Knightsbridge, Italian Restaurant Guide

Near the Albert Hall, on a quirky site built in the Venetian Gothic style to please Queen Victoria, this “typically bustling family-run Italian” opened in 1967, and offers a “standard menu, with properly cooked pasta” and dependable pizza. “Kids are really well looked after, just like being in Italy” – as Princess Diana found, when she used to take Wills and Harry out for a treat from nearby Kensington Palace.

“For a quick bite” in touristy parts of town, all with a bit of affordable glam thrown in, these “closely packed” Italians with their wide range of Venetian-style Cicchetti have carved a sizeable following: fans say “the small-plates formula works well” and “the whole place buzzes”. Ratings came under more pressure this year, though, with service – generally “swift and charming” – sometimes found “rushed” or “rather random”.

New large (125 cover) Knightsbridge Italian open in February 2025. As with other recent openings, "the essence of the Amalfi Coast|” is a focus, but the a menu spans a number of Italian regions. The interiors aim to reflect "the coastal charm of Southern Italy” — no mean feat in busy SW3. Sample dishes: Figliata di Battipaglia, Culatello di Zibello, Risotto con Gambero & Saffron, Sicilian Carpaccio Gambero Rossi di Mazara, Tagliatelle with white Alba truffle, and Panettone tiramisu.