FOOD & DRINK
The 5 best Italian restaurants in London
Five high-confidence Italian dining rooms for big occasions, regional cooking and energetic London nights.
- Decision points
- 8 useful sections
- Reading time
- 3 minutes
- Source checks
- 1 named checkpoint
- Last reviewed
- 4 SEPTEMBER 2026
How this ranking works
This is a LONNOW editorial shortlist, not a copy of Google’s result order. We considered the branch-specific Google star rating and the number of public reviews visible on 4 September 2026. Review volume acts as a confidence signal: a 4.9 score from a few dozen people does not automatically beat a 4.7 score tested by thousands. We then considered London usefulness, price variety and the distinct reason each address earns a place. High-volume central venues dominate the evidence, while two 4.9 choices add a more refined counterpoint.
1. Circolo Popolare
Circolo Popolare at 40–41 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia displayed 4.8 out of 5 from 41,888 Google reviews when checked. The visible price signal was £20–70. Best for: Big-room celebration. The deepest review base in the Italian set gives its 4.8 score exceptional confidence. Book for spectacle and groups; choose a quieter option for a low-key meal. Ratings, hours, menus and prices can change, so open the current listing and the restaurant’s own booking page before travelling.
2. Ave Mario
Ave Mario at 15 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden displayed 4.8 out of 5 from 29,938 Google reviews when checked. The visible price signal was £20–70. Best for: Colourful group dinner. Another very high-volume 4.8 signal in the West End, particularly useful when the room and occasion are as important as the menu. Ratings, hours, menus and prices can change, so open the current listing and the restaurant’s own booking page before travelling.
3. Gloria
Gloria at 54–56 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch displayed 4.8 out of 5 from 24,539 Google reviews when checked. The visible price signal was £30–70. Best for: East London occasion. A large body of public feedback supports the score. Its Shoreditch setting makes it a natural anchor for a wider East London evening. Ratings, hours, menus and prices can change, so open the current listing and the restaurant’s own booking page before travelling.
4. Osteria Angelina
Osteria Angelina at 1 Nicholls Clarke Yard, Spitalfields displayed 4.9 out of 5 from 4,776 Google reviews when checked. The visible price signal was £50–100. Best for: Refined regional cooking. The top star rating in this list is backed by nearly five thousand reviews. The higher price signal means it is best treated as a planned occasion. Ratings, hours, menus and prices can change, so open the current listing and the restaurant’s own booking page before travelling.
5. Faros Oxford Circus
Faros Oxford Circus at 22 Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia displayed 4.9 out of 5 from 4,641 Google reviews when checked. The visible price signal was £30–70. Best for: Central date night. A 4.9 rating with strong four-figure review depth makes this a confident central pick, while its location works well before or after West End plans. Ratings, hours, menus and prices can change, so open the current listing and the restaurant’s own booking page before travelling.
Use the list well
Treat this top five as a decision tool, not an absolute verdict on taste. First choose the right area and meal type, then compare the latest menu, booking terms, accessibility, dietary information and recent review pattern. A high lifetime score can hide a recent operational change, while a new restaurant may be excellent before it has accumulated enough reviews for statistical confidence.
Accuracy, sponsorship and safety
No restaurant paid for a position in this list and sponsored map placements were excluded from the observed set. Google ratings are user-generated opinions, not inspections or LONNOW scores. Review counts are a dated snapshot and may move immediately after publication. Ask the restaurant directly about allergies, halal status, cross-contamination and step-free access; never infer these from cuisine labels or old reviews.
