Attimi By Dario Manca

Taking over the old home of NOTA in Paddington is Attimi by Dario Manca, an experimental, 28-seat fine dining spot that combines contemporary Italian cuisine with traditional European finesse. While Attimi is Manca’s first restaurant, his resume boasts stints in many a Michelin-starred restaurant as well as time in the kitchen with Gorden Ramsay and Giovanni Pilu, so you can expect a memorable experience here. 

Meaning ‘moments’ in Italian, Attimi is all about slowing down and embracing the here and now—so be prepared to put your phone away and fully immerse yourself in the cosy, heritage surrounds while you enjoy a 12 or eight course degustation. Yes, 12 courses—you’re going to be here a while. While an a la carte menu is on offer for dinner from Tuesday to Thursday, the 12-stop journey through a variety of Italian regions is what Manca is most keen to share with diners, with an ever-changing line up of dishes that blend tradition with innovation. 

Every course is named for a different region from Lombardia (a filo confit garlic tart with goat cheese cream, salt baked beetroot and basil) to Calabria (savoury cannoli with beef tartare, cornichons, stracciatella, bagna cauda mayo) and Sicilia (limoncello sorbet). If you haven’t quite got the time (or the appetite) to linger over 12 courses, the shorter, eight-course variation is much easier to digest, and lets you choose your main and dessert. 

During the week, that a la carte menu offers up a short but decadent array of dishes like carbonara burrata, game farm rabbit cavatelli, and charcoal coral trout. You can also stop in for snacks and aperitivo or a vino from the lengthy Italian wine list, which boasts more than a few skin contact wines plus a selection of rare beers. 

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