Born in 1977, Chef Andrea Aprea’s journey has deep roots. The son of Neapolitan restaurateurs and pizzaioli, he realized at the young age of 15 that gastronomy could become his future, as his passion for it grew stronger every day.

From the very beginning, his main goal was to travel and broaden his horizons. He completed his studies while working, and at 18 he joined the paratroopers for his military service, where he eventually took on the role of head chef for the general.

His desire to learn and grow led him to focus on English as an essential skill. Thus, in 1996, after his first work season, he left for London with a group of friends. Two years later, in 1998, he flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he worked for a year and a half at the restaurant Le Maschere in The Plaza Hotel. This experience, more formative on a human than a technical level, opened up a new world for him.

Upon returning to Italy, he moved to Florence, where he spent a season at Villa San Michele. In 2001, he arrived in Milan to work at the Grand Hotel et de Milan, but his curiosity for new experiences took him back to London, where he joined restaurant The Square, remaining there for a year and a half. During that time, travel continued to be the central focus of his journey.

In 2004, he was invited to take part in the opening of the Bulgari Hotel in Milan, an opportunity he considered a turning point for the city. After a year and a half at Bulgari, he decided to return home, accepting a position at Palazzo Avino in Ravello, where he stayed for two years.

He then spent three years in London, working in several award-winning culinary destinations. In 2007, he returned to Italy for a new opportunity in Naples: the opening of Hotel Romeo, where he served as Executive Chef. After three intense years, in 2010 he went back to Milan, drawn by the idea of revitalizing the Park Hyatt with a completely new culinary project.

His decision to settle in Milan was strategic: he saw in the city the only Italian context with true potential for international growth. After just 11 months, the restaurant earned significant critical acclaim, becoming the first in the hotel group’s history to receive such a prestigious recognition.

In July 2022, Chef Aprea launched his own project, opening the Ristorante Andrea Aprea inside Fondazione Rovati. This opening represents a natural continuation of the vision he had begun at VUN Andrea Aprea.