Orient Express has partnered with Milan-based Dimore Studio to create La Dolce Vita, a luxury train experience that reimagines mid-century elegance through a distinctly Italian lens. Set to traverse eight curated routes across the country, the train draws from the visual language of the 1960s while delivering a modern take on travel and hospitality.
Dimore Studio, founded by Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran, developed the interior concept by referencing iconic Italian design and classic materials. The result is a travel experience that connects guests with local culture, layered aesthetics, and the warmth of Italian hospitality.
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The train includes 18 Suites, 12 Deluxe cabins, and a single La Dolce Vita Suite, each space designed to balance comfort and visual impact. Rich wood paneling, patterned textiles, and a vivid palette of orange, terracotta, and purple define the interiors.
In the Deluxe cabins, mirrored walls and wooden slatted ceilings reflect light and lend texture. A patterned sofa folds out into a double bed, and each unit comes with a private bathroom. The larger Suites include lounge seating with a sofa, table, and two armchairs, inviting guests to linger and experience the space as more than a means of travel.
Throughout, Dimore Studio applied a signature mix of color and surface, drawing on both vintage and contemporary references to create an intimate and layered interior environment.
Aboard La Dolce Vita, food holds a central role. Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck leads the restaurant car, bringing refined Italian gastronomy to the rails. The dining space itself acts as a visual counterpoint to the soft wood and textile tones found in the sleeping quarters. Reflective chrome walls, striped carpet, and leather seating in vivid orange establish a jewel-box feel, transforming mealtimes into events.
Beyond the restaurant, a communal lounge welcomes guests to enjoy drinks, relax between stops, and take in the scenery. The space extends the design narrative into a more social dimension, offering a space to gather while surrounded by details that reflect Italian design culture.
La Dolce Vita offers eight itineraries that travel across diverse Italian regions, including vineyard landscapes in Tuscany, coastal stops in Portofino and Venice, and a route connecting Rome with Sicily. Each itinerary features experiences curated to highlight the cultural, culinary, and architectural character of the destinations.
While the design draws the eye, the train’s broader mission revolves around immersive travel, offering more than scenery by connecting travelers to the nuances of place through each route.
With La Dolce Vita, Orient Express repositions the luxury train not just as transport, but as a frame through which to experience Italy. Dimore Studio’s interiors provide an intimate, richly-detailed context for this new form of slow, design-driven travel. The train’s spaces celebrate detail, scale, and atmosphere, offering passengers not only destinations, but moments of stillness and design clarity along the way.
wow! this is amazing!
this must cost a fortune?