There’s no need to pack your bags and head to the airport for delicious Italian food. London is home to some of the best Italian restaurants in the world.
From Tuscany to Sicily and beyond, including homemade pastas, traditional Neapolitan pizzas and exquisite Sicilian dessert, we’re taking you on a culinary journey of Italy. These are some of our favourite Italian restaurants in London. All fatto in casa.
40 Dean Street
40 Dean Street is the kind of place that you’ll want to visit time and time again. Housed at its namesake address, 40 Dean Street, Soho, the restaurant has a lovely bustle to it every night of the week, not just thanks to the passing foot traffic, but due to the restaurant, and founder and executive chef Nima Safaei’s legacy in London’s food scene. From the blue awning and marron-slash-burgundy exterior to the moment you step inside, an affable charm runs off the ceramic-decorated walls to the tables, to the gold-painted bar. This energy also seeps into the menus, where you’ll find all the Italian crowd pleasers taken just that extra mile further with rich flavour palettes, without ever being too fussy. With attention to detail throughout, Nima Safaei and his team carefully select the ingredients from local suppliers including a deli on Old Compton Street and fresh bread from local bakeries, with dishes often changing throughout the year to champion seasonal produce. Once one of London’s best-kept secrets, 40 Dean Street is a special spot that deserves to be shared if you’re ever on the hunt for really good Italian fare. Ella Mansell
Jacuzzi, Kensington High Street
The fourth – now followed by the fifth, Carlotta in Marylebone – launch from Italian restaurant group, Big Mamma, opened in January 2023 and has lived up to expectations. Described as a “villa of worldly pleasures” this restaurant is bringing lesser-known traditional ingredients such as white sturgeon caviar from Veneto or culatello (cured ham made from a pig’s hind legs) to the London dining scene. Served in an enchanting setting inspired by decadent Roman villas and spread across four floors, this trattoria in West London is a treat not only for the tastebuds but for the eyes, nose and ears, too.
Norma, Fitzrovia
There’s no better way to get to know a region than through its food, and Norma London is a culinary trip through the thrilling history of Sicily. This vibrant restaurant in Fitzrovia serves dishes inspired by Sicily’s Moorish roots such as chickpeas pannelle or beef tartare with gorgonzola, and pickled mustard. We also love the iconic pasta alla norma with an eggplant sauce, from which the restaurant takes its name.
50 Kalò, Westminster
True Neapolitan pizza is not always easy to find in the capital but head to Charing Cross for not only one of the best Italian restaurants in London, but in the world. 50 Kalò opened its second location in London after the original (in Naples) became a true sensation. One of the secrets to its success is their specific recipe by Chef Ciro Salvo, designed to create hyper-hydrated dough that’s lighter on the stomach but keeps all the flavour. The menu also features typical Neapolitan street food for the antipasto, and original desserts such as pistachio tiramisu. It really doesn’t get much better – or authentic – than this.
Locanda Locatelli, Marylebone
This Michelin-starred restaurant in the heart of Marylebone is the chance to step into a rich family-food history. Chef Giorgio Locatelli’s namesake restaurant is a celebration of his love of food, inspired by his grandmother and traditional Italian hospitality. His menu features everything from pasta to fish and meat – as well as special vegan options including an oven baked aubergine, soya milk, ricotta, toasted hazelnut, basil pesto, and red pepper purée.
Bardo St. James, Trafalgar Square
Exquisite traditional cuisine and a lavish atmosphere awaits you at Bardo St. James in Trafalgar Square. The delicious dishes you’ll find on the menu will take you on a tour of different Italian regions, from the Roman pinzas (a form of flatbread), to the Sicilian red prawn carpaccio or the typical Milanese breaded veal cutlet. The elegant yet intimate decor of the restaurants coupled with their live music completes this unforgettable culinary experience.
Lina Stores, Soho
Lina Stores started 80 years ago as small neighbourhood deli in Soho founded by an Italian immigrant from Genoa. Today, they’re a legacy institution with multiple locations across London, serving fresh homemade delicacies. Each restaurant offers a unique experience ranging from their small and cosy pasta restaurant on Greek Street to the impressive Bloomberg Arcade restaurant and bar in the City. But each keeps the traditional quality of its products alive, alongside the conviviality with which they are served.
Officina 00, Old Street
Founded by Elia Sebregondi and Enzo Mirto, this is the ultimate experience for pasta lovers. Officina 00 offers two restaurant locations with seasonal menus, both exploring traditional Italian flavours with a modern twist. To take the experience further, they offer authentic pasta-making workshops. From the in-house experience to your own home, this is an Italian culinary journey to remember.
Lead image credit: Carlotta Antipasti Spread by Sam Harris
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