Meet the next best thing to al fresco dining on a boardwalk in Italy.

Raise your hand if (still) think about that obscure little osteria where you had the best pasta of your life – same here. Alas, the pandemic has taken our wanderlust to unprecedented new heights, and with it comes a craving for authentic cuisines from around the world. As for the one cuisine that just about everyone can agree on? Italian – all day, everyday. Luckily for us, the culinary experts at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain were all ears, opening Primavera as a charming little pop-up where Nikmati once was, just off the marina beach.

For those not in the know: Primavera is an award-winning Italian restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Oliver Glowig, with Chef Delfino Chiarello serving as the mastermind behind the à la carte menu at this new pop-up. It’s rife Italian favourites like arancini with a truffle aroma, potato gnocchi in a rich tomato sauce, grilled calamari, and more – one more innovative than the last. This special menu is centred around fusing Italian and local flavours, so expect to see reinterpretations of Italian classics and seasonal ingredients across your dinner.

The Mediterranean-style seafood guazzetto, for example, is cooked in a clay pot and features hammour alongside prawns and clams. And if you’re one to judge a meal by the dessert, you’re in for a treat. Yes, the cannoli here is filled with chocolate cream instead of ricotta cheese, but it would still make Sicily – where this dessert originates – proud. Both ends are dipped into chopped green pistachios from the Sicilian town of Bronte, where this seed has practically reached celebrity status because of its quality. But it’s so much more than great food that makes this casual pop-up so appealing.

For starters, its al fresco setting allows us to enjoy sunsets in a piazza-style setting accented with twinkling lights, soothing tunes, and a salty breeze. Even those red-and-white checkered tablecloths – reminiscent of the type used widely across Italy – add to a feeling of escapism. Primavera Al Fresco kicked off last month, and (unsurprisingly) remains fully booked on most nights, so be sure to reserve your spot well in advance. And if you’re taking notes, it’s open from 5 pm to midnight, Wednesday through Saturday. Buon appetito! ✤

GO: CALL 1758 6499 FOR DETAILS OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION.