
The showy-offy spaghettone al tartufo is made up of metre long strands of pasta
Barbarella takes its name from the high-camp sci-fi flick of 1968, a film known more for the appearance of a pert Jane Fonda in silver bodysuit than anything resembling a cohesive plot. It's fitting, as this Barbarella isn't really about the food, but the sheer spectacle. Every detail is made for your phone camera; from the gleaming leopard-print tables (somehow… lit from within?) and mega palm trees, to the zebra skins on the wall (ethics be damned!) and a giant glass chandelier (imported from Venice, of course) dangling imposingly over the central bar.
Food is of the non-specific Italian variety, and there's plenty of it. The massive menu comprises lots of pizza, loads of pasta, and various permutations of meat and cheese. Some dishes are named as they would be in Italy, the 'paccheri alla norma' pasta for example, or 'tagliata di manzo' beef fillet. Others have punny names that sound like someone's dad has snuck into the development meeting; the 'Looking For Truffle' pizza or 'Sundae Mood' ice cream. There's also a pizza named after Versace, for some reason. Barbarella is not about authenticity, it's about having fun, and still isn't sure if it wants to banter you relentlessly, or woo you at dusk in the Piazza San Marco.
Our starter of smoky stracciatella is as good as a bowl of creamy burrata-innards can be, served with slender focaccia Romana for dipping and dredging purposes. As with most Big Mamma joints, there's a stunt pasta on the menu. Barbarella's is a showy-offy spaghettone al tartufo, which is £24 a head and made up of metre long strands of pasta - like tapeworm, but sexy. Served tableside to show off the epic length, it might be a little too al dente for this larger, XXL super-toothsome version of spaghetti, but the sauce is good; flecked with fresh black truffle and honking with fluffy Parmigiano Reggiano foam. We follow it with a salty saltimbocca alla Romana, pan-fried veal escalopes topped with prosciutto toscano and sage, that's as rich as the city boy clientele that surround us.
At Barbarella, the food isn't quite an afterthought – some of it is very good, some of it kind of ok, and some of it best not mentioned – but you're not here for world-class pasta, you're here to be entertained, and Barbarella certainly does that.
The vibe A classic of the Big Mamma genre; an ultra-camp 1970s playboy pad.
The food Italian of all persuasions, including pasta and Napolitana-style pizza.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Ibiza Rocks hotel where three Brits died still selling party tickets despite suspension
The Ibiza Ricks resort has seen four people die in tragic accidents while staying at the hotel in recent months, with multiple Brits dying in balcony falls The Ibiza hotel where two Brits tragically lost their lives in separate incidents is still flogging party tickets, despite claims they were suspending these events in light of the repeated deadly balcony falls in recent months. Evan Thomson, from Aberdeen, sadly died after falling from his Ibiza Rocks hotel balcony on Monday, July 7. The 26-year-old sadly fell from the sixth floor while away celebrating his birthday. Just a fortnight later, Gary Kelly, a 19-year-old from Dundee, suffered a fatal fall from the third floor of the same establishment just past midnight. These twin tragedies followed two other at the Ibiza Rocks resort, including a 33-year-old British woman who died on April 30, and a female Italian tourist, 19, who fell from a balcony just three days earlier. In the wake of these heartbreaking events, Ibiza Rocks had declared a suspension of all festivities. The hotel expressed its sorrow with the words: "We are deeply shocked and devastated by the recent incidents that have tragically occurred." They continued: "Our priority is to support those affected and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and to fully assist the authorities with their investigations. "The safety and wellbeing of our guests has, and always will remain, our highest priority. Given the seriousness of the situation and out of respect for those involved, we believe it is right to pause our advertised events programme at this time." Yet, despite these assurances, tickets for upcoming events, including this Saturday's LoveJuice Ibiza Day Party, are still up for grabs online. Ibiza Rocks is asking punters to pay £17.35 for standard entry and £26 for a Daylife pass, which includes a food and drink voucher. The hotel is gearing up for its RandB Affair Day Party this Sunday, tipped to be the island's most epic RandB bash, with entry fees matching those