Celebrating the Mediterranean’s much-loved approach to slow and joyful living, Nonna Bazaar is the multi-sensory lifestyle and restaurant concept from hotelier Arnaud Zannier. Set within a centuries-old finca and a 400-hectare working farm, Nonna Bazaar’s first site will open in Menorca on 5th June 2022, as the island is hailed the 2022 European Region of Gastronomy.
Nonna Bazaar is about celebrating food, family and friendship. Rooted in the landscape, culture and cuisine of the region, Nonna Bazaar encompasses a farm-to-fork dining concept, alongside a fully supervised kids club, curated boutique, farm shop, pétanque court, ancient chapel for private parties and intimate weddings, and programme of live music and cultural events. A buzzing social hub for local and international guests, Nonna Bazaar is far more than just a restaurant.
Nonna Bazaar is inspired by Zannier’s memories of happy childhood holidays, where the family would gather for convivial meals around long tables, sharing plates of rustic Mediterranean food, telling stories until long after nightfall. Its name shares the same source of inspiration: Nonna is set to evoke the spirit of such animated gatherings and the sharing of ancestral tales, memories and recipes; whilst Bazaar draws on the vibrant ‘bazaaris’ and soulful souks that scatter the Mediterranean.
Relaxed, all-day dining (175 outdoor covers) happens across a vast, shaded terrace flanked by holm oaks, Aleppo pines and scented by rosemary, lavender and mimosa beds. Understated, rustic and chic, the almost 400-year old finca has been lovingly restored to reflect the laidback soul and effortless charm of Menorca.
The menu is honest, unpretentious and flavoursome with ingredients sourced from the vegetable garden and surrounding farmland and orchards. Sharing-style dishes showcase Mediterranean flavours, including traditional cochinillo asado, paella valenciana, linguine alle vongole and shakshuka. Zingy salads, fresh carpaccios and just-caught seafood are accompanied by homemade breads and pizzas from the wood-fired oven.
And while the food alone will draw a discerning crowd, the diverse programme of musical, cultural and artistic events will ensure their return, time and again. A consciously-curated concept store stocks coveted regional brands, local textiles and pottery, while the artisanal farm shop sells produce from surrounding farms and orchards, as well as carefully selected regional wines and spirits.
A clutch of stone boyeras (cattlesheds) have been carefully converted into a wholesome kids’ club. With a shaded outdoor playground, petting stables stocked with ponies and piglets and creative stations, parents can while away languid afternoons exploring the landscaped gardens, sipping refreshing cocktails or playing pétanque, while their children are creatively immersed in rural life.
Meanwhile, an ancient chapel full of character and charm has been carefully brought back to life to become the definitive location for family gatherings, private events and intimate weddings. Nonna Bazaar’s soulful spirit carries on well into the night, with an ever-changing roster of live music and events setting the tone for the evening ahead.
The launch of Nonna Bazaar marks the first chapter in this exciting new story for Arnaud Zannier, with a second site earmarked to open in the south of France in the coming years.
