London has a variety of small Italian restaurants as it’s a food-loving nation itself, with old-school trattorias, new-wave small plates, and the finest homemade pasta.
These small Italian restaurants are the best Italian restaurants in London, regardless of whether you prefer fresh antipasto, bowls of steaming risotto, substantial ragu, or alcoholic tiramisu.
In these restaurants that specialize in Italian cuisine, pasta and pizza are much more than just fast-food comfort carbohydrates.
The fundamentals, such as a creamy carbonara or a classic Margherita, are executed superbly, but the menu also includes sophisticated antipasti, crisp sourdough pizzas, lavishly sauced pasta, and more.
You may also enjoy delectable specialties from the rustic trattorias of the south and the chic bistros of the north.
Pull up a seat for an aperitivo, locate a cozy corner with candlelight, or reserve a large table for a family meal.
Below we have listed the smallest Italian restaurants in London:
- Giovanni’s of Covent Garden
- Cosmoba
- Trattoria Raffaele
- Gloria
- Gotto Trattoria
Contents
1. Giovanni’s of Covent Garden
Giovanni’s is an intimate Italian restaurant in Covent Garden. A quiet escape from London’s West End tucked away in a 1690-era lane.
A family-run, independent restaurant serving the finest Italian cuisine with a Sicilian twist, using recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries.
Since 1952, the Ragona family, presently led by Pino Ragona, has been serving meals in London, adhering to a basic principle of preparing authentic Italian dishes with only the finest ingredients.
Served with a genuine Sicilian charm that has been cultivated over ages thanks to their noble background.
The restaurant is centrally placed and close to theaters and fantastic shopping.
Giovanni’s is ideally situated for a quick lunch, a pre-theater supper, an intimate dinner, a celebration meal, or a post-theater feast.
Giovanni’s has been a well-kept secret of the theater and opera world for many years, feeding performers, producers, singers, and directors.
Contact info:
Tel: 020 7240 2877
Email: info@giovannislondon.co.uk
Website: https://www.giovannislondon.co.uk/
Address: 10 Goodwin’s Court, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4LL
2. Cosmoba
Cosmoba, founded in the heart of London, has long been a gathering point for the growing community of Italian food enthusiasts.
Father and son who share a love for preserving traditions and providing an enjoyable and memorable experience.
They serve simple, classic, and delectable Italian cuisine, ranging from meats and seafood to pasta and pizza, with each dish preserving its own distinctive flavors.
Over the years, Cosmoba has established itself as a cultural landmark and continues to be a community favorite.
If you are in the area and are in the mood for a couple of pizzas, some quick and wonderful pasta dishes, or even just to taste their renowned Tiramisu with an Italian coffee, they look forward to welcoming you to their restaurant.
Contact info:
Tel: 020 7837 0904
Email: enquiries@cosmoba.co.uk
Website: http://www.cosmoba.co.uk/
Address: 9 Cosmo Place, Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1N 3AP
3. Trattoria Raffaele
The 2008-established Trattoria Raffaele is a family-run restaurant serving authentic and fresh Italian cuisine.
At Trattoria Raffaele, they adore parties and routinely host private gatherings for up to 40 seated guests.
They are ecstatic to have taken the top spot on Trip Advisor as London’s best restaurant on multiple occasions, as a result of their commitment to serving high-quality cuisine rather than fast food.
They think that fresh and seasonal ingredients are always superior, which is why their chefs bring intriguing new dishes to their specials board each week.
Their pasta is prepared from scratch daily, as are their pizza bases, breads, and sauces.
They also have numerous gluten-free and vegan options, including specials, breads, pizzas, and pasta dishes.
Contact info:
Tel: 020 8778 6262
Website: https://www.trattoriaraffaele.com/
Address: 94 Sydenham Road, London, SE26 5JX
4. Gloria
Gloria is an all-day Trattoria in the heart of Shoreditch decorated in the manner of 1970s Capri and staffed by 85 young and passionate Italians from the Bel Paese and the beautiful coast of Naples.
You can enjoy an explosive meal combining old Italian classics with outstanding goods from 180 small producers across Italy, as well as Chef Armando’s creative innovations.
Gloria is a two-story miniature Italian village. Open for lunch and supper, as well as weekend brunch.
The place is cheerful and verdant during the day, but at night it becomes groovy, with house-made tunes and an intimate vibe downstairs.
From the Neapolitan pizza to the outrageous Cacio e Pepe cooked in the colossal Marana oven to the Italian gelato made with love, Bronte pistachio, everything on the menu is outrageous.
Everything they serve is 100% homemade and produced from scratch.
When it comes to drinks, the bartenders have devised a spectacular cocktail menu, with options such as Berry White’s Negroni and a kickass Watermelon Sugar Mojito.
In the warm and quiet wine lounge, you will find 50 Barolos from Piemonte’s finest winemakers, such as Marco Parusso and GD Vajra.
Contact info:
Website: https://www.bigmammagroup.com/en/trattorias/gloria
Address: 54-56 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3QR, United-Kingdom
5. Gotto Trattoria
Gotto Trattoria is on a mission to establish the finest Italian trattoria in Hackney Wick. It opened in May 2016 on the banks of the River Lee Navigation in Hackney Wick.
They are three brothers and a buddy who embarked on a mission to develop authentic neighborhood trattorias reminiscent of the fantastic family-run establishments in northern Italy, where they all grew up.
They produce whatever they can in-house. Consequently, all of their pastas are cooked by hand, and the dough for their pizzas is fermented for 48 hours in their special microclimate.
With their selection of spritzes and distinctive negroni, they’re a bit of the Italian Riviera on the banks of the canal in Hackney Wick.
Contact info:
Tel: +44 20 4513 6270
Website: https://www.gotto.co.uk/
Address: 27 E Bay Ln, London E15 2GW, United Kingdom