The 5 best upscale Italian restaurants in London

London is a great destination for foodies, especially if you like Italian cuisine. However, the fact is that sometimes the selection can be too much to choose from. So where do you start when looking for the best place to grab a bite to eat?

Well, look no further and see if you agree with the recommendations for some of the best Italian restaurants in London. And since we can’t fit all the great restaurants into one post, look forward to part 2 now.

Locanda Locatelli

Address: 8 Seymour St, Marylebone, London W1H 7JZ

Run by renowned Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli, this restaurant serves classic Italian dishes with lots of interesting twists.

Be tempted by tagliatelle with goat breast and chili or lasagnetti with stockfish, anchovies and capers.

The menu is bursting with great options like this, all of which can be ordered along with a wide selection of breads and washed down with something from the extensive wine list.

Bocca di Lupo

Address: 12 Archer St, Soho, London W1D 7BB

The glamorous location of this eatery, which bills itself as London’s leading regional Italian restaurant in the heart of Soho, makes it a great place to discover a bit of notoriety.

The restaurant’s pared-down and honest approach to Italian cuisine has earned it many accolades and awards in recent years.

And with its carefully sourced Italian ingredients, you can count on a truly authentic culinary experience.

Lardo

Address: 197-201 Richmond Rd, London E8 3NJ

Don’t let the name put you off. This hip, industrial-chic pizzeria offers a wide selection of pizzas, pastas, and sides. We particularly like the imaginative range of pizza toppings. You really wouldn’t think some of them would work, but they really do.

The “disco ball” oven lets diners watch the pizzas burn, which we think is always a measure of a place confident in its food and sanitation standards.

It can get very crowded here, though, so it’s worth booking in advance if you fancy sitting down at one of the tables.

Enoteca Turi

Address: 87 Pimlico Rd, Belgravia, London SW1W 8PH

This family-run Italian restaurant has a stylish dining room that sets the scene before you’ve even ordered. Serving modern cuisine and a wide selection of regional wines, this restaurant offers a relaxed yet refined atmosphere that sets it apart from more ordinary restaurants.

A Cena

Address: 418 Richmond Road, London, TW1 2EB

Located near Twickenham Stadium, this establishment offers a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere and changes its menu with each season.

It therefore invites repeat visits, especially if you want to work your way through the extensive wine list, which includes wines from the smallest Italian vineyards to some better-known vintages.

Of course, this list only scratches the surface, as there are literally hundreds of Italian restaurants in and around London.

But based on my own experiences and the recommendations of a few trusted individuals, I’m guessing you won’t go far wrong trying any of the ones listed above.