George Clooney to Open Italian Restaurant in France

George Clooney is set to launch a new career as a restaurateur with an Italian eatery in the south of France, a move that comes just months after he and his wife, Amal, became French citizens and established the country as their primary family base. The restaurant is slated to open next spring in the Provençal village of Cotignac, near the couple's estate where they live with their nine-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander.

Clooney, 65, is partnering with Canadian hotelier Graham Porter, owner of the nearby Lou Calen hotel, for the venture. The project combines Clooney's affinity for France with his long-standing appreciation for Italy, where he has owned a villa on Lake Como for over two decades.

Renovations are underway at the former Les 3 Marches site, located at 11 Cours Gambetta. The specific name, chef, and menu for the establishment have not yet been disclosed. While Cotignac mayor Jean-Pierre Véran has confirmed Clooney's involvement, his name does not currently appear on municipal documents related to the project, which is being managed through Lou Calen.

The new restaurant will be situated approximately 20 kilometers from Domaine du Canadel, the wine estate near Brignoles that the Clooneys purchased in 2021 and have increasingly called home. The couple and their children formally became French citizens in December 2025.

Clooney has previously shared his reasons for embracing life in France, including a desire to raise his children away from the intense scrutiny of Hollywood. He told Esquire last year that he prefers their current lifestyle on a farm, where they engage more with their surroundings and family rather than relying on electronic devices. He expressed concerns about raising his children in the