London's restaurant scene is thriving, and ever-changing. One thing that doesn't change? Our hankering for the best Italian restaurants in London for fresh, carb-filled pasta, pizza and classics from Italy. From bustling eateries in the centre of the city to quaint neighbourhood joints, we've selected our favourite Italian places to eat on both sides of the river.
The best Italian restaurants in London:
10a Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5AE
A palatial upscale Italian located in the Corinthia London, the recently opened Mezzogiorno boasts a menu of elegant takes on mainly southern Italian cuisine, drawing from Mazzei’s Calabrian background, alongside other regions such as Puglia. The interiors have a romantic grandeur, with vast pillars, high terracotta-painted ceilings and blush pink banquettes. Luckily the food more than holds its own against these opulent surroundings, down to the liquid gold of the olive oil served with the bread basket.
The tender Orkney scallops with n'duja and honey, and the fritto misto Napoletano accompanied by Amalfi lemon mayo were the highlights from the antipasti section of the large menu - it is incredibly hard to not order everything on there! After spying a pasta chef hand-rolling tortelloni at a counter on my way into the restaurant, I opted for the Chairman’s tortelloni, a perfectly comforting winter dish of ham and parmigiano stuffed pasta, floating in marsala chicken broth. Desserts are just as impressive; we tried the feather-light, towering tiramisu and the decadent tartufo de pizzo - a boule of hazelnut and pistachio ice cream, theatrically encased like a present in cocoa dusted paper. Whether you’re staying over at Corinthia London or not, Mezzogiorno is an Italian restaurant worth heading to for a special occasion.
73 Highbury Park, London N5 1UA
A buzzy new opening in north London earlier this year, partly due to its connection to The White Lotus star and co-owner Theo James, Lupa is a cosy and minute restaurant on a quiet corner in Highbury, with rustic decor and homely yet polished Roman cuisine coming out of the small kitchen at the back. James partnered with Carousel co-founder Ed Templeton and head chef Naz Hassan on the venture, where it has been tricky to score a table since it opened in June. Highlights of the menu include the small but perfectly formed fried courgette flower with burrata and anchovy, and what has become Lupa's signature dish: paccheri alla carbonara, in a silky, sunny yellow sauce topped with salty, perfectly rendered guanciale and black pepper. If you have room by the end of the evening, then the homemade dessert of the day is a must - on our visit it was a divine fig tart.
222A Kilburn Lane, London W10 4AT
This neighbourhood restaurant is – as all great neighbourhood Italian spots should be – a real family affair, run by Avi and Simonetta and their children. Opened in 2007 in a picturesque Grade II-listed ex-corner shop in Queen's Park, the decor is eclectic and lovely, with pictures lining every wall. The food is consistently good, and they know how to handle classic dishes with confidence. Look out for Avi's new book which chronicles the history of the restaurant. - Evie Delaney
88 St John St, London EC1M 4EH
Luca could take the crown of the best Italian restaurant in London for itself. It's truly the whole package and any visit there is a true treat. The interiors are sleek and warm, making it a wonderfully romantic restaurant, the wine list is a tour de force of Italian greats and the food is outstanding. Opt for the chef's menu and let them choose your courses for you – you won't regret it and are in extremely safe hands.
6 Southwark St, SE1 1TQ & 1 Phipp St, EC2A 4PS,
This award-winning Borough Market pasta bar could be credited as the first of its kind in London. From the owners of Islington’s famous Italian restaurant Trullo, their dream was to serve fresh, hand-rolled pastas inspired by regular trips to Italy, in an informal bar setting. The service is quick, the vibe is busy and fun. Solo diners can sit at the marble bar looking out over Borough High Street or if you’re more than one, there’s table seating with room for burratas or radicchio salad and other antipasti sharing plates. A short, seasonal menu shows strong regional Italian influences and their most famous Cacio e Pepe is definitely worth the journey, as is the succulent 8-hour Dexter beef ragu. A slice of lemon tart or a scoop of ice cream and an espresso keeps the pudding list authentic, the meal fast and with most dishes around £6, it’s a pretty economical lunch.
Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, Hammersmith, London W6 9HA
For over 30 years, A-listers have flocked to this Thameside location in Hammersmith location for (the late) Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers’ inspired Italian cooking. The daily changing menu and superior sourcing keep the chefs perfectly in line with the seasons, and dishes such as ravioli with buffalo ricotta and garden herbs or oven-roasted turbot keep the customers coming. The interior is modern and minimal with bursts of colour, including a shocking pink wood-fired oven, which forms part of the open kitchen. Prices may be steep, but the experience, attentive staff and quality of food make it worth every penny.
169 Church Rd, Barnes, London SW13 9HR
If you can’t get into the River Café, Riva is a smaller, more neighbourly eatery with the same cooking ethos. Though Barnes is out of the way for some, Riva is always busy, perhaps in part due to its celebrity fans (namely, the Beckhams). It cooks classic Italian dishes exceptionally well – we recommend spaghetti alla vongole or deep-fried courgette flowers, which are brought to your table by long-serving staff.
