Want a slice of Italy right in the heart of Paddington? Look no further than Barbetta.
Upon entering Barbetta, you will be taken back to ordering coffee and pastries on your last Italian holiday. Set up as a typical Italian coffee bar, the counter is brimming with freshly baked Italian pastries and sweets. Pull up a high stool and watch the barista make you the perfect coffee as you smell the sweet combination of roasted coffee beans and icing sugar.
But this new Paddington gem is not only a coffee shop. On your right, you will see shelves stocked with beautiful and quality Italian goods. Think homemade Napolitana pasta sauce to refrigerated dinners that are ready to heat and eat. Over to the left is a bustling café with an a la carte breakfast and lunch menu.
The dining room is flooded with natural light beaming through huge open windows. Look beyond the internal glass walls and you’ll notice the kitchen. It is here that the cooking classes and workshops take place, from pasta making to mastering the classic Italian lasagne.
Barbetta is a new venture by the three brothers behind Cipri Italian, which sits right next door. Created as a more casual dining experience, the brothers also wanted to offer a more interactive experience for their guests through the workshops so they can share their love of simple Italian cooking.
The food is simple and beautiful. The spinach and ricotta ravioli with burnt butter and sage ($22) is so flavoursome you might just lick the plate to finish. Paired with a fresh and zingy ‘Insalata Barbetta’ ($17) consisting of Savoy cabbage, pine nuts, raisins, pecorino and crispy pancetta lemon, you will be nicely full and content.
Other menu options include Best Ever Lasagne ($22), Polpette meatballs with crusty bread ($25) and Fusilli pasta povera with broccoli, anchovies and cherry tomatoes ($21). As for the drinks, Barbetta offer not only a range of brewed coffees but freshly made juices and smoothies. The venue doesn’t have a liquor licence as of yet, but you can BYO with no corkage fee in the mean time.
If you are looking for somewhere to sit back, relax, eat well and be whisked away to dreams of Italy, then Barbetta is a must try.