The Best Italian Restaurants in London

Russell Norman’s likeable trattoria – a stone’s throw from Smithfield Market – is one of our favourite places to dine in the capital. The staff are friendly, the atmosphere’s buzzing, and the great value menu of authentic Tuscan favourites offers everything from penne with tomato and vodka to some seriously-sized steaks. Add in a signature negroni and you’ve got all the hallmarks of a great night out.

This cosy, bijoux spot is simple in style and run with palpable pride; dishes are lovingly cooked to order and the friendly team provide attentive service. The kitchen is very much part of the room and the classically based, seasonal dishes that come out of it are well-priced and full of flavour. The homemade pasta is a highlight and the well-chosen wine list puts small Italian producers to the fore.

Restaurants come and go but the luxury and warmth of this long-standing Michelin Starred favourite – along with its accomplished Italian cooking – ensure it remains as popular as ever. The menu takes a tour around all the regions of Italy and the traditional dishes come in generous portions, with unfussy presentation which allows the punchy flavours to shine. Allow yourself plenty of time to peruse the superb all-Italian wine list.

The staff at this appealing, contemporary restaurant are lovely, the Italian menu offers something for everyone, prices are more than fair and the cooking is bold and satisfying – it’s no wonder they are so busy! They use local suppliers, follow a nose-to-tail approach and make everything in-house. The atmosphere is buzzing and, while sharing is encouraged, it’s thankfully not compulsory.

Owner Robin Gill has been behind many a London restaurant during his career as a chef and, for this venture, he draws inspiration from the time he spent living and working along Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The restaurant is tucked away in a new-build residential development and has been stylishly decorated – and comes complete with an intimate cocktail bar. True to the Italian way, a short and simple menu focuses on prime ingredients in simple combinations. If the weather allows, it’s hard to resist a seat on the delightful garden terrace.

Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-Starred flagship in the heart of Mayfair bears witness to the passion for Italian cooking inspired in her by her mother and grandmother. The wonderfully appealing menu offers refined, Italian-influenced dishes with their roots in the North of the country, while the wine list features some fine Italian vintages. Charming service ensures guests are put at ease; the only issue will be how many dishes to choose!

Have a mosey round the stalls of bustling Borough Market while you wait in the virtual queue; once you’re in, try for a seat at the kitchen counter and you can watch the skilful chefs at work. This place is dedicated to pasta, which is hand-rolled in house; sauces and fillings are inspired by the owners’ trips to Italy, and prices are extremely pleasing to the pocket. Fast and friendly service completes the picture.

Primarily known for their top neighbourhood bakeries, with three branches across town, Pophams also run a small and simple Italian restaurant out of their London Fields branch. They’re open four evenings a week serving a short menu of Italian snacks and homemade pasta dishes, which are carefully prepared and bursting with colour. There is a likable simplicity to the surroundings, with pavement tables available for al fresco dining in the summer.

This neighbourhood restaurant boasts a relaxed, homely atmosphere, charming service and delicious, great value Italian food. Start with the pig's ear fritti and try and hold yourself back from over-ordering; the ingredient-led menu changes twice-daily and the fresh pasta is hand-rolled before every service. Add in moreish puddings and an all-Italian wine list and you’ll see why this is somewhere you’ll want to come back to time and time again.