Set to open in February 2025, ALBA, a new restaurant on the Brompton Road, will bring Amalfi to Knightsbridge: a little slice of the Italian coast, just a stone’s throw from Harrods.
The restaurant designed by the award winning architecture studio, YODEZEEN, captures La Dolce Vita in its atmosphere 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 seamlessly merges the joy of indoor and outdoor dining within the restaurant.
What are the interiors of ALBA like?
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.
The heart of the room will be an impressive open kitchen, where the chefs will work their magic in full view. Flowing from the kitchen, there will also be an eye-catching seafood display, with mouthwatering produce, including lobster and langoustine, as well as oysters, sea urchin, king crab and an array of fresh fishes. The menu will change according to what’s in season, but every dish will be elevated with ALBA’s luxurious signatures. While the Amalfi vibe might be relaxed, the restaurant’s approach to food is extremely serious. As Loro Piana is to clothes, ALBA London is to cuisine; relaxed but immaculate.
What food will be served at ALBA?
ALBA’s heart will always be on the south coast, but the dishes reflect the very best of Italy. Think la Figliata di Battipaglia, ‘a pregnant mozzarella’ as they call it in Campania, a rich, creamy, signature product of the region made with buffalo milk. Another example would be Culatello di Zibello, or “little ass” in Italian, the finest 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 & 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. ALBA takes traditional delicacies and adds luxurious flourishes with the world’s best ingredients, including caviar, truffle, wagyu or yellowfin tuna.
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 typically Italian sense of theatre.
How about the drinks at ALBA?
The wine list is of a level to match the exquisite food, sourced predominantly from France and Italy. This carefully crafted selection aims to demystify fine wine, making it not only an occasional indulgence but also an accessible delight for guests to savour at each visit. ALBA’s bespoke wine cellar – available for wine connoisseur to visit – will invite guests to explore the skills and heritage behind every bottle and will offer a selection of impressive verticals of Masseto, Dom Pérignon, Romanée-Conti DCR and Château d’Yquem bottles, including a Château d’Yquem 6 litres Imperial 1991 available by the glass – making Alba’s wine list one of London’s best.
In true Italian spirit, there will 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.
ALBA will be a perfect place for long indiscreet lunches and intimate dinners, reminiscent of the Amalfi coast holidays.
Alba opens February 2025
Address: 1st Floor, 70 Brompton Road, London, SW3 1ER
Opening Times: 12pm to 12am, Monday to Sunday
Website: https://www.alba-ldn.uk/
