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London's pasta scene could not be hotter right now - with everywhere from no reservation spots to fine dining restaurants doing great business. We pick out the best pasta to be had in the city.
Affordable pasta restaurants
Notto
Picadilly and Covent Garden
This pasta bar comes from Phil Howard, of Michelin-starred Elystan Street. He had already started a pasta-by-post business before bringing that into real life with this affordable pasta joint. He brought in ex-Bancone/Noci chef Louis Korovilas to run things and it's had great success with its seasonal menu.
Pasta to go for: The menu changes seasonally and at the time of writing, that includes a pappardelle with slow-cooked short rib of aged beef, field mushrooms and red wine.
Follow them on Instagram: @nottopastabars
Padella
Borough Market and Shoreditch
There was only one downside to Padella – the queue that snaked out the door, down the street, and sometimes even around the corner into Borough Market. Thankfully (although there's still a wait) queues are a thing of the past and it's also easier to get a table at the newer Shoreditch restaurant. Everything else about the place is just perfect, from the design to the plates of beautiful fresh pasta, made every day by the team in-house. Service is friendly and fast, the prices are very reasonable.
Pasta to go for: It’s an impossible choice between the pici cacio & pepe and the pappardelle with beef shin ragu - so we’d advise just getting both.
Follow them on Instagram: @padella_pasta.
Noci
Islington, Battersea, Shoreditch, Richmond
Noci was launched by Louis Korovilas who seems to be the go-to chef for kickstarting fresh pasta restaurants (he's now moved onto Notto). This was Islington's first proper fresh pasta restaurant and features a menu that's evolving with the seasons. Since opening there, it's now on the expansion trail.
Pasta to go for: The brown butter cacio e pepe is always on the menu, served on different pasta
Follow them on Instagram: @nocipasta
Bancone
Covent Garden, Borough Yards & Soho
Bancone very early on received a glowing review from Grace Dent, who called it ‘casually orgasmic'. The praise heaped on Bancone is certainly justified, also winning it a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Pasta to go for: The silk handkerchiefs which have now made their way to other restaurants started here, served with walnut butter & confit egg yolk.
Follow them on Instagram: @bancone.pasta
Burro e Salvia
Shoreditch - 52 Redchurch Street London E2 7DP
Part shop/part restaurant, Shoreditch’s Burro e Salvia makes incredible pasta on-site every day. You can take it away to cook yourself at home or take a seat up at the pasta counter and let them do the work for you. There’s a small menu of fresh pasta and antipasti that changes regularly.
Pasta to go for: Their signature is the Agnolotti Cavour - beef, pork, spinach in butter and sage
Follow them on Instagram: @burroesalvialdn
Emilia's Crafted Pasta
St Katherine Docks, Aldgate, Canary Wharf, Marylebone
Head chef Simone and founder Andrew spent eighteen months studying the science and geometry of pasta to ensure they were bringing Londoners the absolute best. All that effort certainly shows in the beautifully crafted fresh pasta that’s on display in the open kitchen – and it tastes every bit as good as it looks too.
Pasta to go for: Pappardelle with 4-hour slow-cooked béchamel bolognese
Follow them on Instagram: @emiliaspasta
Flour & Grape
Bermondsey - 214 Bermondsey St, SE1 3TQ
Once Bermondsey's Antico, the owners turned the restaurant into Flour & Grape, and dedicated nearly the whole menu to pasta. There are only eight pasta dishes on offer and a handful of starters and desserts. If you don't fancy the queues/wait at nearby Padella, then this is a very worthy alternative.
Pasta to go for: Gigli, with sausage, fennel, spring greens, and chilli ragu
Follow them on Instagram: @flourandgrape
Lina Stores
Soho, King's Cross, City, Marylebone, Clapham, Shoreditch
The cherished Soho institution has been making fresh pasta for customers to take home since 1944. The little restaurant which opened in 2017 on Greek Street, not far from the original deli, has a simple menu of freshly made pasta dishes, as well as some classic Italian desserts and cocktails. It's been followed by larger restaurants across London and beyond, but the Soho original on Greek Street remains the best.
Pasta to go for: 30-egg yolk tagliolini, black truffle, butter, parmigiano reggiano (also available in a vegan alternative)
Follow them on Instagram: @linastores
Officina 00
Clerkenwell and Fitzrovia
This pasta spot caught the attention of Marina O Loughlin pretty soon after it opened, who said "there’s serious industry at play here". While pasta is at the centre of the menu, they also make their own freshly baked sourdough and Italian pastries.
Pasta to go for: While the pastas are excellent, we're going for their deep fried panko lasagne snacks here.
Follow them on Instagram: @officina00
Cottura
8 Elliott Rd, Chiswick, London W4 1PE
This family-run business in Chiswick takes its pasta seriously and want to share that expertise with Londoners, offering pasta-making classes on site. All the pasta is handmade on a daily basis. It's relatively new (having opened this year) but already has a passionate fan base.
