The Coastal Pasta at ALBA, Opposite Harrods
Summer in London asks for something Mediterranean. Slow-braised winter dishes give way to something brighter, something that tastes of salt air and lemon rather than heavy sauce and long afternoons at the stove — and coastal pasta from Italy's south is where that shift really shows. At ALBA London, opposite Harrods on Brompton Road, the pasta menu is built entirely around that idea. Lobster linguine. Tagliolini from the Amalfi coast with Mazara prawns. Crab ravioli finished with caviar. If you want the south of Italy without the Ryanair queue, this is where to head.
Why Coastal Pasta Suits a London Summer
Coastal pasta comes into its own from May onwards. It leans on seafood, citrus and good olive oil rather than heavy cream or ragù, which is how most people actually want to eat once the weather turns. It is also the way the Amalfi Coast has always cooked — and it suits the way Knightsbridge does fine dining now: less about formality, more about flavour you remember on the walk home.
What Sets ALBA's Kitchen Apart
Head Chef Cristian Ianni's hand shows on every plate, and the pasta is treated as the headline act rather than a holding course before mains. You can watch it being finished, too: the open kitchen and the fresh seafood display sit in full view of the dining room at this Amalfi-inspired Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge.
Four Coastal Pastas Worth Crossing the Road For
1. Lobster Linguine
The signature, and rightly so. Whole lobster with linguine in a bisque tomato sauce - bright rather than heavy, and rich enough that the sauce does as much work as the shellfish. It's the dish most regulars order without looking at the menu.
2. Amalfi Tagliolini with Mazara Prawns
Tagliolini with red prawns from Mazara del Vallo on Sicily's west coast - the prawns Italian chefs quietly obsess over, sweet and almost buttery. A lemon sauce carries it, and grated bottarga over the top pushes the whole plate further out to sea. It sits at the heart of ALBA's coastal seafood cooking.
3. Crab Ravioli
Sweet crab folded into thin pasta sheets, dressed in a saffron butter sauce and finished with caviar. Quietly the most luxurious thing in the section. The salinity of the caviar against the sweetness of the crab is what makes it work.
4. Spaghetti alle Vongole
The classic, done properly. Clams, garlic, good olive oil and a hit of chilli, with no cream anywhere near it. ALBA finishes it with bottarga, grated over the top, which deepens the salinity and doubles down on the sea. The broth at the bottom of the bowl is the point, so keep some bread back for it.
The wider pasta section runs beyond the coast, too - black truffle, morel mushrooms and a veal-filled ravioli among them - so a table split between seafood and something earthier is easily done.
Finding ALBA
The restaurant sits at 70 Brompton Road, SW3 1ER, opposite Harrods and walkable from both Knightsbridge and South Kensington tube. Doors open at midday daily, and ALBA is open late on Fridays and Saturdays until midnight. If you are planning a longer day around the store, our guide to where to eat near Harrods covers the rest of the neighbourhood.
More from ALBA: a guide to Italian pasta shapes, and the Knightsbridge wine cellar built to pair with the coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is ALBA London?
At 70 Brompton Road, SW3 1ER, directly opposite Harrods in Knightsbridge.
What kind of food does ALBA serve?
Amalfi-inspired Italian fine dining, weighted towards seafood and pasta, with a wine list drawn mostly from Italy and France.
What's the signature pasta?
The Lobster Linguine takes the crown, with the Amalfi Tagliolini and its Mazara prawns a close second.
How do I book?
You can book online at alba-ldn.uk, or ring the team on +44 (0)20 3985 4992.
