The 10 best Italian restaurants in London
One Michelin star Luca is the epitome of fine Italian dining, with a warm atmosphere and spectacular presentation of food without sacrificing flavour. The menu may be Italian, but the ingredients are organically British, such as Orkney scallops and Scottish halibut, while the wine list is better described as a book.
Angela Hartnett's Michelin-starred restaurant offers the flavours of Northern Italy in its hearty a la carte and lunch menus, using British produce and local producers. The wine cellar stocks regional Italian vintages as well as popular and lesser-known wines from around the world.
Efficient service and fresh ingredients are the focus at Bocca di Lupo. The extensive menu changes twice a day, demonstrating a commitment to seasonality, and the laid-back bar is perfect for a glass or two from the exclusively Italian wine list.
Fluffy foccacia, cacio e pepe and prawn ravioli are paired with a strong selection of Italian wines at this casual Islington eatery. The spring silk scarves of Bancone fame are the crowning glory of chef Louis Korovilas, and combined with careful presentation and friendly staff, it's the perfect neighbourhood Italian.
Russell Norman's reimagined Italian trattoria ticks all the boxes, serving pasta classics and Florentine favourites, plus a variation of steaks by weight. The house wines and negronis served on gingham tablecloths are the icing on the cake of a homely yet luxurious experience.
With two floors of dining space, colourful crockery and a buzzing atmosphere, Norma's Fitzrovia townhouse celebrates the Moorish influences of Sicilian café culture. The menus offer fresh seafood and Mediterranean flavours, while the wine list, along with options from across Italy, leans heavily towards Sicilian bottles.
A Bib Gourmand restaurant reminiscent of a Tuscan dining room, Trullo serves a hearty, seasonal menu that changes daily. Expect hand-rolled pastas and charcoal-grilled meats with southern Italian touches such as ricotta and Amalfi lemon. The regularly changing wine list covers the breadth of Italy, conveniently categorised by colour and region.
One of London's oldest Italian restaurants, Franco's has been serving three meals a day for 75 years, courtesy of head chef Stefano Turconi. Lunch, dinner and set menus offer upmarket dishes such as octopus carpaccio, paired with a wine list curated by head sommelier Giulia Fenoglio, which expands to include rosé in the summer months.
There's often a queue for Bancone's famous silk handkerchiefs with walnut butter, and the extensive selection of delicately prepared fresh pasta dishes is also well worth the wait. Luckily, if there's a spare seat at the bar, you can enjoy warm foccacia and several variations on the classic negroni while you wait.
A fresh pasta bar from the founders of Trullo, Padella serves a small but finely curated menu of classics such as the 8-hour beef shin ragu, which changes regularly. The short but perfectly curated drinks list includes just four Italian wines and an affordable selection of aperitifs.