Italian food in London: pizza, pasta and how to tell the real thing

How to tell a proper Italian kitchen from a chain, what to order, and where to eat Italian food across London. Every place with its own phone number.

Italian is one of London's deepest kitchens, and the gap between a proper one and a chain is wide. The fastest way to eat well is to know what a real place looks like before you order: a short menu that changes, pasta cooked to order, and pizza from a proper oven rather than a warmer.

What to look for

  • A short, changing menu. A kitchen cooking from scratch keeps the list tight and moves it with the season. A laminated menu of fifty dishes is a warning.
  • Pasta cooked to order, served al dente, with a sauce that tastes made rather than poured.
  • Pizza from a real oven. Neapolitan style is blistered and soft in the middle and eaten fast; a good Roman style is thin and crisp.
  • Coffee that means it. A proper espresso and a decent affogato are a fair sign the rest is taken seriously.

Italian across London

  1. 26 Furnival Street, italian kitchen at 26 Furnival Street in City of London, London
    26 Furnival Street26 Furnival Street, City of London
    +44 20 3301 7555hello@26furnivalstreet.com
  2. 27 Old Compton Street, italian kitchen at 27 Old Compton Street in Westminster, London
    27 Old Compton Street27 Old Compton Street, Westminster
    +44 20 7183 5467
  3. 8slices Pizzeria, italian kitchen at ExCeL Marina in Newham, London
    8slices PizzeriaExCeL Marina, Newham
    +44 20 3971 2225
  4. A Mano, italian kitchen at 286-290 High Street in Bromley, London
    A Mano286-290 High Street, Bromley
    +44 1689 387993
  5. Abbie’s Hair Studio, italian kitchen at 7 Suttons Lane in Havering, London
    Abbie’s Hair Studio7 Suttons Lane, Havering
    +44 1708 608899
  6. Aglio e Olio, italian kitchen at 194 Fulham Road in Kensington and Chelsea, London
    Aglio e Olio194 Fulham Road, Kensington and Chelsea
    +44 20 7351 0070
  7. Al Boccon di Vino, italian kitchen at 14 Red Lion Street in Richmond upon Thames, London
    Al Boccon di Vino14 Red Lion Street, Richmond upon Thames
    +44 20 8940 9060
  8. Al Duca, italian kitchen at 35 Willow Place in Westminster, London
    Al Duca35 Willow Place, Westminster
    +4420 7839 3090alduca@btconnect.com
  9. Al Forno, italian kitchen at Shepherds Bush Green in Hammersmith and Fulham, London
    Al FornoShepherds Bush Green, Hammersmith and Fulham
    +44 20 8746 1433
  10. Albertini Restaurant, italian kitchen at 16-20 Chalton Street in Camden, London
    Albertini Restaurant16-20 Chalton Street, Camden
    +44 20 7387 4723
  11. Aldgate Tap, italian kitchen at 1 Aldgate Square in City of London, London
    Aldgate Tap1 Aldgate Square, City of London
    +44 20 3137 6437info@aldgatetap.com
  12. Alla Salute, italian kitchen at Deals Gateway in Lewisham, London
    Alla SaluteDeals Gateway, Lewisham
    +44 20 8691 9516
All 694 italian restaurants →

In central and north London

  1. Bold Food & Bar, italian kitchen at 126 Dartmouth Park Hill in Islington, London
    Bold Food & Bar126 Dartmouth Park Hill, Islington
    +447585 957 145foodandbar@boldcafe.co.uk
  2. Crudough, italian kitchen at 10 Navigator Square in Islington, London
    Crudough10 Navigator Square, Islington
    +44 20 7272 1672
  3. Donna Sofia, italian kitchen at 36 Highbury Park in Islington, London
    Donna Sofia36 Highbury Park, Islington
    +44 20 7354 9309
  4. Fabrizio, italian kitchen at 34 Highgate Hill in Islington, London
    Fabrizio34 Highgate Hill, Islington
    +44 20 7561 9073
  5. Humble Grape, italian kitchen at 13 Therburton street in Islington, London
    Humble Grape13 Therburton street, Islington
    +44 20 7226 9400
All 26 italian restaurants in Islington →
  1. Albertini Restaurant, italian kitchen at 16-20 Chalton Street in Camden, London
    Albertini Restaurant16-20 Chalton Street, Camden
    +44 20 7387 4723
  2. Berberè, italian kitchen at 300 Kentish Town Road in Camden, London
    Berberè300 Kentish Town Road, Camden
    +44 20 3417 7130
  3. Bobby Fitzpatrick, italian kitchen at 273 West End Lane in Camden, London
    Bobby Fitzpatrick273 West End Lane, Camden
    +4420 7433 1989
  4. Carluccio's, italian kitchen at First Floor Pancras Road in Camden, London
    Carluccio'sFirst Floor Pancras Road, Camden
    +44 20 3906 2097stpancras@carluccios.co.uk
  5. Casa Tua, italian kitchen at 106 Cromer Street in Camden, London
    Casa Tua106 Cromer Street, Camden
    +44 207 833 1483
All 36 italian restaurants in Camden →

Before you go

Ring first for a table at the small places, which fill quickly in the evening, and ask whether they take a booking at all, since some of the best keep a few tables back for walk-ins. The number on each page is the restaurant's own.

Written by See The Smoke · kept current from the directory, last checked 2026-11-07

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