The best pasta in London

Tucked away on Old Compton Street, this snug pasta bar serves up generous portions of handmade pasta at friendly prices, keeping things simple, fast, and tasty. With its wood-panelled interior, vintage prints, and lively late-night atmosphere, it blends old-school charm with modern Soho buzz. Open late, it's the perfect spot for a quick lunch, relaxed dinner, or spontaneous midnight pasta fix.

Agrodolce came to London from Rome, where the restaurant made a name for itself serving authentic, traditional Roman comforts like pinsas, fritti, and more. The pasta here is homemade, of course, and doused in rich, flavourful sauces typical of Italy's capital and the surrounding region, for example tagliolini with pecorino cheese and guanciale. You can pair your pasta dish with a fine Italian vintage or a house cocktail.

Osteria by Bocconcino blends Mediterranean flair with theatrical under-the-sea interiors, creating a striking setting for indulgent dining. The handmade pasta dishes here are are a definite highlight, with signature dishes including the likes of tagliatelle with beef ragù, spider crab pasta, carbonara, and ossobuco risotto with saffron, all freshly made and infused with authentic flavours.

40 Dean Street has been bringing heaped plates of freshly-made pasta to the table for more than 15 years and is considered a true Soho institution. The family-run restaurant makes its pasta fresh daily, with options including the likes of pappardelle with beef and tomato ragu, ravioli filled with ricotta and truffle, tiger prawn linguine, mushroom gnocchi, and more. The setting is warm and inviting, with pretty furnishings and contemporary decorative flourishes like neon signs.

Run by the same family as 40 Dean Street, 64 Old Compton Street demonstrates the same expertise when it comes to plating up piles of handmade pasta as its older sibling. In fact, the menu here is even more pasta-focused, offering a wider selection of shapes and sauces, including the likes of spaghetti clams with chilli and white wine, or chicken Milanese with spaghetti in a tomato and basil sauce. It's alkl made fresh daily, using locally-sourced produce.

Peckham’s Artusi is a big hit with pasta lovers. The menu at this local restaurant features traditional Italian cuisine – follow the typical format for an Italian meal or enjoy a generous plate of pasta as a main course. Pasta at Artusi is freshly-prepared every day and there’s a well-considered international wine list.

Based in Peckham, Oi Spaghetti + Tiramisù is a cosy Italian restaurant in a cabin with just four tables. This comfortable eatery focuses on spaghetti, with various sauces available, like creamy mushroom with truffle oil. Wine is also served, including biodynamic options. If you're still hungry, finish off with classic tiramisù.

Conchiglia in Fitzrovia in a family-run Italian eatery with a cute and cosy feel. Sit indoors or out on the pavement terrace. Antipasti, pizza, and pasta are served here, but it's a real treat for pasta lovers. Instead of picking just one dish, you can order any three pasta dishes served to share on Nonna's steaming platter.

Visit Pasta Remoli for pasta that's just right for you. Choose your favourite sauce, pasta shape, and cheese to go on top here, with options like sausage ragu, creamy mushroom sauce, and cacio e pepe. Signature recipes are on the menu too like lobster spaghetti, plus antipasti, salads, and desserts.

From the team behind The Clove Club, Luca is an in-demand pasta destination in London. This restaurant caters to many different diners, whether you want a long and indulgent Italian meal or a quick lunch. Expect authentic recipes prepared with quality British ingredients. Private dining is also available.

The goal at Pastaio is to give diners the best plate of pasta ever. This sleek modern restaurant serves antipasti to start your meal before you move on to a heaped plate of fresh pasta. Meat, fish, and plant-based sauces are all available – the options include cuttlefish ragu or a classic carbonara.

If you're the human equivalent of Garfield and just can't resist lasagne, head over to Lasagneria Italiana. You can take your pick from over 20 types of lasagne, including vegetarian options. Classic and innovative recipes are both available, and you can order a trio if it's impossible to pick just one. There are also gluten-free options to choose from.

