London
9 Best Trattorias in London
This guide brings together 10 London trattorias and Italian restaurants, from theatrical dining rooms and live piano to cosy classic cooking and pre-theatre options. Use the distinctions below to match the setting, menu and occasion to your plans.
How we rank this list
We chose trattorias in London with a proven record among their customers and ranked them with the specialists first. The list is reviewed regularly so it stays current.
A few businesses pay to stand out, always after passing our editorial review and with a label that says so.
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Compare 9 Trattorias in London
Osteria Angelina
Osteria Angelina is an upmarket Italian restaurant serving lunch, dinner and small plates, with cocktails, coffee, dessert and a substantial wine offering. It suits diners who enjoy sharing dishes and inventive combinations of Italian and Japanese influences. The restaurant also provides outdoor seating, table service, catering and dog-friendly indoor and outdoor areas.
Strengths: The menu combines Italian cooking with Japanese ingredients and flavours
Diners looking for inventive Italian food with Japanese influencesGroups who enjoy sharing small plates over wine or cocktailsCelebratory meals with attentive table service1, Osteria Angelina, Nicholls Clarke Yard, London E1 6SH, United KingdomAmor Gastronomia
Amor Gastronomia is a restaurant with Italian-style food, rooftop seating, a bar and a broad drinks list that includes wine, cocktails and spirits. It suits solo diners, families, groups and visitors, with dine-in, takeaway, delivery, brunch and catering available. Dishes represented include pinsa and tiramisu, while the atmosphere is described as cosy and lively, with indoor and outdoor seating and dogs allowed.
Strengths: Rooftop seating and a bar complement the restaurant dining room
Solo diners, groups and visitors exploring Highbury and IslingtonItalian-style meals with wine, cocktails or dessert139 Holloway Rd, London N7 8LX, United KingdomCircolo Popolare
Circolo Popolare is a glamorous Italian restaurant serving trattoria fare and drinks in an opulently decorated setting lined with 20,000 bottles. The menu includes pizza, pasta, starters, steak and cocktails. It suits lively meals and celebrations, particularly for diners who want a visually distinctive interior alongside substantial Italian food.
Strengths: Its interior features a display of 20,000 bottles
Celebratory Italian diningDiners who enjoy an atmospheric, highly decorated settingGroups sharing pizza, pasta and starters40-41 Rathbone Pl, London W1T 1HX, United KingdomAmalfi Ristorante - Argyll Street
Amalfi Ristorante – Argyll Street is a casual, stylish Italian restaurant serving modern takes on pizza, pasta and seafood. Its central setting opposite Oxford Circus makes it well suited to pre-theatre meals, lunches and relaxed dinners, with the London Palladium visible from upstairs. The menu ranges from king prawns, calamari and linguine to sourdough pizza, while the dining room combines a spacious feel with a cosy atmosphere.
Strengths: A location directly opposite Oxford Circus Exit 8
Pre-theatre meals near the London PalladiumItalian pizza, pasta and seafood in a central London setting25 Argyll St, London W1F 7TU, United KingdomCarlotta
Carlotta is an Italian restaurant where the dining experience combines pasta and other Italian dishes with lively, elegant surroundings and attentive service. The menu includes appetisers, pasta, cocktails and tiramisu, while staff can offer guidance on dishes and wine. It suits special dinners and visitors who value a warm, engaged front-of-house experience.
Strengths: Staff provide detailed explanations and personalised menu guidance
Special dinners in a lively, elegant settingDiners who appreciate guidance with the menu or wine77-78 Marylebone High St, London W1U 5JX, United KingdomTiella Trattoria & Bar
Tiella Trattoria & Bar is an Italian restaurant serving lunch and dinner with coffee, wine, desserts and outdoor seating. It suits families, groups and diners looking for fresh, straightforward Italian cooking in a relaxed setting. Its menu includes pasta, tomato-led dishes and chocolate torte, while staff have accommodated a child’s dairy allergy and stored a pram downstairs.
