Bottega Mediterranea: Italy in the Heart of KL

Bottega Mediterranea is an Italian Deli Shop located in Bukit Ceylon, one of the serene areas in Bukit Bintang. It may look like a typical house and nothing special but the moment you enter, you will be in for some Italian treats from Panuozzo to Plato Fuerte, Charcuterie to cheese boards, Pasta to Pizza, and even an Aperitivo party every Friday and Saturday. You’ll travel to Italy through food. Apart from the food, the grocer is a haven for Italian goodies lovers like pastas, wines, olive oils, ham, cheese, and salami.

We sampled Charcuterie with a selection of ham, salami, and cheese served with olives and dips (RM 92). We were five but we opted for 6 pax since there is not much difference on the price. The Charcuterie comprises of 3 types of cheese – Provolone, Blue Cheese, and brie with cold cuts such as Parma Ham, Milano, Sopressa, Pancetta Coppata and Ventricina Piccante. The dips were incredibly delish. It includes Artichoke cream, garlic with fresh herb roasted olives and red pesto. The latter is the bomb! Portion is huge and they’re also generous on the cheeses. Plus, they’re all premium quality! We picked a bottle of Gran Sasso Montepulciano (RM 100) which was recommended by the staff. Some of us preferred sweet and some favored dry – staff suggestion put us in the middle and that’s quite fair.

Fridays and Saturdays are jam-packed for Aperitivo (Happy Hour) and Dinner. Tables too close together making it look like a mess. We gave ourselves a pat on the back for coming early and chosen a seat that’s on the corner surrounded with greeneries. By the time the crowd gets in, we were almost finished! Timing was on point!

Main goal was to sample their Charcuterie and it was superb! It brings back Memories of Italy and what’s amazing is that we no longer need to go to the eternal city. Aperitivo right in the heart of KL. Bottega is an oasis for Italian Food. You’ll surely keep coming back. I know because next couple of days I found myself having a brunch in Bottega on a lazy Wednesday over a cup of coffee and Montanaro Sandwich (RM 27). Coffee is good and sandwich is massive and full of good stuff ie: Porchetta, roasted onion fontina, tomato, aubergine. So happy to find this hidden gem in my neighborhood and I called a friend who lives nearby, too. He picked O’cannello in a hearbeat – huge amount of awesomeness we shared together, and we left the place so full!

Bottega Mediterranea is amazing and next would be to shop for my cold cuts and cheese to replenish my stock. I buy these things away from home without realizing I could only find haven in my neighborhood.