Buon Apps River Lounge

The Spring 2026 à la carte opens with antipasti including burrata di Caranna served with heirloom tomatoes, sweet red pepper velouté, and taralli crumb, and cozze allo Spritz — Scottish mussels sautéed with ginger, citrus, chilli, and Aperol. Arancini all’Amatriciana, made with Carnaroli risotto, guanciale, and pecorino, arrive on a cacio e pepe sauce.

Pasta dishes lean into tradition. The carbonara uses spaghetti alla chitarra with guanciale from Amatrice, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano, while ravioli all’Aragosta pairs lobster and ricotta parcels with tiger prawns in a crustacean bisque. Pappardelle a Mare brings slow-cooked octopus, mussels, prawns, cod, and scallop together in a single bowl.

Pinsa — Roman-style pizza made with wheat, rice, and soya flour and proved for up to 100 hours — offers a lighter, crispier alternative to standard pizza. Options range from a classic margherita to the Contadina, a vegan pinsa topped with aubergine purée, confit tomatoes, vegan straciatella, and walnuts.

From the secondi, porchetta di Ariccia features slow-cooked pork belly with orange zest, fennel seeds, and rosemary alongside herby roasted potatoes and apple spheres, and the costata alla griglia delivers a 28-day dry-aged ribeye with aglio olio pepperoncino greens and truffle butter. Vegetarian options include melanzane parmigiana baked with fior di latte, Pecorino Sardo, and basil.

Many dishes carry vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free labels, and gluten-free pasta is available as a substitute across the pasta section.

The wine list takes its cue from the Antinori family, with a strong Italian focus that runs from Gavi di Gavi and organic Pinot Grigio by the glass through to bottles of Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, and the Antinori flagship Tignanello. French champagne — including Bollinger and Laurent-Perrier — sits alongside Franciacorta sparkling from northern Italy.

Draught beer includes Peroni and the house La Nostra Birra, with a gluten-free Peroni and Peroni Zero among the bottled options. Cocktails are available, and a selection of Italian digestifs rounds things off — grappa from Trentino, Amarone, and a range of amari including Lucano, Montenegro, and Averna.

Non-alcoholic choices go well beyond the usual soft drinks. A dealcoholised Prosecco from Bottega is available by the glass or bottle, Peroni Zero covers the beer side, and Amaro Lucano Zero offers an alcohol-free digestif. San Pellegrino sodas, fresh juices, Harrogate Spa water, and Bottle Green elderflower pressé complete the list.

The interior reads more like a country house drawing room than a conventional restaurant. Exposed honey-coloured limestone walls and red brick around the fireplace set the tone, while deep forest green paintwork on adjoining walls adds richness and contrast. A large skeleton clock with Roman numerals — the room’s defining feature — hangs on the stone above deliberately mismatched vintage armchairs in cream wingback, blue velvet, and caramel leather, with red velvet ottomans and Persian rugs underfoot. Lush tropical plants and tall palms fill the spaces between, and large sash windows pull in natural light and views over the river during the day, while warm amber lighting takes over in the evening.

Beyond the lounge, a heated conservatory offers a sheltered alternative in cooler months, while the outdoor terrace runs directly alongside the River Wharfe — wooden tables beneath red parasols, dense green riverbank vegetation on either side, and open water reflecting the sky.

Otley is a market town in Wharfedale, roughly ten miles north-west of Leeds city centre and within the Leeds metropolitan district. Buon Apps sits at the southern edge of town in a converted mill beside the river. Satnav can be unreliable with the LS21 postcode — from Otley town centre, head toward the river bridge with the police station on the left, take the first right before the bridge, and the restaurant is on the left.

Free parking is available directly opposite the restaurant in a dedicated car park.

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Saturday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 9:30 PM

An Easter Sunday special menu is available on 5 April 2026, served from noon — reservations are recommended. Gift cards are also available in the restaurant and shop, valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.