Strengths: Fresh, flavourful tomato-based cooking is a recurring feature
Relaxed Italian meals with family or friendsFresh pasta, desserts and coffee109 Columbia Rd, London E2 7RL, United KingdomTrattoria Verdi 🇮🇹
Trattoria Verdi is a long-standing Italian restaurant near the British Museum, serving pizza, pasta and dishes from across Italy. Its dining room combines Italian food with live piano accompaniment, creating a welcoming setting for family meals, relaxed dinners and special occasions. The menu described in customer accounts also includes steak, bruschetta, meatballs, tiramisu and crème caramel.
Strengths: Live piano accompaniment forms part of the dining experience
Diners wanting pizza, pasta and broader Italian dishesFamilies and groups looking for a lively meal with live music110 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4BL, United KingdomSale e Pepe
Sale e Pepe is a cosy Italian trattoria serving classic Italian dishes with a robust wine list. It suits relaxed dinners and special occasions, with attentive staff, menu recommendations and a welcoming atmosphere. The experience can include tableside preparation, such as a Caesar salad made and explained in front of diners.
Strengths: A long-established trattoria open since 1974
Diners wanting classic Italian food and wineCouples or groups seeking a warm, attentive trattoria experience9-15 Pavilion Rd, London SW1X 0HD, United KingdomLa Trattoria
La Trattoria is an Italian restaurant in a stylish townhouse hotel in South Kensington, serving contemporary cuisine with an Italian spin. It suits diners looking for a light, airy setting, attentive service and a meal that can extend across several courses. The menu is described through dishes including seafood pasta, lasagna, slow-cooked beef, tiramisu and cocktails.
Strengths: Combines contemporary Italian cooking with a townhouse-hotel setting
Multi-course Italian dining in an intimate South Kensington setting15 Cromwell Pl, South Kensington, London SW7 2LA, United Kingdom
Each map number points to a business in the list.
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What these trattorias offer
- Classic trattoria cookingSale e Pepe focuses on classic Italian dishes, wine and a warm, attentive experience, with menu recommendations and occasional tableside preparation.
- Pizza, pasta and broader Italian menusTrattoria Verdi serves pizza, pasta, steak and desserts, while Amalfi Ristorante adds seafood and sourdough pizza to its modern Italian menu.
- Celebratory settingsCircolo Popolare pairs substantial Italian food and cocktails with an opulent interior lined with 20,000 bottles.
- Sharing plates and inventive flavoursOsteria Angelina offers small plates and combinations influenced by both Italian and Japanese cooking, alongside wine, cocktails and dessert.
- Relaxed family diningTiella Trattoria & Bar suits families and groups seeking straightforward Italian cooking, coffee, wine and desserts in a relaxed setting.
- Pre-theatre diningAmalfi Ristorante - Argyll Street is opposite Oxford Circus and has upstairs views towards the London Palladium, making it relevant for theatre plans.
How to choose a London trattoria
- Start with the occasionChoose a theatrical room for a celebration, live piano for a lively group meal, or a cosy trattoria for a more relaxed dinner.
- Match the menu to your tablePizza and pasta suit broad group preferences, while small plates work well when diners want to share and explore.
- Consider the drinksThe options range from cocktails and broad wine offerings to a focused cask-beer pub alternative, so decide whether drinks lead the experience.
- Check timing and bookingsOsteria Angelina recommends reservations for lunch and dinner; some venues note limited last-minute pre-theatre availability or slower peak service.
- Think about atmosphereA compact, lively pub or closely spaced dining area will feel different from a spacious, light room or an elaborate interior.
Questions people often ask
Which London trattoria suits a celebration?
Circolo Popolare is described as particularly suited to celebrations, combining trattoria fare, drinks and a highly decorated interior. Osteria Angelina and Carlotta also suit special dinners.
Where can I find live music with Italian food?
Trattoria Verdi combines pizza, pasta and dishes from across Italy with live piano accompaniment.
Which option is best for pre-theatre dining?
Amalfi Ristorante - Argyll Street is opposite Oxford Circus, with the London Palladium visible from upstairs. Its supplied description specifically highlights pre-theatre meals.
Do these venues offer more than pasta and pizza?
Yes. The supplied menus also mention steak, seafood, starters, small plates, salads, desserts, cocktails and substantial wine selections, depending on the venue.
