Cuisine Guide

Mid Range — Best Italian in London

Discover handpicked Italian restaurants in London, with what to order first at each place.

Every place here is handpicked. Signal score shows how strong and consistent the review coverage is, not a star rating.

33 restaurants

1
Gloria

Italian · ££ · Shoreditch

95Signal

Start with

Pasta al tartufo

A satisfying, 'dank bowl' of fresh mafalda ribbons littered with black Molise truffle, mascarpone, and button mushrooms that critics call 'downright delicious.'

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

2
Popolo Shoreditch

Italian · ££ · Shoreditch

90Signal

Start with

Pork Cheek Agnolotti

Consistently praised as 'flawlessly realised,' this pasta is served in a 'buttery porcini sauce ripe with parmesan' and is noted as a dish it would be a 'mistake to ignore.'

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

3
Maremma

Tuscan Italian · ££ · Brixton

87Signal

Start with

Tortelli Maremmani

These cheese and ricotta stuffed dumplings are a visual highlight of the menu; critics who skip them report 'kicking themselves' when they see the dish served at other tables.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

4
Ida

Italian · ££ · Queen's Park

86Signal

Start with

Tagliatelle al Ragù Marchigiano

The mainstay of the menu, this dish is made traditionally with chicken hearts and gizzards and simmered slowly into what critics call a 'comforting delight.'

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

5
Flour & Grape

Italian · ££ · Bermondsey

85Signal

Start with

Roasted Pork Shoulder Tortelloni

Described as a 'clear winner' that is 'stuffed to within an inch of its life' and served simply with sage butter.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

6
Manteca

Nose-to-Tail Italian · ££ · Shoreditch

84Signal

Start with

Tonnarelli, brown crab cacio e pepe

This is the "dish you'll see most on Instagram" and for good reason. Critics describe the rust-coloured sauce as having a "deep, savoury kick" that is "VERY good."

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

7
Ciao Bella

Italian · ££ · Bloomsbury

83Signal

Start with

Spaghetti al Cartoccio

The house signature and a 'greatest-hit' of the menu: a mountain of seafood pasta baked and served theatrically in a greaseproof paper bag.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

8
Brutto

Italian · ££ · Farringdon

83Signal

Start with

Penne con Vodka

Regarded as a staple with 'nice things being said' by critics; it remains a reliable, universally praised pasta choice for those new to the menu.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

9
Marcella

Italian · ££ · Deptford

82Signal

Start with

Seasonal Ragu Pasta

Whether it's ox cheek, beef shin, or venison, the slow-cooked meat ragu pastas (often pappardelle) are consistently rated as rich, comforting, and technically perfect.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

10
Italo

Italian Cafe & Deli · ££ · Vauxhall

82Signal

Start with

Italian-style Sandwiches

Generously filled with seasonal ingredients like mortadella and sweet peppers.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

11
Bancone

Italian · ££ · Covent Garden

82Signal

Start with

Silk Handkerchiefs with Walnut Butter & Confit Egg Yolk

The undisputed signature dish; described as 'casually orgasmic,' it features paper-thin sheets of pasta draped in a 'heavenly,' 'sticky, nutty, gritty mess of butter.'

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

12
Guido’s

Italian · ££ · Dulwich

82Signal

Start with

Cacio e pepe pasta

The quintessential must-order dish supplied by the editor.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

13
East West

Indian-Italian Pizza · ££ · Tufnell Park

78Signal

Start with

C.T.M

Winner of 'Britain’s Top Takeaways', this reimagined classic is a 'perfectly balanced' mix of savory, smoky, and tangy flavors that manages to feel 'both familiar and exciting'.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

14
Officina 00

Italian · ££ · Shoreditch

78Signal

Start with

Pappardelle with Pork Ragu Meatballs and Burrata

Regarded as 'among the best' ever had by critics, this dish features 'lovely lively pasta' and a 'big dollop of cooling burrata' on top.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

15
Mari Deli and Dining

Italian · ££ · Chiswick

78Signal

Start with

Homemade Pasta with Crab Meat and Cherry Tomatoes

Described as a 'feast for the eyes' with 'tender, succulent pieces of crab meat' that pair beautifully with the 'bright, tangy notes' of fresh tomatoes.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

16
Royal Opera House Cafe

Modern European / Italian · ££ · Covent Garden

77Signal

Start with

Quiche and salad

The reliable, editor-mandated must-order choice for a quick and satisfying bite before a show.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

17
A Braccetto

Italian · ££ · Earl's Court

75Signal

Start with

La Piccante Pizza

Universally praised for its thin, crisp Roman base and 'uncommon subtlety' in toppings, specifically the addition of lemon zest which adds a 'lofty top note' to the Calabrian sausage.

