Italian

37 Sloane Square, London SW1W 8AN

Martino’s is from the team behind The Dover, and it’s an all-day Italian restaurant with lots of nods to 1950s and ’60s trattorias, but within a modern setting. It's an all-day restaurant kicking off at breakfast with dishes in the evening including dishes like beef carpaccio, short rib ragù tagliatelle, meatballs zupetta and a standout lasagna verde alla Bolognese. Very handy for the tube, there's also an excellent bar here.

1 Pearson Square, London W1T 3BF

Motorino is a follow-up to Stevie Parle's Town. This time, ex-Lita chef Luke Ahearne is at the helm, bringing his Michelin-starred pedigree to a “modern London-Italian” restaurant in Fitzrovia. The design echoes Town’s sleek, retro-futurist aesthetic, with a large bar, open kitchen and private dining rooms. The menu blends Italian tradition and London flair — think agnolotti carbonara, Dexter beef with porcini ketchup, and Amalfi lemon meringue pie. There's a separate bar here with great cocktails too.

30 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6AN

This New York Italian restaurant is one of NYC's most famous restaurants and is still hard to get a table at. The London version follows the same template as the original - classic New York Italian dishes with added flair, a gorgeous-looking lower-ground dining room and a big attention to service. Your meal will be shepherded by your "captain" and if you're looking for a night out where you're properly looked after, while eating dishes like spicy vodka rigatoni, this is the place for you. Plus, there's a very good chance of spotting a celeb here.

120 Morning Ln, London E9 6LH

Dalla is a collaboration among three Italian friends with diverse backgrounds. Gennaro Leone, focusing on design, joins forces with Mitchell Damota, ex-head chef at P Franco, and chef Gianmarco Leone, formerly at Claridge's. Together, they aim to offer homestyle Italian cuisine, rediscovering old recipes in a contemporary setting.

1 Nicholl's Clarke Yard, off Blossom Street, London E1 6SH

Osteria Angelina comes from the same team behind the original Angelina, but this can be viewed as a more casual outpost. it still brings together Italian and Japanese cuisine under one roof, with a specific emphasis on northern Italian cooking. So you'll find milk break, sushi, sashimi and pasta dishes all on the same menu. There's a separate bar here, so if you're in the area it's well worth popping in for cocktails and a snack or two.

YY Building, 30 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HX

Barbarella is the Canary Wharf restaurant by the Big Mamma group, known for places like Gloria and Circolo Popolare. Like those restaurants, this is a flamboyant affair, not least on the first floor where the ceiling and tabletops are all mirrored, giving quite the impressive overall effect. The food is Italian but with a few luxe Big Mamma touches, with plenty of caviar and truffle on offer, but at a price which doesn't break the bank.

73 Highbury Park, London N5 1UA

Lupa is a team-up of two locals: Ed Templeton, who is one of the founders of Carousel, and actor Theo James. Bringing in an ex-Pidgin chef to lead things, the menu takes its inspiration from Italy and in particular, Roman cuisine. Snacks, small plates and great wine are the order of the day in this compact restaurant where you might run into the odd celeb or two among the Highbury locals.

36-37 Greenhill Rents, Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BN

The late, great Russell Norman, who also created Polpo, founded this restaurant just off Smithfield Market. It takes its influences primarily from Northern Italy with a particular focus on Florence. So you'll find Italian snacks and pasta alongside huge T-Bone steaks. It's also part-bar, with an extensive list of cocktail classics, so very handy if you're looking for a decent bar in the area.

1 Rufus St, London N1 6PE

Italian restaurant Senza Fondo has one key selling point - its bottomless lasagna. That comes in traditional or artichoke varieties (and even in a sandwich) but there is more to the restaurant than layered pasta. You'll also find pizzette, pasta and snacks like deep-fried mozzarella sticks, as well as tiramisu for dessert. All that's assuming you don't overdo it on the lasagna, of course.

49-51 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3PT

Originally big in Soho and now David Carter (Smokestak) and Chris Leach's Manteca moved to Shoreditch. Designed around an open kitchen with plenty of open-fire cooking. The food is described as a nose-to-tail "Italian with a British accent" with both seasonality and a whole-animal approach to cooking the name of the day (alongside some great pasta).

1 Phipp Street, London EC2A 4PS

The original Padella is a London sensation, with its affordable fresh pasta winning friends far and wild. It's hugely popular, which led to this second outpost in Shoreditch. Expect the same great value, high quality pasta and more.

12 Archer St, London W1D 7BB

Jacob Kenedy's Soho Italian wins universal praise for its cuisine, a well-chosen wine list and for being one of the best counter dining spots in London. Pull up a stool at the counter and enjoy the regional Italian dishes on a menu that changes regularly..

33 Dover St, London W1S 4NF

The Dover is a Mayfair restaurant by Martin Kuczmarski, former right-hand man to Soho House's Nick Jones, aiming for understated glamour with NYC Italian-inspired cuisine. With an ambience best described as "casual but not too casual", there's a real feel of old-school Mayfair hospitality here. The menu is also welcomingly old-school with dishes including an excellent Chicken Cordon Bleu. On top of that, there's an impressive bar specializing in martinis that' it's worth visiting for alone.

