For all those Londoners who continue to declare that London is home to some of the best food in the world, here’s some more proof for you. The 50 Top group recently released its list of the very best Italian restaurants around the globe (besides Italy itself, of course), and London made a pretty good showing. In fact, London is home to the 17th-best Italian restaurant in the whole world – and the very best in the UK!
Pollini is a charming Italian restaurant tucked away in Kensington’s stunning Ladbroke Hall. And in the 50 Top Italy list, it was recognised as one of the world’s best Italian restaurants.
Now, let’s get this out of the way: every time I write an article about food in London, the response often follows a very similar format. Comments stream in, with some version of ‘English food is awful’ or ‘how can London’s pale beige food be the best?’ But the reality is that London is a glorious mixing pot of cultures, and many people bring their own food and traditions to the city. In fact, London was recently named the best food destination in the world.
Pollini – the UK’s best Italian restaurant
‘An Italian restaurant in Ladbroke Hall‘, you may be thinking, ‘but isn’t that a gallery?‘ Well, yes, it is! Sort of. In reality, it’s a multi-disciplinary arts and culture space that is constantly changing to suit new exhibitions and experiences. In their own words, Ladbroke Hall is “A playground for the creative, the kind, and the curious”.
And, yes, within its walls you’ll find one of the best Italian restaurants in the world. And the dining room itself is essentially a permanent exhibition within the space, featuring a truly jaw-dropping ‘cocoon chandelier.’
Helmed by Emanuele Pollini, Pollini brings a refined Italian service to the space that is as carefully considered as the exhibitions and venue’s decor. The 50 Top Italy list praised the restaurant for serving “traditional Italian cuisine cleaned of excess fats”. The menu changes based on the market and seasonality of ingredients, ranging from pizzette to handmade pastas (50 Top Italy praised the “Linguine with crab, with pasta cooked to perfection”), seafood, fresh truffle and more.
50 Top Italy summed Pollini up as “A courteous service with all Italian savoir-faire.”
The best Italian restaurants in the world
According to the 50 Top Italy list, these are the best Italian restaurants in the world. With the exception, as already mentioned, of restaurants in Italy itself.
- Ristorante Hotel Cipriani – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Il Carpaccio – Paris, France
- DaNico – Toronto, Canada
- Rezdôra – New York, USA
- Da Vittorio Shanghai – Shanghai, China
- Torno Subito – Singapore, Singapore
- Fiola – Washington DC, USA
- Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA – Hong Kong, China
- Agli Amici Rovinj – Rovinj, Croatia
- Acquarello – Munich, Germany
Only one other UK restaurant made it onto the list, which you can also find right here in London. Luca, in Farringdon, was ranked the 29th best Italian restaurant in the world. The 50 Top Italy judges praised the restaurant for its fresh pasta, interesting dishes, and chef Robert Chambers’ “Britalian” style. They also singled out the dining rooms themselves as being “among the most beautiful in London”. So it’s not just one of the best Italian restaurants in London, it’s also one of the prettiest!
See the full 50 Top Italy list here.