Italians have been spoiled for too long. The exceptionally flavoursome food, the delectable spirits made with freshly grown ingredients, the impeccable styling... Sadly, we can’t give you better weather and the entire month of August off, but Esquire’s editors and Malfy Gin – crafted with the finest botanicals from the Amalfi Coast – have joined forces to bring you a carefully curated collection of Italian establishments, brands and products you can enjoy on the British Isles. One that’ll give you a little taste of ‘la dolce vita’, but that doesn’t require a slightly menacing navy post-Brexit passport.
Drink Italian
“I’ve been enamoured with Italian drinks and snacks ever since visiting Lake Garda with my wife in 2013. Before heading out for dinner, we stopped at a covered terrace bar overlooking the mammoth lake for an aperitivo. Along with our first order of a gin fizz and glass of prosecco came a huge complimentary portion of bruschetta. With our next round, mixed olives. After that, multigrain taralli (and so on). We gorged as we watched a storm roll in, raindrops the size of our snacks hammering the water. We never did make it out for dinner, and I have zero regrets.
“At home, I make my own version of a gin fizz by combining the premium Malfy Limone (which uses Italian sun-ripened lemons and Amalfi lemon peel), a seriously chilled bottle of prosecco, sparkling water, a squeeze of fresh lemon and ice, served alongside a ramekin of nocellara olives. The scenery of Leyton, East London, may not hit the same as Italy’s largest lake, but at least the flavours make up for it.
“For the morning hours, Italian-style coffee really can’t be beaten. I get mine from Soho’s Algerian Coffee Stores (try their Cafe Napoli, delivered UK-wide), which has been going since 1887. Usually I’ll brew it in a cafetière, but when I have the luxury of time I’ll make it in a Bialetti Moka Express for a richer, thicker coffee – *chef's kiss*.”
- Jamie Carson, Commercial Lead
Dress Italian
“Espresso in the morning as opposed to tea, cacio e pepe as a historic meal instead of pie and mash, creamy gelato instead of Mr Whippy. Yes, it’s evidently clear that Italians dominate in a multitude of areas, but when it comes to menswear, we are fairly matched – yet have contrasting ideologies at the heart of our looks. Though equally stylish, there are big differences between Italian tailoring and British tailoring: the latter is much more structured, a little less ostentatious in its shape and heavily influenced by aged militaria.
“In stark contrast, the Italian's have always been more laidback in their approach to suiting (and life in general) – unstructured, easy-wearing, with more curve in the torso and more taper in the leg, often mixed with bold revere collar shirts in linen and woven loafers sans socks. To experience this difference for yourself, check out Anglo-Italian, which makes beautiful tailoring with a more Italian bent, featuring textbook English elements. For something more contemporary that still channels the timeless style of the Italian Riviera, try P Johnson in Fitzrovia, which is similarly louche, if not a little lighter. And then of course there’s Brioni in Mayfair – the quintessential purveyor of understated Italian elegance.
“For a more casual way into Italian style, explore Slowear. The multi-brand boutique stocks Incotex chinos (the best you can get) as well as Montedoro jackets, Zanone knitwear, and all manner of sprezzaturan accessories. The brand’s range of silk scarves is also excellent, and was made to billow in the wind while you’re riding a rusty rented Vespa along the cliff tops of the Amalfi Coast.”
- Charlie Teasdale, Style Director
Eat Italian
“Tasked with choosing a favourite Italian food spot in London, the temptation is to opt for somewhere super traditional, sauce-stained and storied. Lina Stores is a good example, so too is Il Portico in Kensington, which has been passed down through generations since the Sixties, or even a tourist-friendly trattoria like Ciao Bella in Bloomsbury.
“But my real go-to? Fadiga Ristorante Bolognese, an intimate family-run place that opened up in late 2021 in Soho. Don’t let the multicoloured, artfully arranged pasta on the restaurant’s Instagram fool you – the stripped-back menu is as authentically Italian as it gets in London. Husband-and-wife team Enrico and Michela drew inspiration from the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy, with a focus on Bologna. Sit downstairs, next to the kitchen, and order the ‘tortellini tamburini’ – firstly because it’s quite fun to say, and secondly, because the handmade pasta is packed full of delicious pork that’s been simmering away for 12 hours. It is, and I would never say this lightly, molto bene.
“Energised by the idea that it all looked simple enough, now it’s time to grab some pantry staples from I Camisa & Son in Soho, or Eataly at Liverpool Street if you’re doing a Grande Negozio. With Italian cooking, it’s all about getting the basics right: a good bottle of balsamic, the kind of olive oil you’d happily slurp with a spoon and, most importantly, as many tins of Mutti San Marzano tomato sauce as you can carry.”
Looking for a drink with a view? Grab a cocktail at Alto by San Carlo, an exclusive Italian restaurant and rooftop sanctuary with a stunning alfresco terrace and bar that overlooks Central London. We'd recommend the Amalfi Sunset, a classic apertivo featuring Malfy Rosa, prosecco and blood orange.
- Nick Pope, Digital Editor
Live your best Italian life with Malfy Gin
Enjoy Malfy responsibly – for more information visit Drink Aware
