Knightsbridge has long been synonymous with elegance. It’s a district where luxury retail, grand architecture, and cosmopolitan tastes converge. Yet beyond its boutiques and garden squares, the enduring relationship between Knightsbridge and Italian dining unfolds. Since the mid-20th century, Italian restaurateurs have played a key role in shaping the area’s social fabric. Postwar Italian migration brought more than cuisine; it brought a way of eating that values company and enjoyment at the table.
Today, each Knightsbridge restaurant offers its own take on La Cucina Italiana, with modern interpretations of Piedmontese gastronomy and Roman trattoria-style cooking. Exploring Knightsbridge’s best Italian restaurants reveals more than fine dining – it reflects the long connection between London and Italy that has shaped this part of the city for decades.
The Franklin Restaurant by Alfredo Russo
Overlooking Egerton Gardens, The Franklin Restaurant by Alfredo Russo is an Italian restaurant located within The Franklin Hotel. The restaurant benefits from a quiet, exclusive setting in the heart of Knightsbridge with large windows providing diners with views of the private garden. The Franklin is part of Starhotels Collezione; the restaurant itself embodies the group’s dedication to boutique luxury. With seating for just 30 guests, the setting ensures attentive service and a quiet atmosphere, conducive to slow dining and savouring each dish.
Leading the kitchen is Chef Alfredo Russo, a Michelin-starred chef known for his modern approach to Piedmontese cuisine. Carefully designed around the seasons, the menu highlights quality ingredients and simple, balanced cooking with subtle twists. Starters include deep-fried hen’s egg over green asparagus with parmesan fondue, and fassona beef tartare with black truffle. Lighter plates, like leek cream paired with Mazara red prawns and bisque reduction, are offered alongside mains such as wild-mushroom risotto or roasted red snapper with pepper cream and saffron sauce. To finish, the dessert menu offers reimagined tiramisù, lemon-cream zuccotto, and mixed-berry semifreddo, completing an exemplary Italian meal in the centre of Knightsbridge.
Osteria Romana
New to Knightsbridge after opening in 2023, Osteria Romana is tucked away on Park Close, lending the restaurant a sense of discovery in the heart of London. Osteria Romana strives to bring the authenticity of a Roman trattoria into London, with tables arranged closely, black-and-white Italian photography throughout, tables lit by candlelight, and dishes served in Roman cooking pans and on terracotta plates.
Osteria Romana’s menu is a celebration of Roman and broader Italian culinary tradition, offering a roster of Pinsa Romana (Roman-style flatbreads) such as mortadella with ricotta cream and pistachio, or porchetta with truffle and mozzarella. Starters include Italian chicory on bread with broad beans, raisins and pecorino, and Roman-style gnocchi in black truffle sauce. For pasta lovers, house classics include cacio e pepe, spaghetti alla carbonara, and rigatoni with oxtail ragù & pecorino. Veal saltimbocca with roast potatoes, beef oxtail in vaccinara sauce, and grilled red Prawns from Mazara del Vallo feature on the main menu, and dessert offerings include pear-ricotta tart with pistachio ice cream and mixed berry cheesecake. Osteria Romana is a hidden gem of Knightsbridge, providing a heartfelt entry into Roman cuisine in London, alive with the flavours and spirit of its heritage.
Harry’s Dolce Vita
Situated moments from Harrods, Harry’s Dolce Vita is an authentic Italian restaurant that channels the spirit of 1950s-60s Italy. From the street, the restaurant hints at mid-century Italian glamour, whilst inside it features rich fabrics, deep green tones, Murano glass details, vintage film posters, and mirrored ceilings. Harry’s Dolce Vita is an extension of the venerable Harry’s Bar lineage, which was originally a Mayfair private members’ club. Whilst the parent club remains exclusive, Dolce Vita offers a more accessible conduit to the Harry’s brand ethos. However, the private Canaletto Room offers an intimate dining space for groups or events, tucked beneath the main restaurant.