of the previous day's festivities. Dizzee Rascal was scheduled to play at the hotel yesterday as part of the venue's '20th birthday celebrations' but that was postponed. However, Rudimental are still set to perform on July 30 for the anniversary, with tickets still available to purchase online. In the wake of Evan's tragic passing, his family and friends have raised serious concerns about the hotel's safety measures, criticising the establishment's handling of the incident. Evan's mate Blair Robertson blasted the hotel for their eagerness to 'get things back to normal' after the tragedy, reports the Daily Record. He recounted: "Security took us away to front desk. Paramedics didn't arrive for about 30 minutes. Forensic officers didn't speak English. We were just standing there, not knowing what was going on. Reception gave us false hope. "We heard the jet washes cleaning the ground where Evan died. That was the worst thing for us". Evan's sister Teila also called for 'higher safety precautions', stating: "Once it did happen, the hotel's response was just completely heartbreaking; almost as if it never happened. I pray no other family has to go through this." Following the recent fatalities, Ibiza Rocks shared a safety message on their social media, expressing that their thoughts 'remained with the families' of Evan and Gary. They wrote: "The tragic incidents of the past few weeks have deeply affected many. We continue to work closely with the authorities, and our thoughts and support remain with everyone impacted. "Much of the hard work that goes into safety and security in hotels and venues across the world happens behind the scenes. With thousands of guests passing through our doors every summer, it takes a collective effort from our team, security and local partners to maximise safety for all. "In times like these, care matters - but so does action. We have zero tolerance for any behaviour that puts our guests or our team at risk and we are building on the strong work we already do to go even further. "Out of respect and privacy for the people involved, we don't usually comment on individual reports posted online, but that certainly doesn't mean we're not always listening. We're committed to working with anyone who raises solid concerns so that we can establish the facts and take the appropriate steps. "Our hotel remains open and more information on a future events programme will be shared as soon as possible." On the topic of balcony safety, the hotel added: "Balcony safety is something we take very seriously, and our hotel meets all the applicable building regulations. "Alongside that, we're introducing further safety measures and working to raise more guest awareness to help encourage responsible use and keep everyone safe."


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Emily Ratajkowski posts SHOCKING fully nude photo while enjoying summer getaway
Emily Ratajkowski posed for a fully nude snap in her latest Instagram post on Thursday as she enjoyed a lavish summer getaway. The supermodel, 34 - who recently risked a wardrobe malfunction in a very daring swimsuit - shared a carousel of photos that had been taken throughout this month and were captioned with 'luglio' which means July in Italian. In one image, the former Nickelodeon actress could be seen soaking up the sun as she relaxed on a lounge chair outside. However, Ratajkowski opted to ditch clothing and instead simply donned a red cap on top of her brunette locks to protect her eyes from the bright sunshine. She turned her head to gaze towards the camera and also held her smartphone in her hand so her arms could rest on top of her chest. It is not the first the media personality has made the bold move and notably posed for a nude bathroom selfie last year. Ratajkowski seemingly whisked herself away to Italy - and was joined by close pals as well as her son Sly, four. She shares the little one with ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard. Another picture showed the beauty sporting a skimpy green bikini top with a plunging neckline on the front. Her hair was parted in the middle and naturally flowed down past her shoulders in light waves. Ratajkowski flashed her toned midriff during a stroll in a bustling city as she donned a cropped top as well as black shorts in the hot weather. She carried a purse over her right shoulder and completed the casual look with a pair of fashionable black shades. The Gone Girl actress snapped another selfie as she sat underneath a shady area while donning a plunging black swimsuit while a towel was wrapped on top of her head. During the trip, both Ratajkowski and her son had the chance