Britain's top Italian restaurants 2024 | Where To Eat

Artusi

Peckham, London ££

No-frills neighbourhood Italian with an infectious vibe

A dark frontage punctuated by full-length windows reveals a spare-looking café-like interior, a narrow room with plain white walls and a constantly changing chalkboard menu – in short, Artusi is a ‘perfect neigh… Read more

161 Bellenden Road, Peckham, London SE15 4DH

Bacareto

Cardiff ££

This artist-run Venetian bar and restaurant in the heart of Cardiff is as idiosyncratic as it is charming. Dark terrazzo-tiled floors, white wall tiles and artfully distressed original features evoke an air of retro cool and we lo… Read more

13 Church Street, Cardiff CF10 1BG

Bancone Covent Garden

Covent Garden, London £

Hand-crafted pasta is king at this sleek Covent Garden venue, and passers-by can watch as the virtuoso chefs fashion all manner of sheets, ribbons and parcels in the front window of the restaurant. Bancone means ‘bar’ … Read more

39 William IV Street, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4DD

Bancone Golden Square

Soho, London £

Like the Covent Garden original, this Soho offshoot majors in counter dining, although there’s much more space throughout: chatty groups congregate around the olive tree planted in the centre of the room, couples prefer the … Read more

8-10 Lower James Street, Soho, London W1F 9EL

Best Local Restaurant

Benoli

Norwich, Norfolk ££

At the bottom end of Timber Hill in the centre of Norwich, this gem of an Italian restaurant looks nothing like the trattorias of yesteryear, but is instead a smart long room done in gentle teal, hung with pastel-hued paintings an… Read more

5 Orford Street, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 3LE

Bianchis

Bristol ££

With a warm welcome and classy cooking, this neighbourhood Italian honours the family behind Bristol’s successful and ever-growing Bianchis restaurant group. The unpretentious and relaxed dining room has a laid-back, lived-i… Read more

1-3 York Road, Bristol BS6 5QB

Bottega Caruso

Margate, Kent ££

A homely celebration of rustic ingredients-led Italian cooking

‘We've celebrated weddings here, birthdays, happy times and sad times ... it’s the best food for the soul!’ declaimed a regular visitor to Simona Di Dio and Harry Ryder’s ‘little Italian kitchen&rsquo… Read more

2-4 Broad Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1EW

Brutto

Farringdon, London ££

Florence comes to Farringdon at this pulsating jam-packed eatery

Russell Norman’s sudden death in November 2023 shocked the restaurant world, but his masterfully staged final project, Brutto, carries on regardless – thanks to his wife Jules and son Ollie. Inside, checked tablecloths… Read more

35-37 Greenhill Rents, Farringdon, London EC1M 6BN

CLOSED

Casa

Bristol £££

* Casa is currently closed until further notice.* Rising phoenix-like from the ashes of Casamia, and harking back to its roots, this contemporary Italian restaurant from Peter Sánchez-Iglesias still has the ability to wow,… Read more

The General, Lower Guinea Street, Bristol BS1 6FU

Celentano's

Glasgow, Strathclyde ££

* From September 2024, Celentano's will become a restaurant with rooms following its acquisition of the adjoining Cathedral House hotel.* Celentano’s is inspired but not constrained by Italian cooking and chef-owner Dean Pa… Read more

28-32 Cathedral Square, Glasgow, Strathclyde G4 0XA

MEMBER PERK

CLOSED

Cin Cin Fitzrovia

Fitzrovia, London

* This branch is closing for good at the end of service on 11 October 2024. The Hove outlet remains open.* With its sun-trap terrace, bright abstract artworks and a menu of firm Italian favourites, this corner site is one of Fitz… Read more

21a Foley Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6DS

Cin Cin Hove

Hove, East Sussex ££

Super-stylish Italian neighbourhood eatery

‘I love the authentic Italian flavours and the creative dishes made with fresh, quality ingredients,’ is just one ringing endorsement for this ‘small and super-stylish’ eatery. Counter seats bring you up cl… Read more

