Mayfair , Italian Restaurant Guide

This “professional and consistently authentic” family-run Italian has occupied a prime corner site in central Mayfair since 1953, and pleases a crowd who are not keen to pay the ‘Mayfair prices’ charged elsewhere in the area. Breakfast (served from 7.30am), pizza and pasta dominate the menu.

2024 Review: “You can’t fail to impress with the food, vibes and service”, according to fans of this Moscow-based chain, whose Mayfair offshoot is not short on glam. It provoked less feedback this year, though, in our annual diners’ poll (too limited for a rating), but expansion is coming in the second half of 2023 with a new branch, below the Strand Palace Hotel.

“Like a stately ship, Murano glides on” and Angela Hartnett’s “sophisticated but relaxed” Mayfair HQ remains incredibly popular for its un-forced style, particularly for a special “romantic” occasion. Some dishes “put a nice twist on Italian staples” in line with Angela’s heritage, but the cuisine is in fact better characterised as modern European. Chef George Ormond maintains Angela’s “hallmark culinary style” – “deceptively simple preparation puts the emphasis on bringing out the flavour, while avoiding unnecessary faff”; while the “clever menu is designed so you can have any number of courses”. (“The depth of tastes in supposedly simple dishes such as mushroom tagliatelle, as well as the quality of the amuse bouches and breads will just put a smile on your face… less pretentious than some, the focus on excellent ingredients expertly cooked is impressive”). There’s “a lovely ambience” too, which owes more to the “attentive but not overly formal” service than to the “luxurious” furnishings. Despite all these positives, however, this was not a strong year for its ratings in the survey, with marks dragged down by a few uncharacteristic accusations of it being “overrated” and “not worth the cost”.

2022 Review: Navigate through the pan-Asian section of Russian restaurateur Arkady Novikov’s ultra-luxe Mayfair scene, and you find an elegant if slightly incongruous classic Italian dining room at the rear. Key themes that emerge in survey feedback: it’s notably “overpriced”; the food’s not bad; and for a business encounter, it’s worth considering.

“A buzzy, fashionable Italian that’s thoroughly enjoyable for a casual but high-quality meal” – this smart, all-day bar/brasserie behind the RA in the heart of Mayfair is fast approaching its half-century, and remains a favourite for a loyal clientele of glam local professionals for less formal business occasions; post-work meet-ups; or a “refined brunch”. The sceptical view of it is that it’s “all good, but very pricey for simple food”. Part of the Soho House group for the past 20 years, it now has branches at the Ned in the City, in Shoreditch, and in international cities from West Hollywood to Mumbai.

This smart and notably “well-spaced” Savile Row veteran from The Evolv Collection (formerly D&D London) remains “super for business lunches”, but opinion remains split on the quality of its cuisine: some praise “exceptionally good and elegantly presented” dishes, while sceptics find only “disappointing cooking from a previously great restaurant”. Top Menu Tips – “great starters of Battuta di manzo, Tagliolini di cacio and pepe, and exceptional Lobster tagliolini; superb Veal Milanese for two with very light Zucchine fritte”.

2023 Review: Few restaurants can boast the heritage of this Mayfair two-year-old: the first ever spin-off from a Milanese original of over 120 years’ standing. It’s still a case of promise unfulfilled, though, with reports that are very up and down, despite a general acknowledgement of “friendly service and a pleasant interior” (the latter very classical in style). “Eye-watering prices” are key to the ambivalence felt by diners, despite some dishes that are “clearly wonderful” – if you give it a go, perhaps try the set lunch, which is “exceptional value by comparison to other options here”.

“Lovely food… but an incredible scene” – it’s the “excellent and romantic vibe” created by the “intimate, cool Art Deco surroundings” that has made this NYC-style Italian yearling, just off Piccadilly, such “a hotspot in W1, and reservations are tricky to achieve”. The dishes – Penne Arrabbiata, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Spaghetti Meatballs – are classic comfort food all the way: consistently well done, but no reason not to load up first on the “great cocktails”.

“Even-better-than-Mama-used-to-make Italian cuisine” twinned with “fabulously chic mid-century Napoli decor” is winning an expanding fan club for this swish Mayfair Italian, whose features include a hidden terrace complete with fully retractable roof. Ratings remain constrained by one or two doubters who consider it “formal and eyewateringly expensive”, but more common is the view that it’s “divine” (“the music will put you in just the right mood for gazing at your hot date whilst savouring delectable mouthfuls of upscale trattoria classics”). Top Menu Tip – “Don’t miss the unrivalled tiramisu, so generous and delicious it needs to be shared (but won’t be…)”.

2024 Review: “Request the elegant first-floor dining room” when you dine at this large Italian in Mayfair, imported from LA (there’s also a ground-floor bar). It opened in late 2022 and reports are still not as numerous as we’d like; but early diners are wowed by the classily ritzy decor and high-quality cuisine. There’s also a cigar lounge and terrace.

“My favourite new Mayfair spot, bravo!”, acclaims an early fan of this early 2025 newcomer, by the entrance to Mayfair’s Shepherd Market. Chef Achille Pinna showcases the cooking of his native Sardinia in an upmarket setting with a substantial raw bar and plenty of high-quality beef alongside hand-made pasta. In his February 2025 review, The Times’s Giles Coren was complimentary if sniffy about what he saw as a “finance bros” clientele: “jolly nice if you like superexpensive Italian restaurants in Mayfair, which people in Mayfair absolutely do”; while he saw the offering as “the finest ingredients and not too much done to them”.

The Mayfair crypt beneath St George’s Church, off Hanover Square, finally opened as a restaurant at the start of 2025. The latest plot-twist in the project was that Brad Carter (formerly of Brum’s Carters of Mosely) was replaced at the 11th hour by veteran TV chef, Aldo Zilli (returning to the London dining scene after a 12-year break). Early feedback is limited but positive: “a first visit to this fairly new offering from Aldo Zilli who has returned to the London restaurant scene after running an operation from his own home in recent times. The man himself was there and came over to say hello, clearly glad to be back. We were attending a concert in the church upstairs, with a specially designed pre-concert menu. Well cooked, served quickly, all done in time to be seated. We intend to revisit and explore the à la carte menu”.

“A great local Italian with un-Mayfair prices” – this new arrival in South Audley Street is the first Italian restaurant from Samyukta Nair (of Jamavar, Bombay Bustle, Koyn et al) and designed as a family-oriented neighbourhood spot to drop in for a bite at any time of the day from an easygoing menu including pizza and pasta. It inspired lots of reports in our annual diners’ poll, practically all positive. In particular, “how much longer can they afford to offer their exceptionally cheap two-course lunch in this expensive location”: let’s hope a long time, as all reports agree it’s “fantastic value”. And it helps that “staff are so nice!” (Nipotina is Italian for ‘granddaughter’, and the venue is apparently a tribute to Samyukta’s grandfather.)