Located in Tooting Market, Mamma Mia! Pasta lets you create your ideal pasta dish with authentic and fresh sauces. Pick your favourite pasta, including a range of specials, and top it off with your preferred sauce and cheese. Among the options are pesto and arrabbiata sauce plus things like slow-cooked bolognese. You can also sample Italian wine and local beers.

Located in bustling Borough Market, Padella is a modern pasta bar serving hand-rolled pasta with a choice of sauces and fillings. This place is noted for value as well as quality. No bookings are accepted, but London foodies are willing to queue for their Padella pasta fix. Nab a seat at the counter to watch your pasta being prepared freshly in front of you.

Enjoy sophisticated pasta in chic surroundings when you visit Sette. This plush and modern restaurant serves seasonal menus with inventive pasta options like short rib and bone marrow agnolotti. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can join the bottomless champagne brunch that includes four traditional courses, including your choice of pasta.

If you like your pasta with extra cheese then you can't miss The Cheese Wheel. Based in Camden Market, this place dishes up handmade pasta that's swirled around a giant wheel of cheese before being topped with your pick of ingredients. Expect options like smoked bacon lardons and sauteed mushrooms.

Café Murano by chef Angela Hartnett serves up à la carte and set menus, including well-regarded pasta dishes. Choose a small portion if you’re going for the traditional Italian courses or a larger plate if you want to gorge on pasta. An extensive list of wine and cocktails is also offered.

Holloway Road restaurant Berto comes from the team behind the much-loved Zia Lucia. This place is all about freshly made pasta with tempting sauces. The menu includes favourites like carbonara, four cheese, pesto, and a weekly special. Wine and craft beer are available here, too.

Bancone has several branches and is a top destination for fresh pasta. Start with antipasti like burrata or polenta chips before indulging in dishes like pappardelle with chicken livers and brandy or rigatoni with salt-baked celeriac. A curated wine list and signature cocktails are also available here. You can choose private dining too.

Intimate restaurant Bocca di Lupo is an award winner, serving a daily-changing menu showcasing regional cooking from throughout Italy. Pasta and risotto are always available with tempting varieties like spinach and ricotta tortelloni or tagliatelle with porcini, garlic, and parsley – but remember, this is likely to change. A wide choice of Italian wines is available, too, plus coffee and desserts.

If you eat at Gloria, expect it to be big, bold, and over-the-top. This Italian trattoria is set across two floors and offers classic Italian dishes, including pizza, antipasti, and pasta. Choose spaghetti carbonara served for two inside a wheel of pecorino if you really want the wow factor.

Visit Lina Stores to try handmade pasta in a contemporary setting, with plenty of flavour-filled options. Dishes like linguine with crab or taglioni with black truffle and parmesan are on the menu, along with authentic Italian antipasti, although the menu might change occasionally. Expect traditional recipes and quality Italian ingredients, plus vegan and vegetarian options.

Sample casual Italian dining at Flour & Grape. The menu here focuses on small plates and fresh pasta like tortelloni with roasted pork shoulder and spinach and cacio e pepe. Enjoy your food in the comfortable setting with leather seating and lots of exposed brick, washed down with a glass of Italian wine.

Easily recognisable thanks to its bright purple exterior, Anima e Cuore in Kentish Town is a vibrant local restaurant. Fresh juices are available, along with classic Italian recipes, including plenty of pasta to choose from, like lasagne and pappardelle with wild boar, although options are likely to change occasionally. Different flavours of gelato and sorbet are available each day, too.

The Noci restaurants serve modern Italian food that focuses on regional flavours. À la carte and set menus are available, featuring small plates and fresh pasta, plus an Italian wine list. The menu is diverse, with contemporary dishes crafted by chefs who take inspiration from their heritage and travels across Italy.

Inspired by travels around the Emilia-Romagna region, Emilia’s Crafted Pasta is friendly, welcoming, and focuses on quality fresh pasta. The pasta and sauces are freshly-prepared every day, with choices including cacio e pepe, carbonara, and pesto. Italian beers and wines are available and you can watch the pasta being made.

