New fresh pasta restaurant, Magari, to bring authentic Italian food to Wapping Wharf

New restaurant Magari promises to bring authentic, home-cooked Italian food that is perfect for sharing to Wapping Wharf when it opens at CARGO 2 next month (April).

The highlight at Magari will be the fresh pasta that will be made on site every day. The restaurant will serve a carefully selected menu of vegan, vegetarian and meat-based Italian pasta dishes that focus on using the best locally-sourced ingredients from the South West in surprising ways.  

The ethos of Magari is focused on encouraging people to socialise. Alongside the pasta menu will be a drinks menu, featuring wine served in carafes and jugs of refreshing Spritz (liqueur, Prosecco and soda water), all served with small aperitivo snacks designed to be shared with friends and family.

Magari is the brainchild of friends and co-owners, Gilda Lombardi and Delphi Ross. Gilda came to Bristol from Italy two years ago and the two met during lockdown when Delphi was giving Gilda's children some English lessons before they started school. Gilda was cooking a meal for Delphi when they had a lightbulb moment and realised they had the perfect set of complementary skills needed to start a new restaurant venture in Bristol. 

Gilda's family run a cookery school in Rome and she was taught how to cook by her mother and grandmother, Delphi lived in Naples for two years and has worked in the hospitality trade for ten years. They have named the restaurant Magari because it means ‘I hope so' in Italian and describes everything good that you could wish for, an apt description of a night out at Magari.

Gilda Lombardi says: "Food is a huge part of our culture in Italy and because of my background I was really born into cooking so opening Magari feels very natural to me.  We really want to bring together and celebrate Italy's dynamic food culture and the amazing local produce that is grown and made in the South West."

Delphi Ross says: "For Italians, food is a communal activity that brings everyone together with love and laughter and we want a night out at Magari to have that same effect. Wapping Wharf has such a great community atmosphere that it makes perfect sense for us to open here."

Magari will be moving into a double unit at CARGO 2, half of which was formerly home to Buxton & Bird. The other half was previously vintage clothing boutique Something Elsie, which has now moved next door into the unit formerly occupied by Longwell Records, which recently closed to focus on its Keynsham shop.

Stuart Hatton, managing director at Umberslade, the developer behind Wapping Wharf, says: "Magari's family-friendly Italian food is going to be a great addition to Wapping Wharf. I'm looking forward to welcoming them and trying their incredible fresh pasta when they open their doors. With its emphasis on communal eating, sharing and socialising, it will fit perfectly with our friendly neighbourhood ethos."

Wapping Wharf is in the heart of Bristol's historical and cultural quarter, with its tree-lined pedestrian and cycle route, Gaol Ferry Steps, providing an important connection between south Bristol to the city centre.

Now home to over 40 independent businesses, many of which are based within CARGO - a popular hub made of converted shipping containers, Wapping Wharf is home to some of the city's best independent restaurants, shops, cafes and lifestyle businesses.

Follow Magari on Instagram @magaribristol.