Top-notch pizzerias, vibrant aperitivo joints, and fine-dining gems: when it comes to Italian cuisine, London has a diverse and exciting restaurant scene. Whether you’re looking for an intimate Italian wine bar for a cosy date night, a family-friendly spot for a pizza party or a laid-back pasta bar with river views, the best Italian restaurants in London promise good times and lively vibes.
Housemade pasta is served in comforting rich sauces at an iconic establishment in east London, and a stellar pizzeria delights the locals of elegant Mayfair with wood-oven baked pizza. Take your taste buds on a journey from Venice to Sardinia and explore the lively and intimate atmosphere of Italian dining to experience the real essence of la dolce vita. The best Italian restaurants in London come in the form of authentic trattorias, aperitivo hangouts and family-run neighbourhood gems.
That’s just a small taste of what the dynamic London Italian restaurant scene has to offer. Beat the queues and book your seats at the best Italian restaurants in London on OpenTable now.
The best Italian restaurants in London for exceptional food and vibes – check out the full guide
For a grand Italian brasserie – book at Cecconi’s in Mayfair, Bank, and Shoreditch
Located in Mayfair, Bank, and Shoreditch, Cecconi’s is a grand Italian brasserie with a difference. Serving up ‘cicchetti’, an Italian-style tapas, diners can sample a range of traditional dishes, from quail eggs and baked gnocchi Romana to meatballs and scallops, making it the perfect spot for those looking for a fun meal with friends. For a heartier option, feast on superb housemade pasta such as crab ravioli, plus wood-fired pizzas topped with buffalo mozzarella and spicy salami—all straight from Italy. Cecconi’s modern-day take on Italian cuisine is perfectly complemented by the restaurant’s smart decor, with gleaming marble floors and starched white tablecloths. Whether it’s for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, Cecconi’s serves up perfectly executed classic dishes throughout the day, making it a firm favourite with diners across the capital. With an extensive wine list, as well as a cocktail list that has all the old favourites, such as refreshing negronis, it’s the perfect place to while away the hours in style.
📍 Mayfair — Check Availability
📍 Bank — Check Availability
📍 Shoreditch — Check Availability
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For one of the best fancy Italian restaurants in London – check out Bocconcino in Mayfair
Whether you want to enjoy a romantic meal with someone special or a fun-filled evening of food and live music, Bocconcino Mayfair has you covered. Spread across two floors, the ground floor offers a more traditional take on Italian dining, while the lower ground floor takes things up a notch with the addition of live music. Weekends start early here, with the restaurant’s resident DJ ramping up the tunes on Wednesdays, while from Thursday to Saturday meals are accompanied by toe-tapping live performances. Inspiration for the menu is taken from across Italy and has been created by head chef Marco Corsica, a master of Italian cuisine. Start with homemade linguine before moving onto a classic pizza straight from the wood oven or one of the freshly sourced seafood dishes, such as salmon fillet. Sit back and enjoy the entertainment with a glass of wine or a bespoke cocktail designed by the resident mixologist.
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For one of the best pasta restaurants in London – head over to Emilia’s Crafted Pasta in Aldgate, St Katharine Docks, Wood Wharf and Marylebone
One of the best pasta restaurants in London is undeniably Emilia’s Crafted Pasta, which was inspired by founder Andrew Macleod’s extensive travels around the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The homemade pasta is all made and prepared from scratch each morning, and each one is paired with a mouth-watering sauce made from fresh ingredients, from housemade pistachio and basil pesto with sautéed cherry tomatoes to truffled cacio e pepe. Find your nearest Emilia’s Crafted Pasta across London with locations in Aldgate, St Katharine Docks, Wood Wharf, and an exciting new opening in Marylebone, Baker Street. Reminiscent of the country’s bustling trattorias, each restaurant uses natural light and terracotta-plastered walls to recreate the ambience you would expect from a traditional Italian joint. The interiors have been carefully designed to ensure every diner has a great view of the chefs making the restaurant’s famous fresh pasta – a thoughtful touch.
📍 Aldgate — Check Availability
📍 St Katharine Docks — Check Availability
📍 Wood Wharf — Check Availability
📍 Marylebone — Check Availability
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For one of the best Sardinian restaurants in London – head to Harry’s Dolce Vita in Knightsbridge
Contemporary Italian food meets classic cuisine at Harry’s Dolce Vita. Drawing inspiration from the region of Sardinia, this vibrant restaurant offers a throwback to the glitz and glamour of the 1950s and 1960s. Located in the chic neighbourhood of Knightsbridge, the restaurant’s executive chef has created a contemporary menu bursting with the flavours of Italy, where popular dishes include Harry’s tagliolini, seafood, and speciality pizzas, made with dough that’s slowly proved over 72 hours for maximum flavour. All the ingredients used here have been carefully sourced from specialist Italian suppliers – like the restaurant’s special blend of olive oil, which is made from organic olives grown sustainably in the hills of Maremma – so it’s little wonder this is one of the best Italian restaurants in London. Add to that a comprehensive drinks menu, including classic cocktails with a twist, and you’ll be set for a night to remember.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Central London – visit FAROS in Oxford Circus and Holborn
Located in the heart of the capital, at both Oxford Circus and Holborn, FAROS combines a modern blend of Mediterranean and Italian cuisine with some of the classic dishes that are the heart and soul of any Italian restaurant. From wood-oven pizzas to the perfectly al-dente pasta, like the must-try truffle ravioli filled with ricotta and mascarpone cheese and topped with fresh truffle, comfort meets elegance in a lively, casual setting ideal for a lunch break with friends and family. The extensive cocktail list offers some of the best-known drinks associated with Italy, from Aperol spritz to negroni, transporting diners to an Italian terrazza at the very first sip. Don’t miss the Flavours of the Sun cocktail, made with lemon gin, Cointreau, and orange marmalade, which sums up the ethos of the restaurant in one zesty glass.
