As if we need more reasons to visit Somerset House in the summer, this year the Embankment terrace is playing host to Peroni Ambra.
The riverside bar has been transformed into a small slice of Italy with a central white bar, winding wooden benches, high stools, and warmly-coloured floating orbs suspended in the metal trees that support the crisp white canopy – la dolce vita has arrived on the Embankment. Despite its central location, the elegance of the bar’s design gives it a serene and calm atmosphere. Take one of the tables by the balustrade and you can sip apertivi while enjoying beautiful views of the Embankment below and across the Thames to the Southbank beyond.
As pretty as the design and view are, your attention should stay firmly on their drinks list and food menu. The menu, in fact the whole bar, is inspired by the Italian apertivo tradition and is full of delicious dishes designed to be shared over drinks with good friends.
As well as wines and Peroni beers, the drinks list includes a mixture of Italian-inspired cocktails like Limoncello Ambrato (with limoncello, lemon juice, angostura and prosecco Rosato) and The Original Venice Spritz with a selection of liqueurs, prosecco, soda and orange juice. While sipping on your tipple of choice, tuck into one of their tempting anti-pasti boards, followed by one of chef Francesco Mazzei’s enormous, thin, crisp pizzas.
If the pizza particularly tickled your taste buds, book yourself a place on one of chef Mazzei’s pizza-making master classes. Learn from a pro how to shape, toss and layer traditional Italian toppings while enjoying a bottle of Peroni Ambra and Peroni Nastro Azzurro. Put your culinary skills to the test with dinner on the terrace where you’ll try your own pizza, expertly baked by Peroni’s team of chefs.
Somerset House is a hive of activity in the summer, and the bar is the ideal pre- or post-event location for a drink or two. If the bar alone doesn’t draw you in, and it should, visit for the Perfume exhibition or the Film4 Summer Screen, which this year includes films like Moonlight, Cruel Intentions and classics like Jaws and The Omen – you may need some liquid courage for the last two, and we know just the spot…
The bar is open daily, until September; although, as it’s open-air, if you’re dining in the evening, be sure to wrap up – it may look like the Liguria, but unfortunately Peroni didn’t bring the Italian weather with them…
