The story of Terraço Itália begins in 1948, when Evaristo Comolatti — a native of Stazzona, a small village in the Lombardy region where his family ran the general store built by his grandmother Marguerita in 1873 — arrived in Brazil, bringing with him his dreams and the traditions of Italian cuisine. It was he who, nearly two decades later, would spearhead the creation of Terraço Itália.

Years later, in 1965, the city gained a new architectural landmark: the Edifício Itália—at the time the tallest building in São Paulo, standing 165 meters high with 46 floors. The design, selected through a competition, was the work of architect Franz Heep and established itself as a benchmark of Brazilian modern architecture. It was during a visit to the construction site that Evaristo was captivated by the panoramic view of the metropolis and conceived the idea of ​​opening a restaurant there.

To bring the project to life, he invited architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, responsible for the architectural design, and Burle Marx, who created the landscaping.

Terraço Itália opened its doors on September 29, 1967, offering not only excellent cuisine and a unique setting from which to admire the city, but also becoming a meeting place for São Paulo society.

In 1968, Terraço Itália welcomed Queen Elizabeth II and her royal entourage during her first official visit to South America. The sovereign was personally greeted by Evaristo Comolatti and his wife, Leda.

Since then, the venue has hosted distinguished figures, welcoming leaders such as Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and celebrities like Pelé, Ray Conniff, and Neil Armstrong, among many others.

In 1994, Sergio Comolatti—then Vice President of the Comolatti Group—assumed the presidency, succeeding his father, Evaristo Comolatti. This transition marked a new chapter in the history of Terraço Itália and the group, ensuring the continuity of the family’s entrepreneurial vision and further strengthening the legacy established by Evaristo.

In 2011, Conrado Ruivo – grandson of Evaristo Comolatti and nephew of Sergio Comolatti – took over the management of Terraço Itália. Young and tech-savvy, he brought a vision aimed at bringing this São Paulo icon closer to new generations. Among the changes, he transformed the traditional Piano Bar into the Bar do Terraço, creating a diverse musical lineup and embracing the digital age.

Following a rigorous selection process, Pasquale Mancini, the chef at Terraço Itália, was chosen to prepare all meals for Pope Francis during his visit to the country for World Youth Day 2013. This responsibility bolstered the establishment’s prestige and highlighted the excellence of its cuisine.

In 2020, following the announcement of the pandemic and the need for social distancing, Terraço Itália temporarily closed its doors, ensuring its staff could stay safely at home. The period of closure was used to carry out a renovation that had been planned for years. Designer Christina Hamoui was tasked with refurbishing the spaces and giving the restaurant a new identity. After six months, Terraço reopened in full compliance with all health and safety measures.