Inside Eataly, the new East London Italian food emporium you need to visit.

By Laura Millar Thursday 20 May 2021 12:31 pm

Photo by Steve Lancefield

Looking for a new place to grab a bite? Introducing: Eataly, East London.

Making its way over to the UK for the first time, Eataly is the new need-to-know destinations for foodies in East London and beyond.

The unique concept was originally founded by Italian businessman Oscar Farinetti, who opened the first Eataly branch in Turin in 2007, which has, since then, expanded across the globe to the likes of Dubai, Japan and America.

Now, the chain has opened its doors in London, boasting its inspiring ‘eat, shop, learn’ mantra through a whole host of culinary delights.

Eager to know more? We have everything you need to know.

Where: Located in a former office space next to Liverpool Street station.

While the chocolate factory might be steeped in history, the new Hall is designed with the modern shop-goer in mind. The interiors have been designed by the illustrious David Collins Studios, who undertook an exhausting restoration process of the original chocolate hall which included reworking the space’s extensive tilework by hand and recreating the impressive granite and marble floor.

These Edwardian features are enlivened by contemporary touches, including climate-controlled counters that ensure each piece of confectionary is kept at optimal temperature. 

Photo by Steve Lancefield

What: Eataly is a high-end food emporium, stocking fine Italian produce, from dried and fresh goods to wine.

Who: The Eataly concept was originally founded by Italian businessman Oscar Farinetti, who opened the first branch in Turin in 2007. Since then, it’s expanded to 43 stores around the world, including in Dubai, America, Japan and Brazil.

Tell us more: This is the company’s first UK opening, and covers a whopping 42,000sq ft, decorated with a cool, industrial feel. With a mantra of ‘eat, shop, learn’, you’ll find a retail and market area selling everything from olive oil to risotto rice, a meat and fish counter, and a wine store with over 2,000 Italian labels.

But you can also buy produce made on site – from fresh pasta, to pizza, focaccia, and burrata – and watch the chefs at work.

There’s also a cooking school, which will hold classes on regional recipes, wine-tasting, and more. If you head here this weekend, you’ll find department tours, in-store demos, and experts on hand to answer all your Italian foodie questions.