Panetteria by Fucina

Marylebone

A new sibling often competes for attention but the little sister to elegant Italian restaurant and wine room Fucina has slotted into its central London location superbly.

This organic delicatessen and bakery, which opened in February, is headed up by ex-Princi head baker Massimiliano Porta. It shares the same industrial-style design principles with Fucina, so expect exposed brick, natural wood and impressive display cabinets heaving with all manner of produce.

Stop off early for freshly made pastries, breakfast pizzas and cold- pressed juices or swing by at lunchtime for a light salad or sandwich made with naturally fermented stoneground and wholemeal bread brimming over with succulent meats from Fucina’s wood-fired pit.

Fancy a coffee at the counter? There are three specialty blends, all expertly brewed by baristas in the sleek Victoria Arduino Black Eagle espresso machine. However, if you’re after something a little bit stronger, make sure you pop downstairs to its small but excellent wine shop, where you will also stumble across the sublime gelato and pasta-making rooms where you can watch the masters at work.

Back upstairs, Fucina’s food buyer Andrea Orsini has gone to great lengths to source the absolute finest in artisan groceries. Many of the dried and cured meats, cheeses, pestos, pasta, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, truffles, jams and sweet bites on offer here are exclusive to Panetteria and sourced from all corners of Italy.