60 Western Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 1JD

Contini George Street

Edinburgh, Lothians ££

All-day Italian café in a stunning Victorian banking hall

Quite the ace to have up your sleeve when you’re looking for somewhere casual, this dramatic double-height space, a former banking hall, houses a true urban eatery, an all-day Italian caffè. While busy and buzzy, the … Read more

103 George Street, Edinburgh, Lothians EH2 3ES

Cotto

Bristol ££

A cosy bolthole with a great atmosphere in the centre of Bristol, this wine bar and kitchen feels more informal than sister restaurant Pasta Ripiena on the same street, while offering impeccably sourced, beautifully cooked Italian… Read more

29-31 St Stephen's Street, Bristol BS1 1JX

Devour at The Dyehouse

Holmfirth, West Yorkshire ££

'A perfect venue for a warm atmosphere and stunning food – whether you’re taking the full family or having a date night,' says one lucky local enthusiastically. With generous outdoor space available, Olivia Robins… Read more

Luke Lane, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire HD9 7TB

Domo

Sheffield, South Yorkshire ££

This lively Sardinian restaurant, bar and deli, takes up much of the ground floor of the Eagle Works, an old red-brick former steel mill in a regenerated area of eco houses and commercial spaces known as Little Kelham. The sizeabl… Read more

Eagle Works, 34-36 Cotton Mill Walk, Little Kelham , Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 8DH

Emilia

Ashburton, Devon ££

Clare Lattin and Tom Hill, once of Ducksoup in Soho, have migrated to the sub-Dartmoor stretches of south Devon and pitched camp on the T-junction that more or less is Ashburton. It's a small room with an agreeable buzz and square… Read more

2 East Street, Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7AA

Eusebi Deli

Glasgow, Strathclyde £

A Scottish/Italian marriage made in Glasgow, Giovanna Eusebi’s jam-packed deli/café/restaurant hybrid cherishes the time-honoured traditions of her homeland and leavens them with ample supplies of seasonal Scottish pr… Read more

152 Park Road, Glasgow, Strathclyde G4 9HB

CLOSED

Forza Win

Camberwell, London ££

* The restaurant has closed as of February 2025. The two Forza Wine sites (in Peckham and at the National Theatre) continue to trade as normal. * Back to life after its previous iteration (in a Peckham warehouse) was ca… Read more

29-33 Camberwell Church Street, Camberwell, London SE5 8TR

Forza Wine at the National Theatre

South Bank, London ££

After years of pop-ups, this Italian-inspired restaurant group is firmly established south of the river with permanent spots in Peckham (Forza Wine) and Camberwell (Forza Win). Now a third venue – its most ambitious project … Read more

National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX

Best Local Restaurant

Giulia

Shepherd's Bush, London ££

There is much to enjoy in this informal neighbourhood restaurant. ‘Stunning food. Great value. Always things I want to try. Wines I want to drink. Great hospitality,’ notes one loyal fan. But then Giulia Quaglia and En… Read more

77 Askew Road, Shepherd's Bush, London W12 9AH

Iford Manor Café & Kitchen

Freshford, Somerset ££

Tucked away at the bottom of a steep valley that feels lost in time, this 'absolute hidden gem' of a farm-to-table restaurant is an entrancing prospect complete with prettily planted sun-trap terraces, while inside beautiful oak b… Read more

Iford Lane, Freshford, Somerset BA15 2BA

Italo

Vauxhall, London

From knitting classes and supper clubs to ice cream sandwiches and country dancing in the street, this ‘green oasis’ is a genuine community hub – and second home to many of its regulars. At its heart is a deli an… Read more

13 Bonnington Square, Vauxhall, London SW8 1TE

Kitchen 91

Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire £££

'Slow food' in Calderdale

Poppy Cartwright and Matthew Shelton's supper club in the tiny basement of their terraced house was a hard-to-book hot ticket, so the move to Hebden Bridge's main street has given locals more of a chance to bag a table. The couple… Read more

35 Market Street, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire HX7 6EU

MEMBER PERK

Lardo

Hackney, London ££

There’s a lot more competition than when Lardo first opened its doors in 2012, but this industrial-chic venue remains a favourite among the local families and well-to-do professionals of London Fields. While the pizza oven i… Read more

