Entering Casa Cavia is embarking, like Alice, upon a remarkable space, a world blending the past, present and future to delight the senses. The prestigious London firm of Kallos Turin has recreated the historical manor house with a modern air.

The solemn facade, which retains its 1920’s refinement, is complemented by an iron-worked rail that holds the name of the house and invites everyone to come in and go through. In the spacious foyer you will find the day’s menu, a map of the neighborhood, and an itinerary of the many activities available at Casa Cavia. Among the weekly offerings are an exquisite tea table adorned with a sophisticated floral arrangement by Flores Pasión, a lunch inspired by authors selected by Ampersand Publishers, a sampling of drinks that seem to conspire with the scents of Fueguia 1833 perfumes.

To your left, a wide wooden door leads to “The Kitchen”: not just a place to prepare food, but indeed to savor it. A spacious room with high ceilings and gilded moldings, framed by the stately trees of Plaza Alemania, this is the perfect place to sample the delicacies of Pablo Massey, Próspero Velazco and Inés de los Santos. At the back of the room you will find an unconventional alcove, punctuated with a flock (yes, a flock) of books suspended in the air, as well as the bookshop of Ampersand, and some reading material to enjoy over tea or dessert. To one side, an imposing marble staircase suggests a path of books that, in Casa Cavia, invites you on an engaging journey. Upstairs, the first floor provides a haven for the offices of Ampersand Publishing.

Meanwhile, the faint sound of laughter or bells reveals itself as the murmur of water. Moving into the garden, you find a striking, contemporary fountain set in a landscape befitting further sensual delights: the scents of Fueguia 1833 and the original floral arrangements of Flores Pasión. An essence inspired by a Borges short story or a bouquet of flowers with touches from the most exotic corners of the world entices you to take a tidbit of Casa Cavia home with you.

The Casa Cavia experience resides in this fertile, ongoing dialogue among the noble and sensual pleasures. As a conversation evolves and changes, so Casa Cavia invites you back again and again, to explore like Alice, until you become not a habitue, but an eagerly- awaited guest.