I was super happy to discover that the Eataly Bishopsgate London had opened up. Homeboy and I dine at the Eataly in Chicago when we visit family each year (although sadly not recently due to Covid). We couldn’t wait to check out the Eataly Bishopsgate branch. However, when we went on Sunday, queues were snaking around the corner. We decided to return on bank holiday Monday as soon as the store opened and, on that occasion, we managed to get inside. Eataly Bishopsgate includes various bars, restaurants, a cookery school and over 5000 Italian products to buy. It’s a celebration of craft, taste and the traditions of Italian cuisine. You must visit pronto. Luckily, I live within walking distance, so I envisage spending a lot of time and money in Eataly!
Eataly London Queues
Eataly Bishopsgate London Ground Floor
Due to Covid restrictions, the indoor restaurants and bars aren’t open yet, but they will be soon. However, it is still worth visiting to buy something delicious from the fresh food bars and market. Enter via Liverpool Street, and the Gran Caffé Bar is straight in front of you. Treat yourself to a coffee by Caffe illy, Dolci or Gelato. If you have a sweet tooth, you will enjoy wandering through La Via Del Dolce, where you can marvel over the Italian sweets, handcrafted pastries and artisanal cannoli filled to order. This part of the store is quite glitzy and bright, a bit like a fairground.
Sweet Treats
In the Bar Centrale area of Eataly, the emphasis is on fresh in-house made pasta, pizza and bread. We were particularly interested in the fresh pasta and sauces you can choose from the Pasta Fresca Bar. Everything looked terrific so it took us a while to make a decision and we can’t wait to go back to buy more. If you need advice on which pasta goes with which sauce, one of the experts will help you make the perfect pairing.
Fabulous Fresh Pasta
Head over to Pizza Alla Pala for Roman-style pizza by the slice. Purchase your pizza direct from the counter and take it outside to eat.
The in-house bread and focaccia made from an Italian mother yeast and baked in the wood-burning oven will entice you over to make a purchase. We bought a Sourdough Loaf, which was fabulous, one of the nicest sourdoughs I’ve eaten. For deli food, stop by Gastronomia, where you will find some delightful nibbles for your evening meal.
Eataly Bishopsgate London First Floor
Stand on the escalator, and you are transported to the first floor. Your first sight is La Frutta E La Verdura which comprises fresh fruit and veg by Natoora.
Get Your Five A Day Veggies
On your left is the I Salumi E I Fromaggi, where you can queue up to select your Italian cured meats and cheeses from the counter. On the right side to the cheese and meat counter is La Pescheria, where you can buy fresh fish; some fish looked massive. Left of the cheese and meat counter is La Macelleria, where you can buy ethically farmed and sustainably sourced meat.
Extensive Cheese Choice and Cured Meats
Continue on and along one wall in the ‘Market’ are chiller cabinets displaying cheese, salumi, meats, fresh pasta and sauces.
So Much Salumi and Cured Meats
In the middle are rows of dried pasta, biscuits, crackers, jars of sauces, condiments and canned goods. Choose from over a hundred types of air-dried pasta and an array of risotto rice. I found it fascinating how many different types of tomato sauces they had in cans, jars, bottles and freshly made in the chiller cabinets.
Italian Groceries Galore
It is interesting to see the variety of olive oils, with many boutique and single estate producers. With a choice of 75 olive oils, you might want to consult an expert so that you can make a decision. Likewise, with the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, the choice is a bit overwhelming.
Hand Made Mozzarella
Check out Il Caseifico, The House of Mozzarella, a glass ‘lab’ where you can see mozzarella being made by hand using milk from Devon.
Italian Wines
If you love Italian wine, you will enjoy exploring Il Vino with an extensive collection of mid-prices to fine wines from Italian regions. It is the most comprehensive collection of Italian wines in the UK, so you are bound to find one to go with your evening meal.
Eataly Bishopsgate London Information
I can’t wait to dine at Eataly. The Caffé Bar on the ground floor serves Café Illy, Dolci, Gelato and Aperitivo. La Terrazza di Eataly is a restaurant and bar with alfresco dining serving seasonal dishes and cocktails. If you only want a drink, head for the Central Bar. On the first floor, you can enjoy wood-fired pizza and traditional pasta at Pasta E Pizza. Or perhaps you’d prefer to try Terra, the Italian wood-burning grill restaurant or have a glass of wine at the Terra Bar. I like the idea of sampling fresh food from the market counters at Cucina Del Mercato. I will be writing about these eateries as soon as I can get a table. Check out the cookery school classes online if you want to learn about Italian food.
Learn About Italian Food at the Cookery School
To find out more, go to the Eataly Website. The address is 135 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3YD. The nearest station is Liverpool Street. Please check the website for current opening times and restaurant menus. If you want to explore the area more, read my Ten Things To Do In Shoreditch article. Enjoy your visit, and I hope you find something lovely to eat and drink!
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.
