What do you get when you mix Italian cuisine with sophisticated French charm? Il Bambini Club. This restaurant group has been cooking up a storm across their locations in Paris and Megève for years, and they've recently opened their first UK location, inside The Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch. This spot continues the brand's dedication to authenticity, reflecting the buzz of Italian street life both through its food and the atmosphere. And in one of London's most restaurant-heavy neighbourhoods, I was keen to see if this new addition would stand out.
Il Bambini Club is a new opening inside The Hoxton Hotel.
DesignMyNight's Review Of Il Bambini Club London
The restaurant spans across the ground floor of this stylish hotel. It blends into the lobby, though as we were taken to a table near the back, we felt as though we were in our own private space. The decadent interiors feature lots of colourful patterns, a chic marble-topped bar and elegant light fittings, with a warm glow to the room that contrasted the dark October evening outside. We sank into the plush pink booth we were seated at, giving us the feel of dining from a sofa.
The Italian flavours began with our drinks, mine being an Il Francesi (£12). This was similar to a classic Hugo spritz but slightly more sweet, made up of St. Germain elderflower liqueur, Moscato d’Asti and limonata, finished with a sprig of fresh mint. My partner's Amalfi margarita (£14) was equally citrus-heavy, putting a twist on the iconic tequila blend via limoncello and lemon thyme.
We were told on arrival that their menu is best shared, so we split a selection of antipasti and fritti to begin. The burrata (£15) was deliciously creamy, oozing over a bed of multi-coloured tomatoes that were some of the freshest I've had in this country. The tomato flavour was equally strong in the aubergine alla parmigiana (£12), a stack of thin aubergine slices, coated in a rich sauce and finished with crisp parmesan.
The gnocchi is a must-try for mushroom lovers.
The mushroom arancini (£16) were earthy balls of risotto rice in a crisp breadcrumb coating, sat on beds of whipped truffle ricotta that added a tangy, cheesy taste. We both enjoyed these thoroughly, though I felt for the price that the portion was a little small at only three pieces - especially compared to the generous helpings we received of everything else.
For mains, I chose the mushroom gnocchi (£20), featuring several different kinds of mushroom in its thick, rich sauce. The pieces of gnocchi themselves were doughy and very soft, cooked to perfection. And from their short but sweet selection of pizzas, my boyfriend's margherita (£15) was equally enticing, boasting an extremely thin, crisp base and a fluffy crust, with a flavourful mozzarella and tomato topping. They really nailed a classic plate with this one - a sign of a good restaurant in my book.
The chocolate mousse was a highlight of the Il Bambini Club menu.
Next came some of the hugest desserts I've ever seen, so definitely make sure you're hungry before ordering one of these. The enormous bowl of tiramisu (£11), which these guys are renowned for, had a thick layer of cream and a strong coffee dusting, with a nice added touch of having the restaurant's logo on top. My personal favourite was the chocolate mousse (£10), a light, airy treat topped with salted caramel sauce, alongside flakes of chocolate, popcorn and nuts, adding a welcome crunch to the texture.
Overall: Il Bambini Club Shoreditch
I was very impressed by this Shoreditch newcomer, and I can see them making their mark on the UK dining scene as well as the French one. The Il Bambini Club London menu was full of Italian favourites, a real crowd-pleaser, from the spritz cocktails to the indulgent pasta dishes, and the desserts were truly spectacular. I'd suggest sharing a few dishes between friends or family to try the best of what they have to offer, as there was plenty more I would have loved to have ordered.
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💰 Price: £125 for two, excluding service charge. 📍 Address: 81 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 3HU. 👌 Perfect for: a shared meal with friends. ⭐ Need to know: the desserts are massive, so save room. |
For more inspiration, check out
our guide to Italian restaurants in Shoreditch.
