ALBA, a new restaurant on Brompton Road, promises to bring a little slice of the Amalfi coast to Knightsbridge.
The restaurant, designed by the award-winning architecture studio, YODEZEEN, captures La Dolce Vita in its atmosphere, which is reminiscent of the sights and sounds of Southern Italy. A colour palette features olive shades of green and brown, lemon yellows and terracottas, completed with real citrus trees, which will perfume the air, and a handmade Venetian floor. Drawing on al fresco dining culture, the design merges the joy of indoor and outdoor dining within the restaurant.
The interior will feature bespoke pieces from the acclaimed Bradley Wood as well as the upcoming artist Linda Leupold. The furniture is from the luxury design house Exteta, which specialises in yachts, adding to the maritime feel. Finally, there will be tableware from Ginori, the Florentine porcelain house founded in 1735, to complete the mood.
At the heart of the room there is an open kitchen and a seafood display, showcasing lobster and langoustine, as well as oysters, sea urchin, king crab and an array of fresh fishes.
Dishes will cover the Italian regions, with a leaning towards the south. Dishes include la Figliata di Battipaglia, ‘a pregnant mozzarella’ as it’s known in Campania, a rich, creamy, signature product of the region made with buffalo milk.
Another example is Culatello di Zibello, or “little ass” in Italian, cured meat with a protected designation of origin (DOP/PDO), exclusively crafted in eight towns within Parma’s province.
Among the mains will be Amalfi staples, such as risotto con gambero and saffron, and Sicilian carpaccio gambero rossi di Mazara, while other regions of Italy will be handsomely represented, too: like the tagliatelle with white Alba truffle, a Piedmontese classic.
Similarly, when it comes to dessert, the chefs are casting their net all over the country. There will be a unique panettone tiramisu, as well as a range of Italian gelato, served table-side with a sense of theatre.
The wine list is sourced predominantly from France and Italy and aims to demystify fine wine. ALBA’s bespoke wine cellar – available for wine connoisseurs to visit – will invite guests to explore the skills and heritage behind every bottle and will offer a selection of verticals from Masseto, Dom Pérignon, Romanée-Conti DCR and Château d’Yquem bottles, including a Château d’Yquem 6 litres Imperial 1991 available by the glass.
there will also be a range of impeccable cocktails at the distinctive emerald marble bar, including modern riffs on the classics, such as the Negroni and Spritz, which will take drinkers on a tour of Italian cocktail heritage.