Pasta to go for: There's so much to choose from but if you're vegan and looking for a great fresh pasta option, the eggless strozzapretti here is the one to go for.
Follow on Instagram: @cottura_pasta
Pastaio
Soho
A dedicated pasta restaurant from Stevie Parle, the man behind the much-missed Joy at Portobello, was always going to be a winner. The Tom Dixon-designed space just off Carnaby Street delivers the goods in spades, with a tightly-focused menu of freshly-made pasta dishes. There's also a separate vegan menu here.
Pasta to go for: The 8 hour beef & Ukranian porcini bolognese, Parmesan, tagliatelle
Follow them on Instagram: @pastaiolondon
Pophams
Hackney - 197 Richmond Rd, London E8 3NJ
There are many reasons to love Pophams (those maple bacon croissants for one) but there's another element to their Hackney bakery - some of the best pasta in town. In the evening, the London Fields bakery transforms into a pasta restaurant and their evening pasta dishes have received nothing but raves.
Pasta to go for: It seasonally changes - at the time of writing, we'd have to say the Ciceri e Tria - queen chickpea ragu with rosemary parmesan pasta crisp
Follow them on Instagram: @pophamsbakery
More affordable pasta
- La Nonna (Brixton) - Also a delivery business, this is their first permanent restaurant and is getting raves.
- Berto + Zia Lucia (Holloway) - On Holloway Road, Zia Lucia Pizza has now merged with Berto, so there's plenty of fresh pasta to choose from.
- Vermicelli (Tooting) - inspired by pasta's origins, this popular stall in Tooting Market serves up pasta with innovative, organic sauces and toppings.
- Pasta Evangelists (Greenwich, Richmond, Chiswick and Harrods) - the delivery service turned bricks and mortar restaurant is a reliable spot for good pasta.
- Both 64 Old Compton St and 40 Dean St are classic Soho Italians worth checking out.
Mid-range pasta
The River Cafe Cafe
Thames Wharf Studios, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA
Just down the road from the OG River Cafe, you'll find their new cafe which also does a nice line in pasta dishes that are, thankfully, a lot less expensive (pasta dishes cost about a tenner less than in the main restaurant). The quality though isn't in question so this is a great entry-level way to try their food.
Pasta to go for: It's a regularly changing menu so you might find Tagliatelle al Limone - Amalfi lemon, rocket & crème fraiche or the current pasta dish du jour in London - Rotolo, fresh pasta sheets rolled with spinach, ricotta & nutmeg and served with sage butter and parmesan.
Follow them on Instagram: @therivercafelondon
These restaurants don't necessarily focus specifically on pasta, but it's well worth paying attention to the pasta dishes on the menus
Bocca di Lupo
Soho - 12 Archer Street W1D 7BB
Over 15 years in business, Jacob Kenedy’s Bocca di Lupo qualifies as a Soho institution. It’s still as fantastic as ever, with the pasta obviously being a particular highlight. All are freshly made in-house and are offered in small or large sizes meaning you can have it as part of a bigger meal or just pop in for a quick pasta and a glass of wine before the theatre.
Pasta to go for: It changes daily, but at the time of writing, we like the right now try the simple tagliolini with butter and egg yolk.
Follow them on Instagram: @bocca_di_lupo.
Manteca
Shoreditch - 49-51 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3PT
Properly settled down in its Shoreditch digs, there's much to love about Manteca's excellent small plates. Given the Italian influences in the menu, there's always a small selection of pasta dishes
Pasta to go for: While the menu changes, the tonnarelli with brown crab cacio e pepe has been a star of the restaurant since it opened.
Follow them on Instagram: @manteca_london
Photo by Anton Rodriguez
Brutto
Farringdon - 36-37 Greenhill Rents, Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BN
The late Russell Norman's Florence and Tuscan-inspired hit in Farringdon is a must-visit in the area. Alongside Florentine steaks, the menu's "first" section is an all-pasta affair.
Pasta to go for: The rabbit pappardelle and the tomato and vodka penne have become big hits.
Follow them on Instagram: @bru.tto
Vasco & Piero's
Soho - 10-11 D'Arblay St, London W1F 8DS
Having been in Soho for 50 years, it’s fair to say Vasco & Piero's has stood the test of time. They were forced to move from their original location but are still in Soho with newer digs. They offer a proper old-school feel, and a menu focused on the Umbria region of Italy. The pastas are made in-house daily of course, just as they always have been, and are still amongst the very best in London.
