Do as the Italians do and celebrate Ferragosto at Belvedere this summer. From August 14th to August 17th, Holland Park’s beautiful Italian restaurant will invite guests to take part in the ancient tradition with dedicated drinks and dishes made for feasting. Festeggiamo!
Held on August 15th across Italy, Ferragosto is the highlight of the summer – a time to unwind by the coast or head to the mountains to relax and enjoy the bounty of seasonal produce.
Throughout the festival period at Belvedere, visitors can enjoy a special al fresco lunch on the picturesque terrace, which offers stunning views of Holland Park – ideal for people-watching whilst enjoying the sunshine.
The limited-edition dishes, created by Head Chef Lello Favuzzi, will feature Italian delicacies that capture the essence of Ferragosto, including the show-stopping Josper Grilled native lobster with Catalana salad. Working with small-scale suppliers, Lello’s menu showcases seasonality with premium produce sourced from villages across Italy, including tomatoes and Mazara red prawns from Sicily and Tropea onions from Calabria.
About Head Chef – Lello Favuzzi
Born in Sassari, Sardinia, Belvedere’s newly appointed Head Chef, Lello Favuzzi, started his culinary journey by learning to cook in his parents’ kitchen. A valuable part of his everyday life, preparing and creating food for the whole family, regularly helping grandmother make fresh, home-made focaccia, pasta, and other traditional Italian dishes, showed Favuzzi that delicious food brings people together.
He previously worked at culinary institutions like Sardinia’s five-star hotel, Cervo; it wasn’t until 2003 in London that he began working as a Sous Chef at Alan Yau’s Anda in Marylebone that his culinary career started.
He then moved on to Franco’s on Jermyn Street, followed by The Wolseley, Corbin & King St Alban, L’Anima and most recently, Mortimer House Kitchen in the heart of Fitzrovia.
2020 saw Favuzzi participate in Celebrity MasterChef, where he hosted Amar Latif in his kitchen at Mortimer House.
Before joining Belvedere, Lello spent ten years running one of London’s most celebrated Italian restaurants. Joining RC Group in 2022, he used his skills to recreate simple and irresistible Italian dishes while extending his expertise to one of the first Italian steakhouses in London, offering a vibrant and joyful Mediterranean menu.
Alongside the classic Belvedere Spritz, Belvedere will also serve two exclusive summer cocktails in partnership with renowned Mediterranean gin brand Gin Mare: the Capri Sour, a refreshing blend of Gin Mare Capri, white grapefruit, lemon verbena, white peach, and lemon, and the zingy Bergamotto Collins made with Gin Mare Capri, bergamot, lemon, and soda—perfect pairings with fresh seafood and salads.
On Saturday, August 17th, as the day turns to night, guests are invited to move upstairs for an evening of live music by Sarah Violin, the LED electric violinist known for her unique shows and sound. Having worked with major stars such as Adele, Madonna, and Enya, Sarah’s twist on cutting-edge sound combines modern technology and sound effects to create a lively atmosphere, perfect for an evening spent with family and friends.
The occasion promises delicious food, refreshing drinks, and great music – embrace the true spirit of Ferragosto at Belvedere.
Address: Holland Park, Abbotsbury Rd, London, W8 6LU.
Lead image by Lesley Lau.