USA creates Olympic athlete lounge in Milan

The Starbucks Winter House, a collaborative hospitality destination for Team USA athletes, their families, and partners, opened in Milan during the Winter Olympics. Located at the Aethos Hotel in the Navigli district, the venue features areas for relaxation, dining, and celebration, bringing together athletes from USA Hockey, U.S. Figure Skating, and U.S. Speedskating.

Cocktail Creations by Brian Boitano

Figure skating legend Brian Boitano has designed a menu of signature cocktails for the Winter House, each named to represent a different sport. The cocktails include “Hat Trick” and “Sin Bin” for hockey, “Win & Tonic,” and “Kiss and Cry” for figure skating, and “Post Race Legs” and “Ohno, I’m Heiden and I can Blair-ly see cause I’m Jansen in the dark” inspired by speedskating. Boitano’s interest in mixology began with entertaining friends and evolved through a Food Network show and a partnership with a boutique hotel brand. He now has 150 cocktail recipes and is developing a ready-to-drink line.

The Winter House Experience

The Winter House aims to provide athletes and their families a private space to relax and enjoy the Olympic Games. Amenities include comfortable seating areas to watch the Olympics on television, custom Olympic-themed desserts from Gelato by Patrizia, and immersive wine tastings led by Filippo Bartolotta. Berlucchi Franciacorta serves as the official sparkling wine, intended for athletes to celebrate medal wins.

Sponsorship and Culinary Offerings

Starbucks serves as the title sponsor, with an in-house roastery offering curated espresso beverages, including a Honey, Brown Sugar Iced Americano exclusive to the app during the Olympics. A Starbucks Espresso Martini is also available in the Boitano Lounge. In addition to the Starbucks offerings, the venue provides U.S. home-style cooking and a selection of Italian wines.

Partnership and Future Events

The Winter House represents a partnership between USA Hockey, U.S. Figure Skating, and U.S. Speedskating, as these are the only three Olympic sports taking place in Milan. The venue will host events honoring past Olympians and Olympic teams, and is expected to attract influencers and celebrities, with hopes of a visit from Snoop Dogg.