At ALBA London, directly opposite Harrods on Brompton Road, dessert is not an afterthought - it is theatre. Waiters wheel the Panettone trolley to the table, the Grand Gelato arrives built for sharing, and the kitchen draws on the Amalfi Coast, home of the protected sfusato Amalfitano lemon. This is a guide to the Italian desserts worth crossing the road for, with ALBA's Knightsbridge menu at the heart of it.
Delizia Limone d'Amalfi: the icon of the coast
Amalfi lemons grow on terraces above the Tyrrhenian Sea, and their thick peel carries far more aromatic oil than any supermarket lemon. ALBA serves the dessert that made them world-famous: the delizia al limone, invented by pastry chef Carmine Marzuillo in 1978 and perfected by Sal De Riso through the 1980s. ALBA's version - the Delizia Limone d'Amalfi - delivers sponge, lemon cream and a limoncello finish in one dome. For anyone chasing an Amalfi lemon dessert in London, this dish alone justifies the trip.
Pistachio tiramisu
Pistachio tiramisu has ruled Italian dessert menus in London since 2024, and ALBA serves its version opposite Harrods: mascarpone layered with crushed pistachio and espresso-soaked sponge, the green glowing against the terracotta-and-lemon room. If you are hunting the trend, this one sits near the top of the list.
ALBA Panettone with mascarpone cream
The tableside showpiece. The ALBA Panettone with Mascarpone Cream arrives on a trolley beside the table, where the waiter soaks fresh Panettone in espresso and layers mascarpone in generous waves. Pair it with an espresso or a glass of Vin Santo from Tuscany, and expect the neighbouring tables to watch.
Gelato, and why it beats ice cream
The difference comes down to two things. Gelato is churned slower, which whips in less air and gives each scoop a denser, silkier feel than ice cream. It is also served warmer, closer to fridge temperature than freezer, so the flavour actually lands instead of numbing the tongue. ALBA's three-scoop plate runs vanilla, chocolate and pistachio - or leave the choice to the kitchen.
For the table, the Grand Gelato is the one to order: a sharing dish in hazelnut praline or coconut, named for the Piedmontese town of Alba that lends the restaurant its name, and brought out for everyone rather than portioned into single servings.
Affogato, done properly
Two ingredients: vanilla gelato in a chilled glass, drowned in hot coffee poured over at the last moment. It works because hot bitter coffee hitting cold cream is one of the great Italian ideas. At ALBA it comes with espresso or with Belvedere Dirty Brew Coffee, depending on how much of a statement dessert should make.
The lighter finishes
When gelato feels too rich, the sorbets are the answer: Amalfi lemon and raspberry as the constants, with a seasonal fruit alongside. The panna cotta - "cooked cream", a northern Italian classic - arrives topped with rhubarb for a seasonal accent. And the Vanilla Cake with Italian Meringue, made to share, closes a meal on a soft, nostalgic note.
Planning your visit
ALBA opens daily from noon: until 11:30pm Monday to Thursday, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10:30pm on Sundays. Knightsbridge and South Kensington stations both sit within a short walk, and dessert to share is a fixture of date nights at ALBA. The full list lives on the desserts menu, and tables book through alba-ldn.uk/book-now.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Italian desserts in London right now?
Delizia Limone d'Amalfi, pistachio tiramisu, the tableside Panettone and the hazelnut praline Grand Gelato. ALBA London in Knightsbridge serves all four.
What is the Delizia Limone d'Amalfi?
A lemon sponge dome from the Amalfi Coast - sponge, lemon cream and a limoncello finish. The original delizia al limone was invented in 1978; ALBA serves its own version.
Does ALBA serve gelato?
Yes - a three-scoop plate of vanilla, chocolate and pistachio, plus the sharing Grand Gelato in hazelnut praline or coconut, and an affogato with espresso or Belvedere Dirty Brew Coffee.
Does ALBA serve sorbet?
Yes. Amalfi lemon and raspberry are the constants, with a seasonal fruit alongside.
How far is ALBA from Harrods?
Directly opposite, at 70 Brompton Road - the walk takes under two minutes.
What time does ALBA open?
Daily from noon; last service 11:30pm Monday to Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, 10:30pm Sunday.
