The 5 Best Italian Restaurants in London to Have a Pasta-tively Great Night
If you’re planning a romantic date night or a business lunch, finding the best Italian restaurant in London can feel overwhelming when almost every neighbourhood has its own local pasta joint.
Italian dining across the capital ranges from budget-friendly market stalls and lively pizzerias to elegant fine-dining venues.
To find those that truly stand out, we spent weeks trying some of the top-rated spots across town and seeing which kitchens excel in flavour, service, and ambience. Now, read on to meet the remarkable restaurants in London that consistently impress!
How much does dining at an Italian restaurant cost in London?
Italian dining in London fits almost any budget, with quick market meals starting around £4 and high-end multi-course dinners reaching £150 or more per person.
| Dining Style | Average Cost |
| Market Stalls & Street Food | £4 – £12 per dish |
| Casual Pizzerias & Trattorias | £15 – £30 per person |
| Mid-Range & Set Menus | £32 – £45 per person |
| Fine Dining & High-End | £80 – £150+ per person |
1. Circolo Popolare
Website: https://www.circolopopolare.com/restaurants/circolopopolare-london
Address: 40–41 Rathbone Place
Contact: [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Friday, 12:00 PM–10:30 PM; Saturday, 11:00 AM–10:30 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM–10:00 PM
Circolo Popolare offers a memorable dining experience, with more than 20,000 vintage spirit bottles lining the walls. This lively trattoria serves generous Italo-feasts, including crispy Neapolitan pizzas, handmade pasta, and fresh burrata.
One of their standout dishes is the rich Carbonara, which is served straight from a giant Pecorino cheese wheel.
A client who visited for dinner with friends said the creamy pasta and buzzing Mediterranean atmosphere lived up to the restaurant’s hype.
Plus, the long sharing tables create a fun, high-energy setting that works especially well for group dinners and birthday celebrations.
However, while walk-ins are welcome, please note that space can be limited. You might also face a longer journey if you’re travelling from the outer edges of London.
Customer Reviews
Overall, a wonderful dining experience!
I loved everything about this restaurant! The food was delicious, the decor was beautiful, and the service was really good. We ordered the carbonara, which was pregnancy-friendly as it was made without raw eggs or alcohol, and it was absolutely delicious. The steak we ordered was also excellent. On top of that, the prices were very reasonable for the quality. Overall, a wonderful dining experience!
- Leticia Mancini Ventura| Google Review
Has to be some of the best Italian I have had
Has to be some of the best Italian I have had. Visited on my birthday and it was absolutely amazing. Loved interacting with our host Rishad. Had a lovely chat with him about London while he recommended stuff and they were on point. Overall, a banger of a place!
- Mohit Agarwal | Google Review
2. Amalfi Ristorante – Argyll Street
Website: https://www.amalfi.co.uk/
Address: 25 Argyll Street, Soho
Contact: 020 3375 3251; [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 11:30 AM–10:00 PM; Friday–Saturday, 11:30 AM–10:30 PM; Sunday, 11:30 AM–10:00 PM
Theatregoers looking for a convenient pre-theatre meal in Soho will find an ideal pre-show pit stop at Amalfi Ristorante – Argyll Street.
This coastal-inspired venue serves hand-stretched pizzas, vibrant seafood, and fresh pasta like prawn linguine and carbonara. They also offer a popular Bottomless Brunch with 90 minutes of free-flowing drinks, plus a unique coastal Italian Afternoon Tea.
The menu even caters to diverse diets, with plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices. Plus, their private dining area makes it a great pick for birthday parties or corporate events.
However, having multiple London locations under the same brand can sometimes cause confusion when booking tables.
Customer Reviews
I sharing this recommendation with family, friends, and colleagues!
First time I had dinner here and it did not disappoint! Everything was delectable and hot. The meal fresh and high-quality. I ordered Calamari Fritti, Pasta al Gambaroni, and Tiramisu with a pot of chamomile tea. I enjoyed every bite. My servers EAVA did an excellent job being attentive and recommending an excellent meal. I sharing this recommendation with family, friends, and colleagues!
- Kamali Bent| Google Review
Reasonably priced, I’d go again
Went for a pre theatre meal. Booked at the last minute so we were limited on times, but they didn’t rush us to leave which was good.
The ambience is lovely and upstairs you get a nice view of the palladium just opposite.
Our server was attentive, but not over bearing and the food was lovely.
We had calamari which was brilliant and pasta to follow, threw in a couple of bloody Mary’s and we had a very nice meal. Reasonably priced, I’d go again.
- L Dixon | Google Review
3. PaStation London
Website: https://www.pastationlondon.com/
Address: 76 Tottenham Court Road
Contact: +447392154140
Hours: Monday, 11:00 AM–12:00 AM; Tuesday–Wednesday, Sunday, 11:00 AM–1:00 AM; Thursday–Saturday, 11:00 AM–2:00 AM
PaStation London blends traditional “Slow Food” recipes with fast cooking techniques, delivering high-quality handmade pasta and pinsa pizza on demand.
You can enjoy classic recipes like Amatriciana, Arrabbiata, and Norma pasta alongside sides like burrata with cherry tomatoes and classic meatballs.
