Cara explores a buzzy, unpretentious, and very easy to settle into, Alfi, an Italian Cocktail Bar & Restaurant in Spitalfields.

I like the Spitalfields area, it’s sort of a meeting point of the City with its white cloth sophisticated establishments and the quirky independent Shoreditch. Both sides try hard to keep their reputation.

Spitalfields is the unbothered middle that welcomes eateries of all calibre. Alfi is among them, an independent Italian bar and restaurant right in the centre of the market.

The menu leans on Italian classics but there’re small details that make them more interesting than they first appear.

Take the homemade focaccia with a dipping cup of Ellouze 1870 EVOO and balsamic. it’s a classic combination but the olive oil comes with a story.

A family-run Tunisian estate dating back to 1870, Ellouze still farms and mills its own olives, many from trees planted by the family more than 150 years ago.

The result is a beautifully grassy, characterful oil that makes a humble piece of focaccia feel anything but ordinary.

It’s a dish on its own already but I found myself using it to scoop up the beef carpaccio.

Tender beef is paired with cured St Ewe yolk, generous shavings of fresh summer truffle and Parmigiano Reggiano, finished with swirls of truffle mayo.

Rich mayo enriches the tender beef without overpowering the meat by adding a bit of oil, it’s a dish I would come back to ALFI for.

For drinks, ALFI offers cocktails alongside a selection of Italian wines. Flip over the drinks menu and you’ll find a handy map of Italy.

It outlines each region, making it easy to place the wine geographically and adding a little context to the glass, a clever touch — and one that might just save you from asking AI.

We’re in the mood for cocktails though. Pineapple Daiquiri with Two Drifters pineapple rum blend is particularly good, first time me seeing this brand of rum too.

I appreciate a good cocktail, and more often than not, casual foodie places neglect that part.

Not here. It’s mixed just right, balanced with a quality alcohol kick, no artificial additives, and topped with a dehydrated slice of pineapple.

There’s something about sipping a cocktail and munching on the fruit chip while waiting for the mains to arrive.

And then comes the pizza, a contemporary Neapolitan-style creation prepared in a beautiful traditional wood-fired oven, showcased behind glass at the entrance for guests and passers-by to admire.

Made with an exceptionally wet dough at 80% hydration, the pizza undergoes a 36-hour cold fermentation before being stretched.

The slow fermentation allows the flavours to develop while breaking down some of the dough’s proteins and starches, resulting in a light, airy crust that is easier to digest.

On the plate it’s light bouncy crust, burnt bubbles and plenty of toppings.

The pizza menu is split to two sections, the Classics and Alfi Signature: pizza creations that were developed by the staff.

Of course we had to try that, meet Dom: fior di latte, friarelli, salsiccia, pancetta, pecorino and chilli. For friarelli we do have to cross check with AI, turns out I know that one by a name of rapini, it’s greens from the cruciferous family.

Infused with garlic it makes for a welcome addition on a meat and cheese rich pizza.

In case pizza isn’t your thing Alfi also has a selection of grilled meats and of course pasta. Carbonara bucatini is our choice, spaghetti like pasta with a needle thin hole running through the centre.

The sauce is a rich, yellow egg-yolk emulsion, cream-free of course, as it should be in an Italian eatery. The bucatini is nicely al dente, while the pancetta brings just the right amount of salt and crunch, with golden, crisp edges.

Keeping with the Italian simplicity, the dessert list is limited to just three. The panna cotta is light and milky, with a naturally sweet strawberry compote — a fitting finish after an entire pizza.

For chocolate lovers, the mousse ticks the box. It’s on the very dark side 70% or more — with a bittersweet, dense flavour but a surprisingly light texture. The tart cherry compote cuts through the richness nicely, making this one best enjoyed with a tea or a milky coffee.

Alfi is a great place to keep on your radar for casual meals, Italian craving or just leisurely cocktails and wine. Their outdoor under the Spitalfields market roof social bit with pool table make for a great mingle location.

Alfi Bar and Restaurant, 3 Crispin Pl, London E1 6DW