20 Broadwick St, London W1F 9NE
Star designer Martin Brudnizki has created a romantic and enveloping world at Dear Jackie, with sumptuous red fabric lining the walls, charming Bloomsbury-style plates peering down at you, and colourful Murano glass lighting to cast a soft glow over the whole. The entire hotel it sits within is beautiful, of course, so any visitors should take the time to explore a little: the 7th floor bar with views over London is another must-see space. Dear Jackie has plenty more to offer beyond its interiors, however. The concise Italian menu is full of delightful things, from the addictively good crispbread they serve with drinks to stand-out mains such as lamb with puntarelle and monkfish with nduja. Other highlights include a mouthwatering dish of orecchiette with puttanesca sauce, and rich, melt-in-the-mouth scallops. This is a luxurious restaurant, but it's far from stiff and formal. The service is friendly and easy-going, and you're sure to spend an evening feeling right at home in such comfortable surroundings.
35-37 Greenhill Rents, London EC1M 6BN
The late founder of Trattoria Brutto, Russell Norman, was renowned for his generosity, warmth, and kindness, qualities that resonate in his inviting Clerkenwell Italian restaurant. Here, everyone is welcomed with open arms. Expect low lighting, chill music, red and white checkerboard tablecloths, friendly service and cuddles on the menu. The cuddles aka 'coccioli' are hot deep-fried dough balls stuffed to the brim with prosciutto and stracchino. Drawing inspiration from Tuscany's approach to harsh cold, the menu features brothy white beans, perfectly al dente tagliatelle ragu, luscious tiramisu and copious quantities of £5 Negronis. The ideal recipe for a romantic evening.
39 William IV St, WC2N 4DD and 8 Lower James St, W1F 9EL
Bancone calls to you the moment you see it from the street, as the chefs deftly roll, cut and fill sheets of gloriously silky handmade pasta in the window. The restaurant offers different experiences based on where you sit: in an intimate banquette, at a table in the back or at the bar overlooking the skilled team at work. Bancone has become known for a dish called 'silk handkerchiefs' – a bowl of extra-wide pappardelle topped with walnut shavings, butter and an egg yolk; it is singularly decadent and comes highly recommended. The menu changes often but revolves around staple dishes: ragu, gnocchi, bucatini and ravioli. Make sure you start with a plate of honeyed garlic focaccia and definitely leave room for dessert.
The French restaurant group Big Mamma have truly made their mark on London's pasta scene. With Gloria opening in 2019 in Shoreditch to much fanfare thanks to its eye-catching maximalist interiors and pasta dishes served from melted Parmesan wheels, they've gone on to open ever-popular restaurants Ave Mario Covent Garden and Circolo Popolare in Fitzrovia. Jacuzzi in High Street Kensington was their first venture west of central London. Spread over 4000sq feet across four floors, it is very, very big.
Cardamom Bldg, 31 Shad Thames, SE1 2YR
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Well-established in the heart of Shad Thames, Legare has become a go-to for those seeking thoughtful Italian cooking in a warm, buzzy setting. Opened by Jay Patel and Matt Beardmore in 2019, this neighbourhood gem serves a regularly changing menu of seasonal antipasti and handmade pasta, rooted in Italian tradition but led by the best of British produce. Hand-cut pasta provides just the right amount of bite - slightly doughy and perfectly textured to hold onto rich, slow-cooked sauces. Be sure to mop up left over goodness with the freshly-made, olive oil-soaked focaccia. Elsewhere on the menu, dishes show the same quiet confidence. Mustardy leeks with toasted hazelnuts melt on the tongue, while desserts like a plum frangipane tart with bergamot cream find the balance between indulgent and elegant. The wine list champions low-intervention bottles from small Italian producers, with a team that knows their stuff but keeps it relaxed. Service is warm and attentive, the lighting golden and low, and the dining room carries a constant, contented buzz. A true destination that feels fuss-free and lets the food do the talking.
19 Ganton St, W1F 8BN
Tucked away off Carnaby St, in the heart of a buzzing restaurant community, Pastaio stands out. Bold terrazzo marble bars for communal seating and a eye catching mural show that as much care has gone into the stylish decoration as the ingredients. All the fresh pasta is made by hand on site: if you glance through the street level window before lunch time, you’ll see the chefs rolling tagliatelle or stuffing ravioli for the day’s service. The frequently updated, seasonal pasta menu ranges from courgette and smoked ricotta conchigliette to fresh crab, chilli, with black and white spaghetti (and optional bottarga), which tops the price list at £11. A choice of 6 or so antipasti includes a refreshing watermelon, cherry tomato, and feta salad or their signature mozzarella, n’duja (Calabrian spicy pork sausage) and honey sandwich. The clementine sorbet or pistachio ice cream is a must for dessert, or the tiramisu if you’re settled in for a bigger meal.
51 Greek St, W1D 4EH and 20 Stable St, N1C 4DR, reservations available.
The Lina Stores delicatessen on Brewer St has been making fresh pasta and selling Italian imported ingredients in Soho since 1944. Their many restaurants – including a narrow Greek street townhouse and more modern, airy Granary Square location – serve the same excellent fresh pastas and cakes made daily in their shop. Decorated in its trademark pistachio colour with a bustling, clattering atmosphere, there are reservations available for lunch and early dinner. The short menu offers some more substantial dishes for those who want a full dinner experience: starters include aubergine polpette or a slow roasted pork sandwich. The trademark raviolis, gnudis and gnocchis come with the classic sauces of meat ragus; ricotta or brown butter and sage, keeping them rooted in authenticity. There is a more plentiful pudding list, including Sicilian specialty whipped ricotta Cannolo and an Amarena cherry and almond tart.
