Strega del Mare

The Strega’s location is unique with sweeping views over the Mediterranean and the Tuscan archipelago. This important feature combined with inspiring sunsets represents the ideal setting for:

1. A Cocktail lounge bar
2. A Grill and oyster bar
3. A Night Club

The three concepts will have to be run in symbiosis although each will retain its own special character and personality. In order to guarantee this, separate entrances will be provided for.

Cocktail lounge bar
The cocktail bar would run along the entire left hand side of the old dance floor. The decaying metal structure over the dance area would be scrapped and replaced with a large cream coloured sail. Beneath the sail, the cocktail lounge will extend across the old dance floor overlooking the sea. In year 2 or 3 a decorative infinity swimming pool will be placed running along the sea facing side of the lounge terrace. This lounge area will be decorated with low white sofas and lots of plants . The lounge bar will host happy hour from 6 to 8.00 followed by the aperitivo until 9.30, where at the purchase of a drink one is offered a selection of canapés.

The Grill and Oyster Bar
The Grill and Oyster Bar would have its entrance next to the parking ramp and have both indoor and outdoor dining areas. The choice of a Grill and Oyster bar combines a sitting down restaurant with a bar. This set up also gives one the opportunity to see their food being prepared and cooked. The oyster bar will be located inside and offer local oysters from Orbetello as well as a selection of French and British. Ceviche, fresh shellfish, sushi and caviar will complete the fish menu. The Grill will feature top range beef products such as Kobe, Angus and Argentinean steak in order to maintain a high standard and a mix of Mediterranean side dishes and salads from Italy, Lebanon, Greece and Spain.

To boost late night snacks the Grill will offer a selection of hamburgers, shawarma, shishtaouk and shishkebab either served on a plate at the restaurant, or in a pita bread wrap at the Grill bar. The international character of the restaurant we hope represents a change from the usual trattoria food found locally.

The Night Club
The Strega del Mare’s core business has always been the nightclub. During refurbishments the dance floor will be moved inside in order to avoid noise pollution and allow a longer season in future. By installing air conditioning that in the colder months operates as heating it will be possible to open at Easter and New Year’s.

Any establishment that sells cocktails and spirits should try and promote safe alcohol-free driving. Keeping this in mind we have devised an original idea that is to get 6 London taxis to be used as shuttles between the club Porto Ercole, Santo Stefano, Orbetello and Cala Galera.

During the day the taxis would be employed as a fixed cost shuttle service between the Argentario’s major tourist locations (Feniglia, Cala galera etc).

All taxis would feature a full white advertising wrap with the Strega’s logo covering the entire taxi. We believe that these white eye-catching London taxis transplanted on the Argentario would not fail to get the club talked about.

The Strega del Mare was opened the summer of 1960 by Leonardo Bedini who felt that the Argentario missed a nightclub where one could dance to some good music and enjoy a drink in a stunning setting overlooking the Mediterranean.

The original set up was a little eccentric, the Bedinis own a charming villa nearby where the dependence “The Beatle House” (in honour of the band) became the summer dwelling of the Strega’s team. In other words, those who worked at the club were guaranteed board and lodging and paid pocket money each week. In order to be chosen to be part of this paying holiday meets a summer job one had to be young, keen and British. This unusual set up lead the club to be know as Le Streghe (the witches) in honour of the girls that worked there.

Leonardo Bedini had worked in films and managed to infuse the club with some Hollywood glitz and glamour: Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch and a young Dudley Moore were among the clubs’ aficionados without forgetting the Dutch Royals and “Roma per bene” (well-to-do Romans).

As with any business Le Streghe had its good and bad years. In the 70’s the club evolved into a disco with a ticket paying entrance in order to keep up with the times. Leonardo Bedini sold the club after 25years to Massimo Bernardi who refurbished it in the mid 80’s and enjoyed a comeback for about 5 years with Roman holidaymakers.