In an effort to bridge cultural disconnect throughout the city of Florence, Cib’aria isn’t just a dinner — it’s an experience built on curiosity, connection, and storytelling.
Its founder, Elena Pontil, spent over a decade living abroad in countries including England, Spain, Turkey, and Sweden. Originally from Italy, her experiences learning different languages and immersing herself in different cultures led her to realize how rare it is to find spaces where those cultures can genuinely connect and interact.
Photo credit: Federica Fani, @effedifood on Instagram
After returning to Italy and settling in Tuscany, she found herself mostly surrounded by other Italians, despite Florence’s large international presence. Though the city was global on paper, she said there were few spaces where different cultures could truly meet and interact.
That’s when she founded Cib’aria.
Cib’aria acts as a space for cultures to come together and blend. At its core, Cib’aria brings people together through food, but it expands far beyond a typical dining experience.
Every Cib’aria event focuses on a different culture. For instance, past themes include India, Palestine, Iran, and Myanmar. Each night is carefully curated as a cultural journey. Guests don’t just eat a meal, they participate. Like art, music, and storytelling, food is something every culture shares, giving the meal a unique ability to bring people together.
Evenings often begin with cooking alongside someone from the night’s featured culture, whether it be a professional chef or simply a passionate home cook. Accompanying the meal are other activities to truly immerse participants in the culture. Poetry readings in original languages invite guests to hear the sound of a culture firsthand, even if they don’t understand every word. Another activity also includes interactive quizzes played in groups, which encourages conversation among strangers. These quizzes cover everything from history and geography to music and literature.
Pontil said by the end of the night, “a table of strangers often feels like a table of friends.”
Cib’aria has a strong emphasis on community voices. It gives people in each culture space to share parts of their identity with others. Each event is built organically, sometimes starting with a single connection.
Pontil said one recent event celebrating Burmese culture began with a visiting chef and grew through connections with Florence’s Burmese community.
In the early days, attendance was modest. Pontil recalls inviting friends to fill seats, but over time, word spread. Today, Cib’aria has built a loyal following, with many guests returning again and again! Some attend alone, confident they’ll meet new people, while others come with friends or family to expand their social circles and even practice Italian in an immersive, welcoming environment.
Still, the project isn’t without its challenges. Each event requires hours of coordination, managing bookings, communicating with participants, organizing contributors, and maintaining financial sustainability. While it may seem like just a dinner, it’s an evening of cultural exchange, performance, and community-building all in one.
Ultimately, Cib’aria isn’t just about showcasing cultures; it’s about creating space for them to interact and leave its guests with curiosity. In a city layered with history, Cib’aria offers a place where cultures don’t just coexist, but truly connect.
Photo credit: Federica Fani, @effedifood on Instagram