to spend quality time together - and in one snap, the pair posed in their swimwear. They stood next to a tree on a dirt path with the model wearing a pair of mini yellow bottoms and a patterned bikini top. She added a red button up on top and slipped into a pair of white flats. The Gone Girl actress snapped another selfie as she sat underneath a shady area while donning a plunging black swimsuit while a towel was wrapped on top of her head Another image was taken as Ratajkowski paused next to a vintage red car outside what appeared to be a scenic hotel. She also showcased her airport style as both she and her son Sly waited to board their plane. The beauty opted for a strapless white tube top as well as a pair of low-waisted, brown trousers. Her son had a blast during the vacation and was filmed dancing as a man sang an Italian song at a restaurant. Ratajkowski also gave her followers a glimpse at some of the stylish outfits she wore last week in NYC while promoting her latest Netflix series titled Too Much. Lastly, the star shared snaps that revealed some of the tasty meals she was able to indulge in on the trip. She also showed off the swimming pool that was located at the hotel and filmed another clip while enjoying a drive in Italy. Over the past weekend, Ratajkowski turned up the heat while showcasing her figure in a skimpy black swimsuit that had a deep plunging neckline on the front that fell down towards her lower midriff. Ratajkowski also gave her followers a glimpse at some of the stylish outfits she wore last week in NYC while promoting her latest Netflix series titled Too Much She modeled the head-turning look while spending time inside a luxurious villa near the Adriatic Sea which borders the eastern side of Italy. Ratajkowski has had a busy summer thus far, and recently promoted her new Netflix show Too Much, which was released on the streaming site on July 10. In the series - which was created by Lena Dunham and her husband Luis Felber - the star portrays the character of Wendy Jones. The My Body author wowed in an assortment of ensembles while stopping by talk shows in the Big Apple - including a vibrant blue snakeskin minidress from Gucci. She also dished on 'decentering' men as she stopped by the Today show while talking to hosts Jenna Bush Hager and guest co-host Willie Geist. At one point, Ratajkowski was questioned if it was true that she has been 'deprioritizing' men in her life. 'Well, the kids say decentering,' she lightly joked, and elaborated to the Today hosts that it was true. 'I am a single mom and I just really, I think as I've gotten older I started to really value community with other women particularly. And that's definitely a priority for me.' She added, 'I think it's one of the best parts about living in New York as I get to meet so many amazing women and queer people. And yeah, I really value community these days.' Following her split from her husband, Emily seemingly came out as bisexual in October 2022 after posting a TikTok clip. The following month, she expressed to Harper's Bazaar: 'I think sexuality is on a sliding scale. I don't really believe in straight people.' Ratajkowski later said, 'I want to be able to have fun with how I present myself in the world without feeling like I'm a bad feminist or a good feminist. Duh. I don't want to be a part of your club if you don't want to have me. It's fine!' Also last week, it was revealed that her ex-boyfriend Pete Davidson is expecting his first child with model girlfriend Elsie Hewitt.


Time Out
6 hours ago
- Time Out
Ferrara Bakery & Cafe
Many words have been spilled about Ferrara's cannoli and delicate, sweet-savory sfogliatella since they first opened in 1892, to say nothing of the pounds of flour and sugar that have hit the floor in the past 133 years. Grab your treats to go from the glass cases filled with colorful cookies, or sit and sip a limoncello or sambuca while you savor a slice of torta da ricotta or Italian rum cake in the shop. Whether you're staying or not, make sure to try the cannoli that Ferrara is known for. (One is a cannolo, two are cannoli and three, as they say, is a delicious crowd.) They're a classic for a reason: creamy, sweet ricotta, studded with chips and served in a crisp, sugar-dusted shell or dunked in melted chocolate. Grab a box of jammy, nutty rainbow cookies to take with you—you can say they're to share when you get home, but they'll make the perfect pick-me-up while you walk around the city. The vibe: Adorably old-fashioned, with the classic decor and menu that attracts tourists from all over the world. The food: Fresh-made pastries from recipes that have stood the test of time.