The menu at Harry’s Dolce Vita covers all-day dining, with a mix of seasonal plates and well-loved favourites. Amongst starters, one might find fried truffle arancini, tuna pizzetta with citrus–truffle dressing, crispy artichoke hearts, and a zestful raw yellowfin tuna salad with crab and truffle on the lunch menu. The restaurant is also celebrated for its white truffle menu, where dishes such as burrata with shaved truffle and carpaccio are theatrically finished tableside. In main courses, tagliolini with truffle, lobster ravioli, seafood spaghetti, classic osso buco, and rib-eye steak frequently appear as crowd favourites. Desserts reflect ambitious Italian flair with a pistachio-glazed mille feuille and a gold-leafed Gianduia sundae offered regularly. For guests seeking the romance of a bygone Italian golden age in the heart of Knightsbridge, Harry’s Dolce Vita remains an ideal destination.
Signor Sassi
Another restaurant in the heart of Knightsbridge and just a stone’s throw from Harrods, Signor Sassi is one of London’s marquee Italian dining establishments. Since its opening in 1984, Signor Sassi has been visited by royalty, politicians, sports stars, creatives, and locals alike. In 2007, long-time admirer Carlo Distefano became proprietor, formalising his passion for the restaurant into hands-on leadership. From the street, Signor Sassi’s exterior sits discreetly, blending into the bustling London district, yet its interior reveals a different story. Inside, the ambience is classic Italian glamour with warm lighting, mirrors, banquette seating, and an intimate layout with nooks and crannies that offer private dining spaces.
The menu at Signor Sassi offers an array of antipasti, pasta, seafood, meat and vegetable dishes. Seafood takes centre stage, with dishes featuring lobster, scampi, prawns, and a classic seafood cocktail. Amongst its plates are staples that consistently attract attention, including tortellini stuffed with gorgonzola and asparagus, the spaghetti lobster, and a mixed fish grill. The wine list is predominantly Italian, with ninety percent of its selection arriving from Italy, and the staff are largely Italian, reinforcing authenticity in service and spirit. Signor Sassi is neither quiet nor minimalist; it appeals to those who enjoy bold flavours, generous portions, and the charm of a restaurant with history.
Sale e Pepe
Beginning its life in two small shop fronts on Pavilion Road, Sale e Pepe has served generations of diners, from local residents to international visitors. In more recent years, Markus Thesleff acquired ownership and initiated a renaissance era for Sale e Pepe, ushering in updates, events, and renewed focus whilst preserving its legacy. The dining room, inspired by Milanese townhouses, is deep blue with bronze mirrors and a warm environment reminiscent of a traditional Italian home. With a position adjacent to Sloane Street, Sale e Pepe is exceptionally well placed for shoppers and evening diners alike.
Keeping with the Italian “famiglia” tradition, the restaurant uses high quality ingredients to create dishes perfect for sharing. Sale e Pepe’s menu has a strong emphasis on seafood, but also serves pasta and meats. Dishes include linguini lobster, fresh Dover sole, veal chop, and bone-in Milanese. When truffle season arrives, the team incorporates white truffles into their risotto, tagliatelle, scallop, and carpaccio signature dishes, with even the grilled rib-eye being topped with truffle butter. The bar serves wines from Piedmont, Veneto, Tuscany and Sicily, and offers a cocktail menu with Italian twists on signature favourites. Whether for a leisurely lunch or a family dinner, Sale e Pepe remains a popular Knightsbridge choice with the spirit of la dolce vita.
In Knightsbridge, Italian dining is where true Italian tradition meets London’s appetite for sophistication. From humble family restaurants serving basic pasta and wine, Knightsbridge now has a whole range of Italian venues that keep the same spirit alive with generosity, skill, and the pleasure of eating together. In London’s city centre, Italy’s heritage continues to flourish, allowing chefs to serve regional classics whilst maintaining the essence of Italian dining.
