A corner of Emilia in Turin

Da Emilia is a small, cosy bistro opened in April 2015 in the historic and centrally located Vanchiglia neighbourhood of Turin. This district originated in the early nineteenth century as an industrial area at the northern edge of the baroque city, and largely thanks to the work of engineer Alessandro Antonelli – famous for the Mole Antonelliana, Turin’s landmark building, and the quirky Casa Scaccabarozzi – rapidly became a bustling and vibrant residential and commercial area where leased housing and retail stores rub shoulders with small factories and artisanal workshops. Still today it retains this character as a lively, commercial, youthful and slightly bohemian neighbourhood. Fashionable but down to earth, its bustling daytime activities and vibrant nightlife coupled with the close proximity to the university has made it one of the busiest areas of the city.
The small Da Emilia bistro is located along Corso San Maurizio, a road that runs diagonally from the Royal Gardens to the banks of the river Po, opposite the Mole Antonelliana. Occupying a long, narrow space behind a single street-front window, this informal, intimate and cosy eatery was started up by three young partners with different life experiences but a shared passion. And despite its small size, it even has a small wooden stage for playing live music.
Instead of following a project by an architect, the owners opted for an interior based on a tasteful combination of heterogeneous furnishings in a wide range of colours, materials and finishes, together with strictly second-hand objects, in some cases adapted and repurposed, that help to create a cosy vintage effect. At Da Emilia every object and furnishing contributes to the restaurant’s character, the sole contemporary element being the refrigerator cabinet, which like in a village delicatessen preserves and showcases cold cuts and sausages. The bar counter to the right of the entrance was originally a carpenter’s bench, next to which stands a motley collection of wooden and straw stools (taken from the family restaurant owned by Chicca Vancini, the Modenese partner now living in Turin), chairs made of wood, metal and Formica, padded office chairs and even a garden lounger made of metal tubes and PVC cording. The shelves on the wall behind the counter are crammed with glasses, plates and cutlery, while vintage cupboards are stocked with traditional food.
Da Emilia serves tigelle, traditional round shaped breads from the province of Modena, along with typical cold cuts and wine from the Emilia region. It also plays live music in an ambience that is entirely inspired by Emilia – down to the name, menu and origins and family ties of the owners. These regional links are also reflected in the choice of floor coverings, which consist of porcelain tiles produced in Fiorano Modenese by Florim Ceramiche (Memory of Cerim collection) and in the only purpose-made element created by the Bologna-based atelier Manoteca: the splendid wood and metal tube convertible table which can either be used as a single unit or divided into two or three parts simply by raising the hinged and folding sections.