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Italian is comfort food and special-occasion food in equal measure, and London does both beautifully. The city's Italian scene spans cult pasta bars with queues down the street, elegant Mayfair rooms, and honest neighbourhood trattorias. This guide points you to the best, from a quick bowl of pasta to a long, wine-soaked lunch.
Pasta worth queuing for
A new generation of pasta specialists has redefined casual Italian eating in London. Padella, by Borough Market and in Shoreditch, is the most famous, turning out silky hand-rolled pasta at low prices, hence the queues. Bancone is known for its silk-handkerchief pasta, and Lina Stores, an offshoot of the historic Soho deli, does fresh pasta in a jewel-box setting. In Islington, Trullo and its sibling Padella founders' wider family of restaurants keep standards high.
Grand rooms and regional cooking
For occasion, Bocca di Lupo in Soho roams the Italian regions with real flair, and Cecconi's in Mayfair is the classic see-and-be-seen Italian. Locanda Locatelli remains a benchmark for refined cooking, while Manteca in Shoreditch has won a devoted following for its nose-to-tail, house-made approach. Across the city, family-run trattorias still deliver the warm, generous Italian welcome that never goes out of style.
Where is the best pasta in London?
Padella near Borough Market is the best-known destination for fresh pasta at a fair price, though it does not take bookings and queues form early. Bancone and Lina Stores are excellent alternatives, and countless neighbourhood trattorias make their own pasta daily. See also our guide to the best pizza in London.
Do you need to book Italian restaurants in London?
The grand Mayfair rooms and popular neighbourhood spots take bookings and fill up, so reserve ahead. The cult pasta bars such as Padella are walk-in only, so aim for an early or off-peak slot to avoid the longest queues.
Where to go next
For a slice, see the best pizza in London, and browse more of the city's tables in the best restaurants in London.
