Last Updated on May 28, 2025
The Med comes to Marylebone
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
With a focus on Italian and Greek cuisine from the Mediterranean, Bellazul is a neighbourhood restaurant that opened in 2024 on a double-fronted site in Blandford St, Marylebone.
Set back a little from the hustle and bustle of Baker St, it’s a small village-like enclave where locals go to shop, eat, drink and relax.
Unsurprisingly, Bellazul is decked out in Mediterranean colours with baskets of greenery adding to the laid-back vibe as soothing Balearic beats gently burble away in the background. With wooden floors, the interiors are all about Wedgewood blue paint and exposed brickwork. There are outside tables if the weather permits, and interior seating is either on soft ochre banquettes or elegant upholstered chairs. There is also counter and high table dining, a dedicated bar area and a large downstairs area best for larger parties.
We start with a couple of glasses of Ferrari, NV Maximum Bland de Blancs, Trenton-Alto Aldige. It’s the perfect aperitif, clean and refreshing, with melon and green apple notes.
From the ‘Tapas & Cicchetti’ section of the menu at Bellazul, we order the Tartare di Tonno. A big dollop of good-quality yellowfin tuna tartare on a bed of soft avocado comes dressed with some excellent olive oil and the zing of lime. It’s a simple dish, but one that is well put together.
Burrata is brought in fresh and direct from Puglia. Creamy and full of lactic flavour, it’s served with a sweet harissa dressing, yellow Datterini tomatoes and the crunch of croutons. Delicious!
We move on to a glass of sauvignon from the Vignerons de Valencay, VDP du Val du Loire. The wine is well-rounded with a balanced acidity and tropical papaya notes and is a lovely match with our next dishes. We had to order some pasta from the Pasta and Soups selection. A sensibly portioned dish of homemade tagliolini is silky and eggy and slathered with fresh truffle. I love a little lunchtime luxury, and apparently you only live twice.
We skip the Pizza and Salads menu, moving on to our main dish, a shared whole seabream with lemon and parsley, first grilled, then placed in the pizza oven for added smokiness. The skin is beautifully charred, setting off the sweetness of the flesh. I pour some olive oil over the fish, Greek style and pretend that I’m sitting by the sea.
A side of sautéed broccoli and chilli is crisp with a hint of chilli heat.
I am too full for dessert, so I order a rich, creamy tiramisu topped with a wafer-thin crisp of dark chocolate, which hits the spot. A glass of homemade limoncello sends me home needing a good siesta. You can ask no more from a lunch, in my opinion.
If you’re looking for somewhere relaxed, with great service and a friendly ambience, then you will enjoy Bellazul. The food is straightforward but very well executed, and the bill won’t break the bank. The menu is updated regularly and features many Mediterranean classics. I’ll be heading back when I’m in the area.
Bellazul
43 Blandford St
London W4U 7HF
+44 (0)20 7486 7340
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