An Italian restaurant called Cent Anni is launching in St John’s Wood next week on the prominent site occupied by Café Med for the past 25 years. A Grade II-listed late-Victorian building – originally The Blenheim hotel – it has a large outside dining terrace and, unusually for a restaurant so close to central London, off-street parking for guests.
It is the second Cent Anni from founder Raymond de Fazio, following the first in Wimbledon which is described in the 2026 Harden’s guide as an “ideal local”.
Raymond says of the new venture:“This is a restaurant for the neighbours, but we also want to appeal to a broader London audience, whether for family gatherings, dinner with friends or colleagues, or drinks and snacks on the terrace. Our private rooms are also ideal for celebrations or meetings. The transformation from Café Med has been inspired by the success of our Wimbledon Village restaurant, and we are confident that our warm hospitality and Italian cuisine will truly appeal in north London.”
The 48-seat restaurant has two private dining rooms on the first floor, seating up to 30 guests, while head chef Elton Souta da Silva has created a menu mixing classic and contemporary Italian dishes, including Calamari fritti with lemon mayonnaise; Vitello tonnato; Arancini cacio e pepe; Linguine with king prawns; Rigatoni with lamb ragù; Veal Milanese with rocket and Parmesan salad; three steak options (Rib eye, Fillet, and Prime rib of beef on the bone, for two); followed by Amalfi lemon tart with fresh cream or Tiramisù.
