Giovanni’s 35 years of
In 1983, a small Italian restaurant opened in the centre of Cardiff. It brought a unique slice of Italy to the city centre, with its authentic cuisine and friendly atmosphere
THIRTY-FIVE years later, Giovanni’s Restaurant on the Hayes has gone from Cardiff’s youngest eatery to Wales’ longest running Italian restaurant. The family-run establishment is still making dreams come true with every visit.
The restaurant’s conception came about after the founder, Giovanni Malacrino, returned from America, where he co-owned a restaurant in Colts Neck, New Jersey.
Despite the success we see today, Giovanni’s on The Hayes’ opening night was a slow one, as Giovanni recalls: “We had only one party of customers, the Hurley family. Apart from that, we were pretty empty. The Hurleys stayed until the restaurant began filling up, coaxing people to come into the restaurant. They were wonderfully caring. To this day, I am extremely grateful for them. They are now great friends of mine and I have the photo of their visit on the restaurant’s wall.”
Following its opening night, the restaurant flourished. Giovanni’s on The Hayes became synonymous with premium, authentic food. People adored the charming atmosphere, which could lift even the lowest of moods. It soon became the ultimate destination for A-list celebrities visiting Cardiff. It welcomed the likes of Luciano Pavarotti and Princess Diana, as well as the Welsh treasures, Sir Tom Jones and Dame Shirley Bassey.
After years of hosting big names, Giovanni’s on The Hayes was subject to a new kind of celebrity visit. The hit BBC drama Sherlock sought out the restaurant as a filming location. The actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Lars Mikkelsen performed a major scene in the restaurant. Thousands of Cardiff residents flocked to Giovanni’s on The Hayes to catch a glimpse of the filming.
As well as establishing and running a popular restaurant, Giovanni pioneered the first-ever purpose-built Cafe Quarter.
The alfresco dining area on Mill Lane was designed and spearheaded by Giovanni 25 years ago.
In 2013, Giovanni opened his restaurant in Park Place. The plush new restaurant mirrored the authenticity of the Hayes, while establishing itself as a haven of sophistication. Giovanni’s in Park Place’s ability to cater for large parties ensures guests’ magical memories are not compromised.
Giovanni’s Restaurant Group has always made it its mission to give back to the community. For years, it has been the official restaurant for feeding the Cardiff street pastors, as Giovanni said: “Each night the pastors are on shift, my staff will prepare and serve hot meals to the hardworking volunteers. It’s important to help the people who help the community.”
Giovanni has also taken his experiences as a successful serial entrepreneur and used them to guide others. “This year, I will be presenting at the Introbiz Expo in November, at the same event as Lord Alan Sugar. I’ll be discussing how I have run successful independent businesses for 35 years, as well as the major challenges I have faced”.
When probing Giovanni concerning his inspiration, he went on to tell us that: “Since leaving school, I developed a can-do attitude and I always tell myself: I don’t know how, but I know I will.”
He added: “My mentoring came