Andy Devaney
Amalfi Ristorante has arrived in the heart of the City like a Vespa tearing down Lombard Street at rush hour—sharp, stylish, and impossible to ignore. The new 170-cover restaurant opened its doors last night just steps from St Paul’s Cathedral, and we were granted unprecedented access to a launch party that felt less like a soft opening and more like the signing ceremony of a culinary takeover.
The location alone guarantees Amalfi Ristorante headlines, but it’s what happens inside that will keep people talking. Think marble mosaic floors, warm amber lighting, and plush leather banquettes lined up beneath a cathedral-facing glass frontage.
The room hums with glamour, but without falling into that all-too-London trap of trying too hard. Here, the theatricality stops just shy of arrogance. It’s Italian—confident, not cocky.
It’s a space that blends timeless Italian hospitality with the sophistication of the City, this is a place for long lunches, late dinners, and everything in between.
The menu means business. Fresh oysters came on cold, ocean-scented beds of crushed ice—simple, clean, honest. The signature lobster pasta, already whispered about among food insiders, lived up to the hype. Silky ribbons of handmade tagliolini tangled around sweet, generous lobster meat in a sauce that clung to the pasta with romantic intent.
The sourdough pizzas? Stone-blistered, leopard-spotted, and carrying that smoky kiss you only get from chefs who know what fire is for. Seafood and steaks round out a list that gives people choice without overwhelming them. No gimmicks. Just execution.
Amalfi Ristorante also understands that a great Italian hangs on its drinks program. The bar—an unapologetically long sweep of marble and spirits—focuses on aperitivo culture. Spritzes and Campari-led cocktails dominated launch night, lubricating conversation and loosening shirt buttons with dangerous ease. The wine list is Italian-first, with heavyweight Barolos and Super Tuscans standing guard alongside more playful Sicilian and Trentino bottles. A few international picks keep the crowd happy, but make no mistake—this is Italy’s show.
Then came the celebrity gloss. The Delevingne sisters—Cara, Poppy and Chloe—weren’t physically present, but their fingerprints were all over the party via Amalfi Ristorante’s partnership with their Della Vite Prosecco brand. Every guest clinked a chilled glass of DV to christen the dining room that will undoubtedly host more than a few City deals and romantic declarations in the months ahead.
From last night onward, bookings via the restaurant’s website come with a complimentary glass of Della Vite—a clever move that says: welcome to the club.
Was the night perfect? Nearly. Service was slick, though a touch rehearsed—expected during a launch, where staff move with the kind of heightened poise usually seen at royal weddings and bomb disposals. But beneath the polish there was heart. Real hospitality, not the mechanical kind Londoners endure too often. And that’s where Amalfi might just find longevity: by daring to be warm in a city terrified of sincerity.
This isn’t just another glossy Italian for expense accounts and influencer selfies. Amalfi Ristorante has set out its stall: it wants to become the benchmark for Italian dining in London—where location, design, and star power all support, rather than distract from, what actually ends up on your plate. Based on opening night, they’re on track.
A thousand restaurants open in London every year. Most will fade into the noise. But Amalfi Ristorante? You’ll want to remember this one—because everyone else will.
Bookings now open: www.amalfi.co.uk