197-205 Richmond Road, Hackney, London E8 3NJ

Little Hollows Pasta

Bristol

Chris Davies built up a business selling handmade pasta at local markets, as well as delivering pasta boxes to people’s homes. A dream of opening a little restaurant/bar was finally realised when he opened on Bristol's Chand… Read more

26 Chandos Road, Bristol BS6 6PF

Luca

Clerkenwell, London £££

Originally conceived by the owners of the Clove Club, this ‘Britalian’ restaurant is almost as well-known for its bar as its restaurant –so it was with some reluctance that we bypassed the Negroni-based fun … Read more

88 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4EH

Lupo

Prestwich, Greater Manchester £

If you’re a newcomer to the heavenly delight that is real burrata, then head to Lupo. Outside of Puglia, you’re unlikely to find anything so lusciously ethereal as that imported weekly to the favoured few of north Manc… Read more

Unit 65, Mountheath Trading Estate, Ardent Way, Prestwich, Greater Manchester M25 9WE

Manteca

Shoreditch, London ££

Cool Shoreditch Italian with impressive artisan credentials

Frequent queues stretching out of the door are testament to the daily popularity of this trendy modern Italian, which is marked by an ornamental boar's head suspended above the entrance. Manteca is that sort of place, a Shoreditch… Read more

49-51 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3PT

Marcella

Deptford, London ££

Deptford High Street has a jewel in its midst; not a shiny blingy one, but a precious little gem called Marcella. 'The art of simplicity' is their mantra, and this sister to Peckham's Artusi is the sort of unpretentious local Ital… Read more

165a Deptford High Street, Deptford, London SE8 3NU

MEMBER PERK

Maremma

Brixton, London ££

Inviting neighbourhood venue with a Tuscan accent

Brixton has a reputation for exciting startups and on-trend eateries, so it’s curious to find a traditional Italian neighbourhood restaurant in this part of town. The venue itself is done out in minimalist style (think expos… Read more

36 Brixton Water Lane, Brixton, London SW2 1PE

Marmo

Bristol ££

Neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar that delivers on all fronts

Enveloped in the restaurant quarter of Baldwin Street, a few metres from one of the river crossings, Marmo has been making waves with cooking that takes Italy as its base, but glides into effortless orbit from there. Shared tables… Read more

31 Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1RG

Murrays

Clevedon, Somerset ££

Pleasing neighbourhood asset with an Italian flavour

A fixture of the local restaurant scene since 1984, Reuben Murray’s personally run neighbourhood eatery, wine shop, bakery and deli is just a short jaunt uphill from Clevedon’s pretty Victorian pier, at the top of a pl… Read more

91 Hill Road, Clevedon, Somerset BS21 7PN

MEMBER PERK

Ombra

Hackney, London ££

A taste of Venetian bacaro cool in Hackney

When Ombra opened its doors by the banks of the Regent's Canal back in 2011, today’s gentrification was a long way off. Now this former retail site is custom-built for a taste of Venetian-style bacaro cool. Drop by on spec, … Read more

1 Vyner Street, Hackney, London E2 9DG

Pasta Ripiena

Bristol ££

Intimate and informal, with small, closely packed, square wooden tables ranged along either side of the dining room, this cool, modern Italian offers a short, daily changing menu of fresh stuffed pasta dressed in moreish sauces. T… Read more

33a St Stephen’s Street, Bristol BS1 1JX

Petersham Nurseries Café

Richmond, London £££

On paper, this rustic restaurant starts at a disadvantage. Located at the back of an old greenhouse in a plant nursery, with dirt floors and wobbly old tables and chairs, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. Add to that, t… Read more

Church Lane, Petersham Road, Richmond, London TW10 7AG

Pizza West

Whitby, North Yorkshire £

If you’ve had your fill of Whitby’s fish and chips, it’s well worth the trek out of town to this buzzy pizza hot spot high up on West Cliff. Formerly a kooky science museum called the Whitby Wizard, the long… Read more

West Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 3HT

Polentina

Bow, London

Housed in Apparel Tasker, a sustainable garment factory in Bow, this Italian café is a cosy corner sealed off by glass so guests can observe the production line while enjoying their coffee and cake. Humble home cooking of I… Read more