Opened in 2016, La Taberna is a cosy local restaurant in North London. This popular place celebrates its Italian heritage with small plates and pasta, all made with fine ingredients. Dishes are served for every taste - expect lasagne, spaghetti carbonara and penne with fresh pesto at this intimate eatery.

Experience a Northern Italian trattoria at Mele e Pere in Soho. There’s a simple menu of classic pasta here, with options like spaghetti alle vongole and carbonara. Lunch and pre-theatre menus are available too. This place has London’s largest range of vermouth, including homemade varieties you can sample straight or in a cocktail.

Soho's Fadiga is a family-run bar and restaurant that focuses on cuisine from Emilia-Romagna and Bologna in particular. You can kick off a meal here with a choice of antipasti, followed by pasta that's freshly made every day.

Il Portico is well-established on the food scene, having opened in 1967. Much of the produce here comes from the family farm in Kent. The menu offers a full range of Italian courses, including fresh handmade gnocchi, meat and fish dishes and more. There's also a diverse Italian wine list.

Trattoria Raffaele is a family-run restaurant that's a South London favourite. Well-loved classic dishes are served here including plenty of pasta options with sauces like classic beef ragu or mushrooms and cream. The menu also offers a selection of Italian beers and wines from around the country.

At Via Emilia the goal is to showcase the cooking of Emilia-Romagna, with typical dishes from each of its cities available. Order a few different plates of pasta for a tasty meal to share. Finish off your meal with wines from throughout the region, including some options available by the glass.

Maremma focuses on cuisine from Tuscany and is named after an unspoilt part of the region. There’s meat and fish cooked on a charcoal grill as well as pasta that’s prepared on-site each day. Eat your way through the traditional Italian courses or make a steaming plate of pasta your main.

Since 1983, Ciao Bella has been serving classic Italian dishes in Bloomsbury. There's a large and varied menu, including a big choice of pasta dishes like linguine with pesto, spaghetti bolognese, ravioli, and spinach and ricotta cannelloni. There's also an international wine list, with house wines available by the glass. Try their iconic spaghetti alle vongole in a bag for the real Ciao Bella experience.

At his simple joints, Michelin-starred chef Phil Howard (Elystan Street, Kitchen W8) turns his formidable skills to his lifelong love – pasta. Within a soothing, minimalistic interior with rustic decorative flourishes, the chef and his experienced team serve a concise yet satisfying menu of freshly made pasta with seasonal sauces, such as ravioli of pumpkin and chestnuts with pine nuts, brown butter, sage and parmesan, accompanied by fine wine and cocktails.

Legare, situated in a prime location by the Thames, is a contemporary Italian eatery. The restaurant's menus change often, showcasing a variety of seasonal ingredients, including freshly crafted, in-house pasta. Their wine selection focuses on natural bottles sourced from artisanal Italian producers.

La Nonna, nestled in the heart of Market Row, is an independent restaurant specialising in straightforward, authentic Roman family recipes. Their dishes are crafted using high-quality seasonal ingredients sourced from both Italy and the UK, with the menu changing daily. The restaurant boasts a modern, well-lit interior with a cosy, inviting vibe.

A splash of vivid colours, retro lighting and futuristic setting, Spagnoletti is an eclectic gastro-diner in King's Cross. The menu is firmly rooted in traditional Italian cuisine, however, offering an assortment of artisanal delicacies and handcrafted pasta dishes. The breakfast choices are more typical of Britain, with options such as a Full English or avo toast. The venue spans two floors and also encompasses a patisserie, a takeaway shop, a pasta lab and more.

Al Dente emerged from a passion for handmade pasta, created by two friends who aimed to share their traditional recipes and the authentic craft of artisanal pasta-making. In their restaurants, patrons can savour these dishes alongside a Negroni or a glass of wine. Additionally, they offer freshly-made pasta for takeaway, complete with homemade sauces and a guide on how to perfectly cook your meal at home to achieve that ideal “al dente” texture.