms a long-standing personal passion into a commercial enterprise located roughly twenty kilometers from the actor’s family estate in Brignoles, rumors.it reported.
Renovating a Former Pizzeria in Cotignac
Construction work is already underway at 11 cours Gambetta in Cotignac, taking over the former site of the Les 3 Marches pizzeria, which closed approximately a year ago, rumors.it noted. The property sits in the heart of the village of just over 2,000 residents in the Var department. Cotignac mayor Jean-Pierre Véran confirmed the actor’s involvement in the local development, though municipal offices have not received a request filed directly under Clooney’s name, according to rumors.it.
Partnering with Local Hospitality Figures
For this Mediterranean venture, Clooney is teaming up with Canadian businessman Graham Porter, who already owns the Lou Calen Hotel in Cotignac, rumors.it detailed. While initial regional reports from outlets including Var-Matin and La Nuova Sardegna outlined the broad strokes of the restaurant, specific details regarding the venue’s official name, interior design concept, and executive chef remain strictly confidential, zazoom.it reported. Plans indicate the establishment will feature a terrace alongside reservable spaces for private events, according to rumors.it.
Rooting Culinary Ambitions in Italian Tradition
The upcoming Provençal restaurant builds on a decades-long connection to Italian food culture that intensified after Clooney purchased Villa Oleandra on Lake Como in the early 2000s, lanuovasardegna.it reported. His private chef, Viviana Frizzi, has previously noted the actor’s preference for regional classics like pesto gnocchi, mushroom or truffle risottos, and pizza. Extended stays in Italy also introduced the actor to Sardinian specialties such as pecorino cheese, pane carasau, and mirto liqueur, alongside comfort staples like spaghetti and meatballs, according to lanuovasardegna.it.
Establishing Roots in the South of France
The restaurant venture anchors the actor’s family life closer to their residence at Domaine du Canadel in Brignoles, a property acquired in 2021 where Clooney and his wife Amal settled in 2025 to raise their children, rumors.it reported. This geographic proximity places the new dining establishment a short drive from the family home, positioning the venture as a local fixture rather than a remote celebrity-backed franchise, according to rumors.it.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cotignac Restaurant
When will the restaurant open to the public?
The restaurant is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027, according to zazoom.it.
Where exactly will the venue be located?
The venue is taking over the former Les 3 Marches pizzeria at 11 cours Gambetta in Cotignac, a village in the Var department of France, rumors.it reported.
Who is partnering with George Clooney on the business?
Clooney is working alongside Canadian businessman Graham Porter, owner of the local Lou Calen Hotel, according to rumors.it.
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