The Magic Behind the Curtain
I only discovered Fidelio a few weeks ago when a friend took me along to see Jack Pepper perform. It's one of those places you can walk past a hundred times without realising what’s going on inside. Then you step in, and it’s something else entirely.
It’s a restaurant, yes. But it’s also a music venue, and I'd say a cultural hub. Fidelio was started in 2019 by Raffaello Morales. The idea is simple, but quite ambitious — to bring together music, food and people in a way that feels natural rather than formal. Classical music sits at the centre, but not in a precious way. It’s reworked, reimagined, and made accessible. The name itself nods to Beethoven’s only opera, and also to Kubrick’s take on Traumnovelle, which gives you a sense of the mix of influences at play.
Harmony is Everywhere
When I photographed Rafaello, I asked what ties all his different interests together — music, food, storytelling, even his background in physics and finance. He said, “harmony.” I liked that. You feel it in the beautifully crafted menu and world class music on offer.
There’s a lot going on behind the scenes too. Alongside the café, there’s the Fidelio Orchestra, giving young musicians a way into professional performance. It all feels part of the same idea — creating something meaningful, but also enjoyable.
Ashley Simmonds runs the hospitality side of things. You can feel his influence straight away. There’s a warmth to the room, an ease. Before this, he was a dancer and actor, and he still sees the floor as his stage — just with better food and wine. Ashley brings his performer's skill set to Fidelio and it shows.
Fidelio is not a big place, and that’s part of its charm. You’re close to the music and close to the people. It feels personal and very special.
You can learn more about what's happening here.