Pasta to go for: Handmade tagliatelle with traditional Umbrian beef & pork ragu
Follow them on Instagram: @vascoandpieros
Campania & Jones
Hackney - 23 Ezra St, London E2 7RH
Campania & Jones serves up Southern Italian food in Hackney, with pasta made fresh daily in its beautiful rustic-looking restaurant. The food is authentic Italian, the portions are generous and it's one of the most popular restaurants near Columbia Road.
Pasta to go for: If it's on, the veal ragu for sure. Right now, the pappardelle with slow-cooked rabbit is worth a look.
Follow them on Instagram: @campaniaandjones
More mid-range pasta
- Legare (Tower Bridge) - This has an ex-Trullo chef in charge.
- Garum (Queensway) - Roman chef Arcangelo Dandini is the man ensuring the pasta here is worth crossing town for.
- Gloria, Circolo Popolare or Ave Mario - If you like your pasta big and unrestrained, then head to any of the Big Mamma restaurants
- Artusi (Peckham) writes up its daily-changing menu on a big chalkboard, featuring fresh pasta such as pappardelle with beef shin ragu.
- Marcella (Deptford) is the sister restaurant to Artusi, with a similar approach of simply prepared seasonal dishes, that’s somehow even better than the original.
- Cafe Murano is the casual offshoot of Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred Murano – it may not have white tablecloths but the pasta is every bit as good.
- Popolo (Shoreditch) - Pork cheek agnolotti with porcini butter is the standout pasta dish
- Trullo, (Islington) - The crab linguine is legendary at the restaurant that gave birth to Padella.
- Leo's (Hackney) - Sardinian chef Guiseppe's pasta is spot on.
- La Mia Mamma (Chelsea and Notting Hill) - the pasta on offer changes depending on which region is being highlighted but the bigoli cacio e pepe is always on.
High-end pasta
These restaurants will feature pasta which may come at a cost, but there's some exceptional pasta here.
Luca
Clerkenwell - 88 St John Street, London EC1M 4EH
The Clove Club team's follow-up up their debut restaurant was a laid-back Italian joint that's won them a well-deserved Michelin star. Italian in style but using British ingredients – they call it ‘Britalian’ – Luca is a very worthy point on London’s pasta map, with seasonally-changing creations made fresh in-house every day.
Pasta to go for: The rigatoni with pork sausage ragù, tomatoes, anchovy and mint appears to be a signature.
Follow them on Instagram: @luca.restaurant
Photo by Joe Woodhouse
Murano
Mayfair - 20 Queen Street, London, W1J 5PR
Angela Hartnett’s flagship restaurant in Mayfair has had a recent makeover, complete with a new head chef. Pasta features in its own section on the tasting menu and there’s usually an option on the set lunch too.
Pasta to go for: There’s usually a pasta in brodo on the menu (you may remember Hartnett schooling Stanley Tucci on how to make it on his TV show) which we’d highly recommend.
Follow them on Instagram: @this_is_murano
Locanda Locatelli
Mayfair - 8 Seymour St, London W1H 7JZ
At Giorgio Locatelli’s Michelin-starred spot in Mayfair, the humble pasta dish is taken up a few levels. It’s smart, sophisticated fine dining so instead of beef or pork, you’re more likely to find lobster and quail with the expertly-made fresh pasta.
Pasta to go for: It regularly changes, although it often includes linguine with lobster, tomato, garlic and sweet chilli
Follow them on Instagram: @locandalocatelli
The River Cafe
Hammersmith - Thames Wharf Studio, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA
Without the River Cafe, a lot of the other restaurants on this list might not exist. This hugely influential spot by the Thames in Hammersmith has had everyone from Stevie Parle to Jamie Oliver pass through its kitchen and even though it celebrated its 30th-anniversary not so long ago, it remains one of London’s absolute best, for pasta and almost everything else. It’s not cheap though, so it’s even better if someone else is paying.
Pasta to go for: Menus change twice a day at the River Cafe so there are no guarantees, but recently this looked very tempting: Linguine con Granchio – with Devon crab, parsley, chilli & lemon
Follow them on Instagram: @therivercafelondon
Theo Randall
Mayfair - Intercontinental Hotel, 1 Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London W1J 7QY
Theo Randall has been running the restaurant at the Intercontinental Park Lane for well over a decade. Before that, he was the head chef of The River Cafe. Theo is in the kitchen for most of the services here - which is something you can't always expect in other big-name chef restaurants. Expect a traditional Italian menu with excellent pasta at this restaurant.
Pasta to go for: Cappelletti di Vitello - stuffed with slow-cooked veal and pancetta with porcini mushrooms - one of his signature dishes
Follow them on Instagram: @theo.randall
More high-end pasta
- Cantinetta Antinori London (Knightsbridge) - This luxe yet cosy Italian restaurant comes from a big Italian winemaker
- Belvedere (Holland Park) - With Lello Favuzzi (ex-Anima) behind the menu here, expect great pasta at luxury price points.
Best Pasta, mapped
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