📍 Oxford Circus — Check Availability
📍 Holborn — Check Availability
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For one of the best affordable Italian restaurants in Soho, London – don’t miss Forty Dean Street in Soho
If you’re after affordable Italian cuisine in the heart of buzzy Soho, look no further than Forty Dean Street. This small, family-run restaurant delivers on both flavour and budget, and more than deserves its place as one of the best Italian restaurants in London. The menu focuses on fresh ingredients and seasonal produce, with favourite dishes including chicken risotto, served with saffron and asparagus tips, and seafood linguine, which comes with cherry tomatoes, bisque and brandy sauce. For classic Italian fare, go for the comforting pizza or pasta, or prefer a chef’s special from the grill, like the sea bass with prawns. There’s also a temptingly comprehensive dessert menu, with the must-try pistachio tiramisu.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Central London for pizza – visit Prima Sapori D’Italia in Covent Garden
One of the top spots to enjoy one of the best Italian restaurants in London is in the centre of Covent Garden. Prima Sapori D’Italia offers classical Italian cuisine and boasts an impressive pizza menu that includes all-time favourites, such as prosciutto pizza with tomato, mozzarella and ham, as well as hearty calzone options. With cocktails aplenty too, it’s the ideal spot for anyone in search of a budget-friendly Italian meal. The rustic interiors call to mind some of the best classic restaurants in Italy, while the intimate terrace is full of Italian charm. Diners here are always greeted with a warm welcome when they arrive, with the first-class staff and service hailed as one of the reasons it’s a firm favourite among locals and visitors alike.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in west London – look no further than Fiume in Battersea
Fiume’s spot as one of the best Italian restaurants in London is not only due to its enticing menu, but also to its unrivalled views of the River Thames. Boasting a large Mediterranean piazza-style terrace, it offers the perfect setting to enjoy some rustic southern Italian cuisine. Drawing inspiration from the Amalfi Coast, diners can expect wholesome meals and hearty recipes made from fresh and vibrant ingredients. One of the menu’s highlights is the pinsa, a classic Roman-style pizza that’s a lighter version of the modern-day classic. The mixed mushrooms dish is the one to try, topped with mozzarella and wild mushrooms. Once you’ve finished your meal, soak up the surrounding views with a drink from the classic cocktail menu. Sip on an Aperol spritz or try one of the bar’s signature cocktails, such as the potent Il Diavolo, made with tequila, crème de cassis and ginger ale, as you watch the world go by.
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For a celebratory lunch with a group – try The Italian Greyhound in Marylebone
Find The Italian Greyhound in elegant Marylebone. The restaurant gives off a tranquil and laidback vibe, with soothing neutral tones and natural oak tables. Cornish crab linguine, accompanied by fresh chilli, spring onion and lemon, is one of the highlights on the main menu, while The Italian Greyhound also offers a range of superb sharing dishes, with tiger prawns, burrata and homemade focaccia some of the favourites. The bar and terrace here have been designed for drinking, grazing and unwinding, so after you’ve finished your meal it’s time to turn to the extensive drinks menu. Showcasing classic cocktails and Italian aperitivos, as well as a comprehensive wine list to work through, it’s dangerously easy to lose track of time here.
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For Venetian cicchetti just like in Venice – take a trip to TOZI in Victoria
Last but certainly not least in our list of the best Italian restaurants in London is TOZI Victoria, which specialises in serving Venetian cicchetti (small sharing plates) for a more intimate experience. Drawing inspiration from the casual dining of the Veneto region, this restaurant puts a lot of emphasis on sourcing ingredients from the finest Italian producers. With its welcoming ambience and wide range of inventive dishes, it’s ideal for romantic meals, first dates, or groups of friends. The menu here varies depending on the season, so you’ll be able to enjoy an ever-changing array of dishes, with one of the autumn favourites the lobster linguine with garlic and chilli. The drinks menu is just as impressive, packed full of cocktails, wines and bubbles to get everyone in a celebratory mood.
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One of the best things about Italian food is that there’s something for everyone. This comprehensive list of the best Italian restaurants in London covers all the bases, whether you want to grab a budget-friendly bite or book in for a high-end dining experience. From pizzas to pasta, cocktails and desserts, London’s thriving Italian food scene is just waiting to be discovered.
