There have been many exciting F&B openings so far this summer, but none have intoxicated us more than Pane e Latte in Stanley, opened by Pirata Group.
We recently stopped by for a sneak preview, and we were bowled over by the space, which really does feel like an elegant seaside café in Italy – there we were in Stanley, living la dolce vita. The gorgeous design features include floor-to-ceiling windows cloaked in transparent drapes, arches, terracotta floor tiles imported from Italy, ceiling fans and a ceiling made of woven reeds. The colour scheme is decidedly feminine with its pink walls, columns and candy-cane-striped throw pillows. It’s just so dreamy, airy and relaxing – a place to retreat, a hidey-hole from the rat race.
The croissant bomboloni
And it’s not all style over substance. The marble counters and glass display cases on the ground floor showcase a beautiful bounty of Italian baked goods, from pillowy Italian doughnuts known as bombolini, to breads such as focaccia, ciabatta and sourdough, to pastries and cakes. It’s hard to pick one standout, but the Pane e Latte team are justly proud of their croissant bomboloni calorie bomb – layer upon layer of flaky croissant pastry piped with orange-blossom-scented cream.
There’s also an all-day breakfast menu that includes salads, foccacia sandwiches, pizza alla pala (square slices) and plated, brunchy dishes – think avocado toast, steak and eggs and this incredible truffle crossiant, filled with creamy truffle scrambled egg and anointed with even more black truffle and fresh Parmesan. We had a taste of this one, and it was divine.
The gelato “speakeasy” downstairs, next to the glass-enclosed kitchen where you can see the pastry chefs in action, will debut later this summer, but we got a look at the majestic gelato sundaes that will soon be available – some even topped with freshly made candyfloss!
We’ll return to Pane e Latte pronto to lunch and linger, and we’ll provide you with a full review once we do.
G/F, U-C Court, 25 Stanley Market Road, Stanley, 2337 7221 (no bookings)
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