La Terrazza, Hotel Xenia’s stylish Italian restaurant, is a prime location for private dining in Kensington. A perfect blend of relaxed atmosphere and elegant food makes this the perfect place to take family, friends, colleagues or clients for anything from a Prosecco brunch to corporate dinner. Head chef Raffaele Lauriola whips up authentic Italian dishes, with the occasional modern twist thrown in for good measure.
The largest space is La Cantina, which can host up to 60 guests for all manner of events, including birthdays, engagements, children’s parties and wedding receptions. The room boasts its own sound system and a large TV for presentations or branding. Much more intimate is Bohemia, which seats up to 12 guests. Ideal for a work lunch or smaller celebration dinner, the room is a chic space with stylish red curtains and furnishings. Finally, the Al Fresco Cigar Bar tucked away in the garden is better suited to receptions, parties and tastings.
To drink during your private meal, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The restaurant has an excellent range of Italian wines in its on-site cellar, along with a handy map of the country to show you where exactly some of the wines are from. Start things off with a glass of bubbly, such as the Cantina Bernardi Prosecco from Veneto, before moving on to whites, reds and roses from all over the country.
A typical meal at La Terrazza follows the classic antipasto, primi, secondi, dolci structure. As such, you might start off with a trio of bruschetta with stracchino cheese, fresh tomatoes and olive tapenade, followed by a hearty duck ragu with pappardelle and mixed mushrooms. Your meal might then culminate in a braised lamb shoulder with Sicilian couscous. Finally, you might indulge in a decadent dessert like a creme brulee al pistacchio.