Italian food has been at the heart of London’s dining scene for decades, and Italian restaurants in London can be found in all corners of the capital. So you’ll never be far from a good plate of pasta.
Browse some of the best Italian restaurants in London below, and enjoy the freshest cuisine and finest wines from all regions of Italy.
1. Tozi
Experience true Venetian specialities at Tozi. Opt for one of the pizzettas made straight from the wood oven, or delve into the huge pasta and salad selection that will have your mouth watering. Don't forget to try the extensive list of Italian cocktails, including the signature Tozi Spritz, home-made, barrel-aged Negroni and Amaro Tozi served “straight from the barrel”.
Locations: Victoria (8 Gillingham St, SW1V 1HJ) and Battersea (3A Electric Boulevard, SW11 8BJ)
2. La Mia Mamma
La Mia Mamma is a one-of-a-kind Italian restaurant; Italian mammas come to cook regional homemade recipes, with a new region featured every 3 months. Choose from 3 set menus and enjoy a welcome drink, mixed starters to share, freshly handmade pasta, dessert and espresso coffee. You certainly won’t leave here hungry.
Locations: Hollywood Road, Chelsea (2 Hollywood Road, SW10 9HY), King’s Road, Chelsea (257 King’s Rd, SW3 5EL) and Notting Hill (190 Kensington Park Rd, W11 2ES)
3. Pastificio Al Dente
Discover freshly made pasta dishes, antipasti and cocktails inspired by different Italian regions at Al Dente, including garlic gnocchi, pumpkin ravioli and seafood linguine. Sit back and watch the chefs working in the open-plan kitchen, preparing mouth-watering dishes packed with authentic Italian ingredients.
Location: South Kensington (65 Old Brompton Rd), Fitzrovia (51 Goodge St, W1T 1TG) and Monument (Unit 2, Providian House, EC3R 8AJ)
4. Polpo
Polpo, meaning octopus, specialises in Venetian cuisine with a twist. The first Polpo opened in Baker Street, coincidentally in the former residence of Venetian painter Canaletto, and it has since grown to become the many tentacled offering that is it today, with restaurants all over London. Settle down and share light bites of all different types, from fish and meatballs to pizzettes.
Locations: Soho (41 Beak Street, W1F 9SB) and Chelsea (81 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY)
5. Ave Mario
Enjoy authentic Italian dishes, Instagrammable cocktails and vibrant decor at Ave Mario in Covent Garden. It’s the third London restaurant in the Big Mamma Group and is the perfect spot for capturing insta-worthy pictures.
Location: 15 Henrietta St, WC2E 8QG
6. Canto Corvino
The good people at Canto Corvino in Spitalfields understand that some people don’t only want to eat Italian just for lunch or dinner. Head chef Tom Salt and his team have developed menus that are simplistic, delicious, and keep customers satisfied throughout the day; whether tucking into lemon ricotta pancakes for breakfast, Sicilian red prawn, chilli and tomato arancini for lunch, or a full range of Italian dinner options.
Location: 21 Artillery Ln, E1 7HA
7. Bocca di Lupo
The menu at Bocca di Lupo is said to be a phrasebook in miniature, containing the 20 dialects of Italian cuisine. Make sure to head down with plenty of friends as you can spend all night trying tasty morsels from each other’s plates; whether fried lamb chops from Piedmont, Roman fish, or roast suckling pig with chestnuts, Muscat grapes, white wine and bay leaves from the Emilia-Romagna region.
Location: 12 Archer St, W1D 7BB
8. Osteria Dell’Angolo
Westminster eatery Osterio Dell’Angolo is known for fusing traditional Italian dishes with more contemporary cuisine. On an a la carte menu full of innovation, you’ll find the likes of saddle suckling pig with organic Umbrian lentils and white Belgian chicory, or pappardelle with braised wild boar in red wine and sage. Make sure to also relax in the lounge bar afterwards with a cocktail or two.
Location: 47 Marsham St, SW1P 3DR
9. Theo Randall at the Intercontinental
When Theo Randall bought his passion for rustic Italian fare to the InterContinental Hotel, those in London's dining scene took notice. Randall's menu offers a pared-down version of the cuisine you would normally expect to come across in Park Lane, simple yet delicious, and made with fine ingredients. The wine list is 90% Italian and the spacious dining room offers views of the chefs in full swing.
Location: One Hamilton Place, W1J 7QY
10. Franco’s
Having been open for more than 60 years, Franco’s is undoubtedly one of the most popular Italian restaurants in the city. Fresh seasonal produce is showcased in the tranquil surroundings and light ambience of its quiet neighbourhood, just a few minutes’ walk from Green Park. Enjoy specialities such as venison ravioli in rosemary sauce to start, and steamed sea bream or pan fried partridge as a main.
Location: 61 Jermyn St, SW1Y 6LX
11. Locanda Locatelli
Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli is the brainchild of head chef Giorgio Locatelli, a man who knows a thing or two about regional Italian cuisine, having written various cookery books and starred in TV shows. Sitting pride of place in the heart of Mayfair, this restaurant is a favourite hangout for celebrities, and with a menu featuring exquisite pasta, fish or meat dishes plus an extensive cocktail and wine list, you can see why.
Location: 8 Seymour St, W1H 7JZ
12. Murano
The pet project of world-renowned chef Angela Hartnett, Murano is located in Mayfair, and is reflective of Hartnett’s Italian heritage. Having opened in 2008, it had achieved its first Michelin star within just four months. The ever-changing menu includes seasonal and modern Italian dishes, using the best of British and European produce, and the atmosphere is “fun dining” rather than “fine dining”, a truly unique experience.
Location: 20 Queen St, W1J 5PP
