The Villa Cipressa pop-up restaurant has opened in Bruges

“This time there is no autumnal atmosphere about game dishes, but an understated Italian gastronomic experience, with the best produce and wine from the trunk. From sunny cocktails to surprising pasta dishes from a well-known, uncomplicated producer’s kitchen: Thijs Gelaude and his wife Chaëlle Danneels’ plans are clear.

The makeshift restaurant is in a familiar setting, for Villa Cipressa is the new destination for former Hertog Jan’s restaurant along Bruges’ Torhoutsesteenweg, where Thijs Gelaude himself worked in the kitchen for many years.

Proven concept, new style

Just like the previous pop-up restaurants, Thijs & Chaëlle at Villa Cipressa offers a set dinner formula with 3 or 4 courses, preceded by four original summer snacks. You can go there for dinner from Thursday to Monday evening. So the concept remains the same, but with Italian cuisine they’re taking a new direction: “Don’t expect the classic Italian cuisine of traditional pizza or pasta. Of course we use indigenous Southern herbs and ingredients from ripe prosciutto to homemade gelato. But we do it in a way that’s refreshing and innovative.”