Italian

54-56 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3QR

The Big Mamma group in Paris have had huge hits with their trattorias and Gloria was their first London opening, in a big space in Shoreditch. It serves up Italian food in a classic looking space (as well as a hidden 80s-set dining room) and a buzzy vibe.

1 Phipp Street, London EC2A 4PS

The original Padella is a London sensation, with its affordable fresh pasta winning friends far and wild. It's hugely popular, which led to this second outpost in Shoreditch. Expect the same great value, high quality pasta and more.

46 Brewer Street, London W1F 9TF

This North Italian restaurant was a bit of a sleeper hit at first until word got out about how great the food was. Descend to the basement restaurant for dishes like pappardelle with slow-cooked hare or hand-chopped raw veal with Parmesan as well as a 10 seater bar specialising in Vermouth.

26 Rivington St, London EC2A 3DU

This Italian restaurant is from chef Jonathan Lawson, who worked with Theo Randall for five years before opening his own place, with cuisine described as Italian with a touch of Moorish and Spanish.

19 Ganton St, Soho, London W1F 7BN

Pastaio is Italian for someone who makes pasta by hand - something you'll see plenty of in this venture by Stevie Parle (Dock Kitchen, Rotorino, Palatino, Craft) in Soho. Fast, casual and good value - particularly for this area - the pasta is super and the Prosecco slushies a must.

39 William IV Street, London, WC2N 4DD

Bancone's main event is its freshly cooked pasta and as it's also a great place for counter dining (bancone translated means "counter"). The "silk hankerchiefs" being a huge draw but expect the menu to change with the seasons.

45 Great Queen St, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5AA

This high-end Italian restaurant in Covent Garden has a strong focus on service and it's one of the smartest Italian restaurants in the area.

5 Mercer Walk Mercers Yard, London WC2H 9FA

The Temper restaurant in Covent Garden is where cooking over fire is a big thing and you can get some of the best tacos, steak and meats in town.

36 Tavistock Street, London WC2E 7PB

This is the Covent Garden outpost of Angela Hertnett's Cafe Murano restaurant group. Expect an Italian menu with a focus on fresh pasta. And if you just fancy a drink, there's a cafe/wine bar/shop next door where you can also buy fresh pasta to take home.

15 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8QG

Ave Mario is from the people behind Gloria and Circolo Poplare, and once again it's another hit for them. Expect no holds barred on the design and BIG food, like the enormous ice cream cake that they wheel about the room. Specialities here include a caviar section, massive cocktails and a veal milanese that's twice as big as your head. 

21A Foley St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6DS

The original Cin Cin in Brighton started life as a van before becoming a big hit as a restaurant (also winning a Michelin Bib Gourmand). This is their second restaurant and the first time they've opened in London. Expect classic, seasonal Italian fare alongside "good old-fashioned Italian hospitality."

135 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3YD

The idea of opening a massive new palace of Italian food by Liverpool Street station originally seemed faintly ridiculous. Eataly proved them quite wrong - the place has done a storming business ever since it threw open its doors. Go to marvel at the huge grocery section, and then recover with a glass of Chianti and bowl of pasta in one of its many restaurants.

49-51 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3PT

Originally big in Soho and now David Carter (Smokestak) and Chris Leach's Manteca moved to Shoreditch. Designed around an open kitchen with plenty of open-fire cooking. The food is described as a nose-to-tail "Italian with a British accent" with both seasonality and a whole-animal approach to cooking the name of the day (alongside some great pasta).

395 Coldharbour Ln, Brixton, London SW9 8LQ

Franzina Trattoria began its life in a shipping container in Pop Brixton. This husband and wife team then found themselves a permanent spot a mere stone’s throw away from their original home. Passionate about food from their hometown Palermo, this restaurant takes you through Sicily’s culinary traditional dishes and more - try their panelle, arancini and sfincione. Finish with cannoli or their Sicilian doughnuts with cinnamon, fresh ricotta cream and chocolate.

