i. Biography
The star recognizes a compact fine-dining language: few ingredients, controlled technique, and a Puglian register kept in the background rather than pushed to the front.
Formation
Hospitality-school training gave the foundation before the dining-room and kitchen discipline of major European rooms entered the work. Fabio Abbattista trained at “Perotti” Hospitality School, then worked at Cavalieri Hilton in Rome and in London at The Halkin, The Square, Le Gavroche, and Le Spoon. The Roman and Milanese stages tightened the technical line. At L’Altro Mastai in Rome, Abbattista worked alongside Fabio Baldassarre; at Unico in Milan, he became senior sous-chef from 2011. The later chef roles moved the cooking into larger operational responsibility: Roof Garden, Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, then executive chef at LeoneFelice at L’Albereta in Franciacorta from 2014. Since 2024, the same discipline has been applied under direct ownership at Abba.
Now
Ingredient-led fine dining is the working frame at Abba in Milan, where Fabio Abbattista has been chef and owner since 2024. The restaurant is founded on ethical values and on a cuisine that gives raw materials the central role, while drawing on techniques and influences from around the world. Composition at Abba stays reduced rather than crowded. A dish is built from a few ingredients, with vegetables acting as the structural axis; fruit and greens follow ripeness calendars; meat and fish are sourced through selected sustainable supply chains. Puglia is present as a discreet reference, not as decoration. The cooking is known for essential, technically rigorous fine dining: ingredient-centered, pared back, and marked by a controlled Puglian identity.
Signature
The named signatures show the range of the Abba vocabulary: “Garden” risotti, Lavarello with black lentils and turmeric, and Hazelnut soufflé.
Accolades
Fabio Abbattista has received Michelin Guide — One Michelin Star for Abba (2025). Recognition for the Abba format includes One Michelin Star for Abba (2025).
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Fabio
What role does Fabio Abbattista hold?
Fabio Abbattista is chef and owner.
Where did Fabio Abbattista train or study?
Fabio Abbattista trained at “Perotti” Hospitality School.
What recognition has Fabio Abbattista received?
One Michelin Star for Abba (2025).
