Once a modest driveway at The Berkeley two years ago, this space has been transformed into The Garden, a seasonal culinary destination hosting pop-ups since it opened. This summer it returns with a new Italian concept: La Dolce Vita: Il Giardino, now open to the public for alfresco Italian dining.
Italian chef Antonio Pavone leads the kitchen, crafting a menu that celebrates classic and contemporary Italian flavors. Under a canopy of twinkling lights and glowing candles, guests begin with warm focaccia and a selection of Mediterranean wines before choosing from a variety of small plates such as assorted bruschetta, arancini, burratini and fritto misto.
© Maybourne Hotel Group
Highlight pasta dishes include a creamy cacio e pepe served with rigatoncini, and delicate tagliolini dressed with a pistachio pesto made from Sicilian Bronte pistachios. Main courses range from roasted wild seabass to beef fillet carpaccio and a traditional Fiorentina steak. Vegetarians are well served too, with sides like sautéed cima di rape and crisp lollo rossa offering fresh, seasonal balance.
Desserts honor Italian sweets with an apricot crostata paired with amaretto ice cream, a classic tiramisu, and cones of Amalfi lemon and peach gelato. Adding a theatrical touch, a bespoke spritz trolley circulates the dining area while staff prepare cocktails tableside, creating a social, interactive experience.
© Maybourne Hotel Group
Set beside views of Hyde Park and other iconic London sights, the alfresco space is framed by fragrant herb plants and olive trees. Design elements draw on Italian motifs—lemon prints, negroni tones and gelato-inspired stripes feature across fabrics and ceramics. Bowls brimming with lemons and bold yellow block candles bring pops of color and warm ambient light throughout the garden.
Il Giardino offers a relaxed yet refined outdoor dining experience that captures the spirit of Italian summer: convivial, flavor-forward and visually inviting. Whether for a casual spritz and small plates or a full multi-course dinner, the restaurant is crafted to feel like a little slice of Italy in the heart of the city.