Tempo, London

Raising the bar - Tempo is the restaurant bringing a touch of Italian chic to Mayfair

So it’s the end of another day in the office and all you want is a cosy sofa and some comforting food. We blame the weather. But that’s no excuse to tuck yourself at home with a takeaway pizza. Not when one of the coolest new Italian bar and restaurant has just opened in the heart of Mayfair.

Tempo fuses comfort with decadence, not to mention some amazingly sourced, seasonal ingredients. And there’s not a stodgy dough ball in sight.

Housed in a 19th century townhouse, the opulent ground floor restaurant serves a modern yet hearty selection of dishes from rocket pesto gnocchi to wild boar pappardelle while the first floor bar is the ultimate autumnal hangout. Filled with gorgeous (not to mention on trend) velvet jewel-coloured sofas, amazing floor to ceiling windows and rococo revival paneling, it’s perfect for sumptuous after-work drinks. There’s an extensive wine list as well as classic cocktails and the bar menu boasts cured Italian meats and cheese platters as well as cichettti (small, tasting dishes, to you and me).

That’s reason enough in itself to choose Tempo above all other Italians, particularly in the area. Chef Yoshi Yamada has come fresh from a Michelin-starred restaurant in Sorrento to serve up the ‘small tastes of Italy,’ which are perfect when you want to sample (and share) lots of different flavours. The bar, which opens from 12-noon to 11pm also has free wi-fi. Perfect for ladies who lunch or just people watch...or *sighs* work…

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