Harry’s Dolce Vita brings Felliniesque fare to Knightsbridge

A restaurant inspired by Italian glamour welcomes sprezzatura to London

Harry’s Dolce Vita will be bringing la dolce vita to Basil Street in Knightsbridge when the all-day dining restaurant opens this winter, inspired by the glamour of 1950s and 1960s Italy, when the word paparazzi became common parlance, thanks to the Fellini character, and bombshell Sophia Loren burst from the slums of Naples onto cinema screens. 

Chef director Diego Cardoso, formerly of The Connaught and head chef at Angela Hartnett’s Murano, has created a menu based around Italian classics. When the doors open at 8am, fuel for the day includes Harry’s Breakfast, a lavish Tuscan take on the full English; spicy one-pan eggs cooked with pepperoni sausage and tomatoes; and chocolate focaccia served with mascarpone and vanilla sfogliatella.

As the day goes on, the feasting ratchets up a notch: from carpaccio di tonno and burrata al tartufo, via linguine vongole and pappardelle al ragù Bolognese, to whole seabass chargrilled with fennel, rosemary and Amalfi lemon. To reflect the name of the restaurant, dolce will include gelato cannoli, tiramisù and panna cotta. As a new twist on the champagne bowl, a grappa trolley will circle the room.

Warm winter-coloured fabrics, colourful Murano glass, floors reminiscent of Venice’s striped gondola mooring posts, and photography and artwork celebrating Italy’s postwar transformation are perfect for the season, while a terrace will be a welcome addition to lazy summer days.