From investment banking to London hospitality
Elmira Amdiy first built a career in investment banking, where she held director-level roles at Barclays Capital, Nomura and UBS. Alongside this, she was already a shareholder in Hostellerie La Farandole, a luxury establishment on the French Riviera. In 2020, she went on to invest in Wild Tavern in London.
Over five years, together with her partners and teams, she has grown that single restaurant into a group of seven venues: Belvedere, Wild Tavern, Wild Izakaya, Wild Corner, Wild Notting Hill, Chelsea Grill and Pinna Mayfair. Wild Group today represents a portfolio worth around €23 million (more than £20 million) and employs over 300 people in London.
The two projects announced on the Riviera mark a new stage in the development of her hospitality activities beyond the British capital. They also signal a return to France, where her journey in hospitality began.
A seven-bedroom villa conceived as a work of art
The first project concerns Hostellerie La Farandole, which will host a private seven-bedroom villa on its own dedicated plot, complete with a swimming pool and a pétanque court. The villa is due for completion at the end of 2026, after which it will be available to book through the hotel.
Its design has been entrusted to artist and sculptor Grishi Giano, who has been involved since the project’s inception. He is overseeing the choice of materials, including recycled ones, as well as the furniture and lighting, and is creating original sculptures for the property and its grounds.
Speaking to Restaurant Industry News, Elmira Amdiy explained that she did not want to design the villa first and only then decide which artworks to hang on the walls. Because Grishi Giano has been involved from the very beginning, she said, art is an integral part of the project rather than a last-minute addition.
She also stressed how their two sensibilities complement each other, describing her own taste as far more classical while the sculptor tends to push boundaries. In her view, they spur each other on, and that is often how they achieve their best results.
Les Chardons, a hotel focused on wellness and longevity
The second project, Hôtel Les Chardons, involves the restoration and redevelopment of a group of historic buildings. The architectural plans include landscaped gardens, restaurant terraces overlooking the Riviera and a large outdoor pool bordered by an expansive lounge area.
The concept is still being developed and centres on wellness and longevity. Speaking to a British trade title, Elmira Amdiy described Les Chardons as an important project for the group: the team is taking an existing set of buildings and creating something new around them, while paying close attention to what is already there and what can be restored. Should Les Chardons be steered towards wellness and longevity, she added, they will ensure the offer has real substance and gives guests a genuine reason to travel specifically to stay there.
This positioning reflects a growing trend on the Riviera. Buchinger, for instance, plans to open a therapeutic fasting and longevity centre in Roquefort-les-Pins in 2029. The theme is also gaining ground in international hospitality, as illustrated by the recently concluded alliance between Therme Group and Marriott International.
The timeline and capacity of the property have not been disclosed. The final concept will be defined as the project progresses.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Elmira Amdiy unveils two French Riviera hospitality projects
Former investment banker (Barclays Capital, Nomura, UBS) behind London’s Wild Group: 7 restaurants, £20m+ portfolio, 300+ staff
Seven-bedroom private art villa at Hostellerie La Farandole, due for completion by end-2026
Villa fully conceived with sculptor Grishi Giano: marble, onyx and travertine, bespoke hand-carved works
Hôtel Les Chardons: historic buildings restored into a wellness and longevity-led hotel; timeline and key count yet to be disclosed
