by InTrieste
With a new gelateria on Trieste’s historic waterfront and a growing portfolio of seaside destinations stretching from Trieste to Monfalcone, the hospitality company is betting that memorable summer experiences are built as much on atmosphere as on food.
For visitors arriving in Trieste during the summer, the city’s appeal has always extended beyond its grand Austro-Hungarian architecture and elegant piazzas. It is a place where daily life unfolds along the sea, where locals linger over coffee, evening aperitifs blend into spectacular sunsets, and the waterfront becomes the city’s living room.
That relationship with the Adriatic has increasingly shaped the evolution of 040 Group, a hospitality company founded in Trieste in 2010 that has quietly grown into one of the region’s most recognizable restaurant and leisure operators. Today, the group oversees 14 venues across Trieste, Muggia and Monfalcone, each reflecting a different interpretation of coastal living while remaining rooted in the area’s maritime identity.
This summer marks another milestone with the opening of Pier Inn, the company’s first venture into artisanal gelato, housed in one of Trieste’s most recognizable waterfront locations.
A Historic Address, Reimagined
Standing on the Molo della Pescheria, just a short walk from Piazza Unità and adjacent to the Salone degli Incanti, the new Pier Inn occupies the site long known to generations of Triestini as Il Pinguino, a beloved seaside gelateria.
Rather than simply renovating the historic venue, 040 Group has opted for a complete reinvention. The interiors have been redesigned with a contemporary palette of earth tones, sage green and warm beige, creating a relaxed atmosphere that complements the surrounding sea views while preserving the location’s enduring appeal.
The concept extends well beyond traditional ice cream. Alongside classic gelato, visitors will find affogatos, protein beverages, specialty coffees and a carefully curated drinks menu, reflecting a broader shift toward hybrid hospitality spaces that combine café culture with casual dining and social gathering.
With an expansive outdoor terrace overlooking the water, Pier Inn is designed to serve different rhythms of the day—from a morning espresso to an afternoon break after a stroll along the waterfront or an evening drink with the Gulf of Trieste as its backdrop.
Dining Above the Water
A short distance away on Molo Venezia, Pier the Roof continues to build on an idea that has become increasingly popular in coastal European cities: combining destination dining with panoramic rooftop experiences.
The venue offers two distinct settings. On the lower terrace, guests can enjoy seafood-focused lunches and dinners just steps from the sea. Upstairs, the rooftop transforms each evening into an open-air lounge where cocktails are served against one of Trieste’s most celebrated sunset views.
This season also brings an operational change. In addition to lunch and dinner service, the restaurant now remains open throughout summer afternoons, responding to visitors seeking a more flexible dining schedule outside conventional meal times.
The kitchen, led by chef Carlo Mezzalana, centers its menu on Mediterranean seafood, with dishes including raw seafood platters, linguine with clams, mixed fried seafood and tagliolini alla busara, a regional pasta specialty. The rooftop offers a lighter menu of burgers, fried snacks and small plates paired with signature cocktails and non-alcoholic mocktails.
Beginning each day at 5 p.m., the venue hosts its daily “aPIERitivo,” while Friday and Saturday evenings feature DJ sets that extend the atmosphere well into the night.
A Beach Club for Every Generation
Across the Gulf in nearby Muggia, Boa Beach presents a different interpretation of the Adriatic summer.
Located at Punta Sottile, the beach club has been designed around three interconnected concepts that allow it to cater to different audiences throughout the day.
Boa Family focuses on younger visitors with recreational facilities including beach volleyball, games and gelato. Boa Food offers a full restaurant menu suited to guests spending the entire day by the sea, while Boa Lounge becomes the social centerpiece as evening approaches, serving cocktails accompanied by music and occasional DJ events during the summer season.
The model reflects a broader evolution in beach tourism, where destinations increasingly aim to accommodate families during daylight hours before transitioning into evening entertainment venues without losing their relaxed seaside character.
Sun loungers, food service and uninterrupted views across the Gulf of Trieste make the venue attractive to both residents and visitors looking to spend an entire day on the coast.
A Bistro at an International Marina
Further west, at Marina Monfalcone, La Spiaggia Bistro occupies a strategic position within one of the northern Adriatic’s largest international marinas.
Unlike a traditional beach restaurant, the bistro caters to a diverse clientele that includes sailors, water sports enthusiasts, families and tourists exploring the region.
Chef Markus Mosser’s menu emphasizes seasonal ingredients and light Mediterranean cuisine. Alongside focaccia, puccia sandwiches, salads and fried specialties, diners can choose from more elaborate creations such as burrata with pistachios over fennel and orange, lemon orzotto with stracciatella and toasted almonds, or seared tuna coated in hazelnuts.
Every Sunday, live DJ sets accompany the late-afternoon aperitivo, creating an atmosphere that continues well beyond sunset and complements the marina’s active waterfront, where kite surfing, windsurfing and beach volleyball are part of daily life.
Building a Coastal Identity
While each venue offers its own personality, together they illustrate a broader strategy that has defined 040 Group’s expansion over the past decade.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on restaurants, the company has developed a network of destinations linked by a common theme: encouraging people to experience the Adriatic coast throughout the day, whether over breakfast, lunch, aperitivo, dinner or simply a gelato by the water.
The opening of Pier Inn further strengthens that identity by extending the group’s presence into one of Trieste’s most iconic waterfront landmarks.
In a region where the sea has long shaped both culture and commerce, 040 Group’s growing portfolio reflects a contemporary interpretation of hospitality—one in which location, design, cuisine and atmosphere come together to celebrate the rhythms of summer along Italy’s northeastern coast.