40-41 Rathbone Pl, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1HX

The Big Mamma Group's second opening in London saw them hit up Fitzrovia with a massively OTT slice of Mediterranean charm and flavour. It's extremely popular with a stunning looking room.

41 Mortimer St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3JH

Upstairs is a private members club, but Mortimer House Kitchen on the ground floor of this art-deo building and open to the public. It features a menu that's serving up Middle Eastern/Italian-influenced dishes. They describe their dishes as "like a dialogue between an Italian and an Israeli."

36 Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 1PE

Named after the lesser known coastal area of Tuscany, a wife and husband duo opened this rustic Italian neighbourhood restaurant in 2019. Its interior is light and stylish and the place focuses on simple and seasonal regional specialities with fresh pasta and gnocchi made daily and meat and fish cooked on a charcoal grill. The wine lists boasts many that have not been represented in the UK before.

56 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AH

This Dalston restaurant has a modern take on Japanese and Italian food - resulting in a creative fusion menu that's inspired by both cuisines, while also pushing the envelope. There are omakase tasting menus alongside a la carte, and it also sports a tiny Tokyo-style cocktail bar.

39 Maddox St, London W1S 1FX

26 Paddington St, Marylebone, London W1U 5QY

This Italian restaurant in Marylebone comes from Kurt Zdesar, the man behind Chotto Matte and Black Roe. There's traditional Italian cooking in a very impressive building, decked out in stained glass windows.

8 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2LS

This is an Italian grand cafe-style restaurant from the people behind Mayfair's Stafford Hotel. Here, the menu has a focus on Sicilian cooking, with a strong focus on Moorish cuisine.

19-21 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 5JJ

Soho House are taking the classic Italian restaurant and going for a more laid-back experience, serving up pizzas and cocktails.

Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, King’s Cross, London N1C 4AB

Restaurateur and chef Anthony Demetre (of Wild Honey) has brought his vision of a Spanish/Italian Vermuteria to Coal Drops Yard. As the name suggests, there are plenty of vermouth and negronis on the drinks list along with a seasonal tapas-style menu.

7 Northumberland Ave, London SW1A 2DR

Another one of Naples' top pizza restaurants has arrived in London. This time it's the turn of iconic pizzeria 50 Kalò di Ciro Salvo, and it's all about the dough...

46 Churton St, Pimlico, London SW1V 2LP

This Italian restaurant takes its name from one of the most popular Italian pasta dishes - and yes, they can do a mean cacio e pepe (served in a Parmesan basket). Expect homemade pasta, antipasti and wines (it acts as a wine bar too).

4 Knightsbridge Green, London, UK SW1X 7QA

This is new restaurant at the Bulgari Hotel (yes, the one that's related to the top end brand) in Knightsbridge. Itt's run by the same group that runs Scarpetta in New York (and a few more restaurants worldwide). Sette is an upscale Italian restaurant, taking in some influences from its American cousins.

51 Greek Street, London W1D 4EH

The original Lina Stores deli was open for 75 years in Soho, giving them plenty of time to get things right before opening this, their first restaurant. Counter dining on the ground floor allows you to see all the action - and the pasta, as you'd expect, is great.

19 Berkeley St, Mayfair, London W1J 8ED

In the heart of Mayfair, high end Bocconcino serves up classic Italian cuisine - everything from homemade pasta and freshly made pizzas baked in the wood-fired pizza oven, to the highest quality seafood.

Brown?s Hotel, Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BP

He may have a three Michelin-starred restaurant in Rome, but chef Heinz Beck's Mayfair restaurant at Brown's Hotel is a slightly more casual affair. An Italian restaurant with British produce supplying the additional wow factor.

43 Parkway, London NW1 7PN

Founded by Tim Barclay, Stefania Evangelisti and Filippo Rosato, Purezza came to life in Brighton in 2015 and opened the Camden site in 2018. This became London's first vegan pizza restaurant, as well as taking home the accolade of being the largest vegan restaurant in London, too.