1 Bowood House, Empson Street, Bow, London E3 3LT

Popolo Shoreditch

Shoreditch, London ££

Up-to-the-minute Med-accented small plates

With its rough-hewn brickwork and bare café tables, Jon Lawson's small but jumping joint off Old Street suits Shoreditch down to the ground. There's a Moorish, as well as moreish, air to some of the dishes, backed up by roc… Read more

26 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3DU

MEMBER PERK

Portobello Ristorante Pizzeria

Notting Hill, London ££

When the wind is whistling through Notting Hill, but you still doggedly want to sit outside, the Portobello has a retractable-roof terrace with heaters and blankets, so you can get well bedded in and let the weather do what it lik… Read more

7 Ladbroke Road, Notting Hill, London W11 3PA

Salvo's

Leeds, West Yorkshire

A Leeds landmark since 1976, family-owned Salvo’s has lost none of its legendary pulling power as it heads towards its 50th year. Flame-blistered, creatively topped Neapolitan-style pizzas and an impressive choice of pastas … Read more

115 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS6 3PX

Sapori

Anstey, Leicestershire ££

The Scarpati family hail from the Torre del Greco quarter of Napoli, a long way from the suburb of north Leicester where they are currently domiciled, but their contribution to Britain's Italian dining scene is a precious asset to… Read more

40 Stadon Road, Anstey, Leicestershire LE7 7AY

MEMBER PERK

Sonny Stores

Bristol ££

A ray of Italian sunshine in Southville

You wouldn’t guess it from the name, but Sonny Stores is a charming neighbourhood Italian, set in a former corner shop amid the terraces and bay windows of Southville. Out front, a blackboard advertises takeaway pizzas, but … Read more

47 Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol BS3 1QS

Stuzzi Leeds

Leeds, West Yorkshire £

If it was a toss-up between Stuzzi’s Harrogate original and its more recent Leeds offshoot, readers confirm that the younger, West Yorkshire sibling would win every time. It might not look much from the outside (blacked-out … Read more

7 Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 6PQ

The River Café

Hammersmith, London ££££

* A casual offshoot called the River Café Café (with its own terrace) is now open, adjacent to the main restaurant. Walk-ins only. Watch for more details coming soon. * Only a handful of London restaurants can genui… Read more

* A casual offshoot called the River Café Café (with its own terrace) is now open, adjacent to the main restaurant. Walk-ins only. Watch for more details coming soon. *

Only a handful of London restaurants can genuinely claim to be ‘iconic’, and this glamorous spot on a Hammersmith backstreet is one of them. Launched by Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Gray in 1987, the River Café’s mission was to bring the seasonal pleasures of artisan Italian cuisine to the capital. It may be approaching middle age, but this is still ‘one cool restaurant’, frequented by a well-heeled, fashion-conscious crowd who love to eat (and be seen) here. The dining space is filled with light and luminous colours (sea blue, bright yellow), there’s cafeteria-style seating and an open-plan kitchen with a wood-fired oven, while a shiny zinc bar brings you close to the action. Topping it off, an outdoor terrace with a view of the Thames is the perfect summery spot. As for the food itself, everything depends on impeccable supplies from Italy and nearer home, all attuned to the calendar. The culinary approach may be understated but ingredients are treated with the utmost respect, as in a plate of fabulously sweet, split and wood-roasted Scottish langoustines paired with garlic and parsley. Some once-thrilling ideas now seem commonplace (chargrilled squid with red chilli and rocket, for example), but others still create a special magic: a dish of hearty softened cannellini beans with summer girolles, parsley and a slice of crostino could have come straight from a Tuscan farmhouse, while properly gamey wood-roasted Yorkshire grouse (bang in season) with crispy Tuscan-style roast potatoes and a jus laced with a generous splash of Brunello di Montalcino is rustic yet sophisticated. No corners are cut here – even the wine used for cooking comes from renowned estates. For dessert, there are classics aplenty, from the sumptuous and much-copied chocolate nemesis to a citrussy Amalfi lemon tart. Service is charming to a fault, although all this fame and legacy can cost a small fortune: depending on your financial status, it can seem ‘reassuringly expensive’ or downright pricey. And you will need to nurse your bank balance if you plan to indulge in the wine list – a mighty tome packed with Italian gems (including some stunning Super Tuscans) as well as classy Champagnes. Thankfully, around 25 by-the-glass selections (from £13) help to ease the burden.

Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9HA

MEMBER PERK

Theo Randall at the InterContinental

Mayfair, London £££

A Park Lane institution, this long-running Italian restaurant has settled into a very nice groove. Found on the ground floor of the InterContinental Hotel, it may occupy a windowless space that can lack atmosphere, but the ro… Read more

InterContinental London Hotel, 1 Hamilton Place, Mayfair, London W1J 7QY

Best Local Restaurant

Tropea

Birmingham, West Midlands ££

In the Harborne district of Birmingham, Tropea is spiritually twinned with southern Italy's Calabrian coast. Opened in 2021, it's a love letter to Italian regional cooking, set within a clean-lined space that has the feel of a mod… Read more

27 Lordswood Road, Harborne, Birmingham, West Midlands B17 9RP

Trullo

Islington, London ££

Warmth 'with a capital W’ is one of the prime assets at this Islington crowd-puller, which has been hitting all the right notes since opening in 2010. Matching a glowing interior and pleasing comfort with homely but vivaciou… Read more

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

MEMBER PERK

Valvona & Crolla

Edinburgh, Lothians ££

Edinburgh's landmark Italian caffè, deli and bar

Edinburgh’s Italian gastro-scene owes a great deal to members of the Contini dynasty, in fact their original deli and wine store remains ‘numero uno’ in the city with its treasure-trove of artisan provisions. Thr… Read more

19 Elm Row, Edinburgh, Lothians EH7 4AA

Watson and Walpole

Framlingham, Suffolk ££

Framlingham’s 'Castle on the Hill' may be the stuff of song these days (thanks Ed Sheeran) but this neighbourhood Italian, just a few steps down from that hill, deserves a hit serenade too. ‘Spot-on, absolutely delicio… Read more

Framlingham’s 'Castle on the Hill' may be the stuff of song these days (thanks Ed Sheeran) but this neighbourhood Italian, just a few steps down from that hill, deserves a hit serenade too. ‘Spot-on, absolutely delicious,’ noted one diner, applauding a Dover sole, precisely roasted to that moment when the flesh slips easily from bone. Its only accompanimemts were peas and spinach sott’olio, and a length of seared chard, because 'that's all a fish of such deliciousness needs'. Two sardines ask for nothing more than a spoonful of bright salsa verde, while butter-soft slices of beef carpaccio sit perfectly with a squiggle of classic Harry’s Bar dressing and shards of Parmesan. Watson and Walpole is a place to eat deliciously all’italiana, so come hungry. Begin with frittura of brown shrimps or burrata with crushed broad beans and peas, proceed to some spectacularly fine handmade pasta, a secondo of meat or fish, and a dolce dessert. Pasta-wise, pappardelle with a gentle lamb ragù clinging to the silky ribbons stands out, so too orecchiette filled with sweet, summery crab. You could be in a seaside Puglian trattoria or – in the case of the pappardelle – a hilltop Umbrian eatery. Chicken, simply grilled, comes with colourful zucchini and chilli-pepped salsa etrusca, while a generous pork chop with borlotti beans offers something much heartier. Less hungry? You're more than welcome to drop by for a bowl of 'pasta e via' or a pizza from the hard-working wood-fired oven. To finish, the tiramisu has been described as ‘probably the best either of us has ever eaten, light, creamy and with lots of booze’. Italy’s wines in all their beautiful diversity fill a compact and reasonably priced list, with a ‘jolly decent’ Garganega from Veneto opening the offer at £20. Head round the back of Watson & Walpole to find Beviamo, a cool, informal space that is continuing the restaurant’s Italian vibe by serving up pizza by the slice from the wood-fired oven and offering cocktails such as negroni, amalfitano (a mojito with limoncello) and espresso martini alongside wine and beer.

3 Church Street, Framlingham, Suffolk IP13 9BQ

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