40-41 Rathbone Pl, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1HX

The Big Mamma Group's second opening in London saw them hit up Fitzrovia with a massively OTT slice of Mediterranean charm and flavour. It's extremely popular with a stunning looking room.

310 Portobello Road, London W10 5TA

This Italian restaurant in Notting Hill comes from the same team behind pub hits The Pelican and The Hero. Here, they brought in two ex-River Cafe chefs to create a classic Italian menu that's going down very well with the locals.

27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ

The Ned is both an impressive City hotel as well as a collection of restaurants. Soho House took over an impressive (and huge) old banking site and stuffed it with places to eat. There are ten restaurants to choose from and while some City restaurants get quiet at the weekends - this is buzzy at all times.

77-78 Marylebone High St, London W1U 5JX

This Marylebone restaurant from the Big Mamma Group (Circolo Popolare, Gloria) is described as more "intimate" than the others but it still has the mad, flamboyant design that they're known for (and some crazy toilets). Food is their take on Neapolitan and Sicilian classics with an Americano twist - and some pretty large portions along the way.

Thames Wharf Studios, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA

Decades after originally opening, Ruth Rogers' River Café opened a new café close to the original legendary restaurant that's a much more casual affair. As well as pastries and cakes, you'll also be able to order dishes cooked up by the main River Café team here.

62 Seymour St, London W1H 5BN

The Italian Greyhound occupies an enviably large corner space in Marylebone, offering both a sunlit dining room as well as a great terrace space. Billed as a neighbourhood Italian restaurant, you can find classic Italian food on the menu, from pizza to pasta, and there are some great snacks if you fancy popping in for a glass of wine. There's a handy private dining room downstairs if you need somewhere for a group.

300 - 302 St Paul's Road, London N1 2LH

Probably Islington's most famous restaurant, this Italian affair sees Tim Siadatan (also behind Padella) and Chef Owner Conor Gadd in charge. Expect superlative Italian cuisine at any time and at weekends, you can also pop into their wine bar next door for a glass and some snacks.

56 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AH

This Dalston restaurant has a modern take on Japanese and Italian food - resulting in a creative fusion menu that's inspired by both cuisines, while also pushing the envelope. They serve a 13-course Kaiseki menu which changes every five weeks to reflect the seasons, so there's a lot of opportunity for repeat visits.

4 Harriet Street, London SW1X 9JR

This high-end Italian restaurant has an impressive background, coming from the Antinori family, one of the most famous winemakers in Italy. The restaurant is focused on Tuscan cuisine, so as well as pasta, carpaccio and other dishes, you'll also find huge Florentine T Bones here. The design is a highlight, with a much more homely feel than typically upscale Italians, so it has a much more cosy vibe.

15 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8QG

Ave Mario is from the people behind Gloria and Circolo Poplare, and once again it's another hit for them. Expect no holds barred on the design and BIG food, like the enormous ice cream cake that they wheel about the room. Specialities here include a caviar section, massive cocktails and a veal milanese that's twice as big as your head. 

6 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TQ

Probably the London restaurant that's done more for this city's passion for pasta than any other opening, Padella comes from the Trullo stable and serves up freshly-made-each-day pasta. The only downside is the queue or waiting time for a table. Prepare to be patient.

88 St John Street, London EC1M 4EH

This Michelin-starred Clerkenwell restaurant is owned by Daniel Willis and Johnny Smith (ex-Clove Club). It's an Italian restaurant using British produce which is split between a more casual cafe at the front and formal dining in the restaurant at the back. It's also blessed with a beautiful courtyard.

4 Knightsbridge Green, London, UK SW1X 7QA

This is the main restaurant inside the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge. It's run by the same group that runs Scarpetta in New York (and a few more restaurants worldwide). Sette is an upscale Italian restaurant, taking in some influences (and signature dishes, like the frozen chocolate dessert) from its American cousins.

79 Barlby Rd, London W10 6AZ

Set with the impressive arts and design collective Ladbroke Hall, Pollini is their seasonal Italian restaurant. It's led by chef Emanuele Pollini, who has worked at a host of Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy before this. The room is impressive, if a little cavernous, and Pollini's creative take on traditional Italian cuisine is proving popular.

27 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4HZ

This high-end Itlaian restaurant comes from the same people behind Coya, Amazonico and Bar des Pres. It's taken southern Italy as the inspiration in a restaurant that's made of a warren of rooms and bars. The room with the retractable glass roof will be a hit on warm days, while their veal tomahawk Milanese is a must.

National Theatre, Upper Ground London SE1 9PX

They started out as a rooftop in Peckham and for their second restaurant, Forza Wine took over one of the restaurants at The National Theatre. It has a great view of the Thames and on a good day, you'll definitely want to grab a table on the extensive terrace. As for the food, expect Italian small plates and a natural wine list that's pretty good value for the area.

4 Suffolk Pl, London SW1Y 4HX

For maximalists rather than minimalists this Italian restaurant took over a former bank just off Pall Mall, so expect acres of marble and gilt. In addition to the restaurant and bar, there’s also a walk-in wine cellar, whisky room and private dining room - it’s definitely a dress-up place for a special occasion.