The extended opening hours, running until 2:00 AM on weekends, make this a saviour for late workers and night owls. The central location also works well for quick sit-down meals or takeaways on the go.
On the downside, the main dish menu focuses predominantly on pasta dishes rather than broader Italian mains like meat or fish.
Additionally, their widespread city delivery service can experience delays during peak dining hours.
Customer Reviews
An absolute gem for pasta lovers!
An absolute gem for pasta lovers! From the moment we walked in, the service was fantastic.
Huge thanks to Borja, who provided exceptional, attentive service and made us feel so welcome throughout our meal.
Every single dish was a hit!
Garlic Focaccia: Perfectly baked, fragrant, and a must-order to start your meal.
- Golden Key | Google Review
Would recommend eating here and would love to come back here again!
We had a slow Sunday lunch here and overall it was great experience eating here! We ordered Aglio Olio Peperoncino Spaghetti with Bacon and Amatriciana Fresh Bucatini and they were so delicious, and all the staff here were so friendly (they even gave us free Ferrero Rocher sweets!) Would recommend eating here and would love to come back here again!
- Jimmy Sitompul | Google Review
4. Osteria Angelina
Website: https://angelina.london/osteria/
Address: 1 Nicholls Clarke Yard, Spitalfields
Contact: 020 7241 1851; [email protected]
Hours: Lunch: Tuesday–Friday, 12:00 PM–2:45 PM; Saturday–Sunday, 12:00 PM–3:00 PM | Dinner: Monday–Wednesday, 5:15 PM–9:45 PM; Thursday–Saturday, 5:15 PM–10:30 PM; Sunday, 5:15 PM–9:30 PM
Diners seeking an innovative culinary twist will love Osteria Angelina’s unique Itameshi concept. This family-owned neighbourhood spot blends traditional Italian comfort food with Japanese ingredients and techniques.
The casual dining room features an open kitchen and visible pasta lab, creating a relaxed environment centred on generous hospitality.
A client who recently dined here praised the binchotan charcoal grill, where dishes like Ox Tongue with Kizami Wasabi and Aubergine Parmigiana with Moromi Miso are cooked over an open fire.
The seasonal menu is made for sharing, too, so creative plates arrive as soon as they’re ready.
However, purists should note that the kitchen doesn’t cook strictly conventional Italian recipes. To add, the restaurant is closed for lunch on Mondays, which limits start-of-week dining plans.
Customer Reviews
That tomato pasta ended up being our favourite dish!
Some of the best bites I’ve had this year!
Everything was extremely yummy. Every dish had a depth of flavour that can only be achieved when the chef and team really love the art of cooking.
The service was also fantastic. From the moment you walk in, front of house is warm and helpful. Servers are also so friendly and enthusiastic. We were also given an extra dish of tomato pasta because they said we looked so excited! Nice touch 🙂 That tomato pasta ended up being our favourite dish!
- Rebekah Chan | Google Review
Delicious food and amazing service
Delicious food and amazing service. Cannot recommend this place enough. The food is some of the best in London, especially the rabbit ragu. We particularly enjoyed the milk bread, ragu and pork chop, all was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The flavour profiles worked really well. Our server was engaging and informative. He helped answer all our questions around the food and managed to find some extra time for us to enjoy our dessert without feeling rushed.
- Josephine | Google Review
5. Isola by San Carlo
Website: https://sancarlo.co.uk/restaurants/london/isola-london/
Address: Saint Christopher’s Place, Barrett Street
Contact: 020 7846 8604
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 12:00 PM–12:00 AM
Those looking for outdoor dining will find a beautiful retreat at Isola by San Carlo. Tucked away in St Christopher’s Place, this Mediterranean-inspired venue draws on Sicilian heritage and relaxed island dining.
Their biggest draw is the heated outdoor terrace, which stays open all year and offers a great setting for alfresco lunches and evening drinks.
The menu focuses on Southern Italian favourites, including delicate carpaccio antipasti and slow-braised beef cheek with creamy mashed potatoes.
The restaurant also offers plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options, along with space for group bookings of up to 60 guests.
However, diners should know that the menu focuses mainly on Southern Italian dishes rather than a wider mix of regional recipes.
And the restaurant has several London locations, which can make reservations a little confusing.
Customer Reviews
Excellent everything, 6 stars!!!
Excellent everything, 6 stars!!! Best restaurant we’ve been to yet. Giovanni was our waiter, absolutely phenomenal, he was so pleasant and made excellent recommendations.
We started with the Bruschetta, tomatoes were so fresh, it was a wonderful plate. We had the Bolognese (pictured) & Gnocchi for entrees, we each cleaned our plates! Delicious!! We finished with the nutella Bomboloni (pictured) also excellent!! Start to finish it was an amazing experience, not to mention the exquisite design of the restaurant!
- audrey swan | Google Review
Had the best experience, will definitely come again 🙂
The food was beautiful, barely a wait and very affordable. Our waiter, Giovanni, added to the lovely experience by being extremely informative due to my allergies and very accommodating. Had the best experience, will definitely come again 🙂
- natasha malcolm | Google Review