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

18
Anima e Cuore

Italian · ££ · Kentish Town

74Signal

Start with

Fresh Ravioli & Malfatti

Harden's describes the pasta as "mostly great," specifically noting that the "ravioli, malfatti, tortellini and so on are of a freshness and stuffed with flavours you would otherwise have to get on a plane to find."

Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.

19
Noci

Italian · ££ · Islington

72Signal

Start with

Silk Handkerchiefs

The chef's signature dish that he became known for at Bancone, this pasta features jagged-cut sheets in a walnut butter sauce topped with a confit egg yolk. Critics call it 'simply irresistible' and 'simple yet compelling'.

Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.

20
Purezza

Vegan Italian · ££ · Camden Town

72Signal

Start with

Parmigiana Party Pizza

This award-winning pie is described as 'beauts' and 'rich, full of flavour,' loaded with smoked mozzarella, fried aubergine parmigiana, and seitan sausages that critics agree 'totally worked.'

Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.

21
Rossodisera

Italian (Le Marche) · ££ · Hampstead

70Signal

Start with

Olive all’ascolana

The signature snack of the Marche region—deep-fried olives stuffed with meat—praised as the best outside Italy.

Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.

22
Fish & Bubbles

Italian Seafood · ££ · Notting Hill

70Signal

Start with

Fritto Misto al Metro

An 'impressively long board' served by the metre that provides a 'wow moment' for parties; it features Prosecco-battered catch of the day, plump prawns, and Sicilian-style chickpea panelle.

Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.

23
The Ham and Cheese Co

Italian Deli · ££ · Bermondsey

68Signal

Start with

Culatello di Zibello

A gem of a meat with a buttery and tender sweetness, produced only in winter in the river plains of Parma where the fog from the Po carries unique moulds.

Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.

24
Oddono's

Italian Gelato · ££ · South Kensington

68Signal

Start with

Pistachio Gelato

Widely considered a best-seller, this flavour is described as 'rich in flavour, creamy, and delicious,' made using premium natural ingredients like pistachios from Sicily.

Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.

25
Café Amisha

Italian · ££ · Bermondsey

60Signal

Start with

Fiorentina Pizza

Described as 'particularly impressive' and part of a pizza range characterized as 'very real Italian' with a thin, crispy crust and quality ingredients sourced directly from Italy.

Well-backed by reviews and repeat mentions.

26
La Tana

Modern Italian · ££ · Tufnell Park

55Signal

Start with

Homemade Sourdough with Chlorophyll Butter

Described as "divine" by the reviewer, this starter is highlighted as a standout way to begin the meal.

Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.

27
La Rosetta N16

Italian · ££ · Stoke Newington

55Signal

Start with

La Rosetta

This namesake trademark dish is a mini pizza cooked in a small pan that 'puffs up like a rose.' It features truffle cream, ham, and mushrooms, and is described as being 'crispy on the outside and full of flavour.'

Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.

28
Darling's Eatery

Italian · ££ · Hackney Wick

55Signal

Start with

Mafaldine

An 'explosion of Italianity at each bite,' this dish showcases the technique of a chef who mastered her craft in Florence to create food that 'comforts the heart.'

Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.

29
Wilton Way Deli & Wines

Italian Deli & Wine Bar · ££ · Hackney

50Signal

Start with

Fresh Sandwiches

The deli focuses on the owner's "culinary heritage" and serves as a "community place" for a quick, reliable meal in what is dubbed one of Hackney’s liveliest hang-outs.

Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.

30
Lina Stores

Italian (Fresh Pasta) · ££ · Soho

49Signal

Start with

30-Egg Yolk Tagliolini al Tartufo

The restaurant's signature dish; when executed correctly with vacche brune parmigiano and butter, it is described by critics as absolute 'heaven.'

Useful signal, but still lighter than the standouts.

32
Nonna Maria

Italian · ££ · Honor Oak

0Signal
Light Coverage

Start with

Diavolita Pizza

The #1 most liked item on the menu with a near-perfect rating; a spicy salami staple.

Light coverage. Worth knowing, but not heavily written about.

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