Italian Goods Importer Sogno Toscano To Open Lifestyle Cafe In South Bay

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Sogno Toscano is getting ready to open a lifestyle cafe at Metlox in Manhattan Beach, WhatNow Los Angeles first reported.

Cesare Santoni, the company’s director of hospitality, said in a written statement to Patch that the Tuscan-inspired lifestyle cafe’s opening is planned for this summer.

“We truly love Manhattan Beach, the coastal style and atmosphere remind us of the Tuscan seaside region where we are from,” Santoni said. “Our goal is to create an authentic space that naturally fits the area, offering a relaxed, beachy vibe for a quick lunch, aperitivo, or dinner."

Manhattan Beach will be the sixth location for the lifestyle distributor, Santoni said.

The brand’s roots trace back to lifelong friends Pietro Brembilla and Brian Persico, who grew up in the countryside of Tuscany, Italy — “the little town of Bolgheri to be precise,” according to the company.

At Pietro’s family estate in Bolgheri, Tuscany, “they imported the top-quality olive oil and went restaurant to restaurant trying to sell it.”

So when the childhood friends moved to New York City together in 2006, Pietro’s father invested in their endeavors in the United States.

Brembilla and Persico started Sogno Toscano in 2007 by private-labeling extra virgin Italian olive oil and balsamic vinegar for local restaurants and their regulars in New York City, the company’s website says.

Now, Sogno Toscano has 10 distribution centers countrywide.

“We supply America’s best chefs, deliver to households all over the country, and own lifestyle cafés and showrooms to share the best that Italy has to offer to the American market,” the company said.

Sogno Toscano opened its first lifestyle cafe in 2021 in the West Village of Manhattan in New York City, according to La Cucina Italiana USA.

The brand expanded to the West Coast with another lifestyle cafe opening in Santa Monica in 2023.

The distributor currently has three other cafes: one at The Grove in Los Angeles, one in Phoenix, Arizona, and another in New York City, according to Santoni.

The Sogno Toscano Cafe in Santa Monica features an espresso bar, market and wine bar. Some options on the menu include fresh pasta, taglieri and pinsa romana.

"Authenticity is central to our concept, and all of our products are imported directly from Italy," Santoni said. “We look forward to welcoming the Manhattan Beach community."