Romantic Italian restaurants in London

With an elaborate flower-laden entrance, classy interior, and live music performances, Bocconcino sets the tone for a romantic meal. The food here is also desirable. This is refined Italian cooking prepared with quality authentic ingredients, including pizza, pasta, and seafood. Private dining is available if you want your experience to be even more intimate.

Glamorous Italian restaurant Gloria has an exterior laden with plants and a classic interior that channels 1970s Capri. Diners come here for extravagant Italian dining – think original cocktails, Neapolitan pizza, spaghetti with truffle sauce in a wheel of pecorino cheese, and a towering lemon meringue pie. The food and atmosphere make it ideal for special meals.

Circolo Popolare is an eye-catching venue with a romantic feel, boasting elaborate decor that includes leafy arrangements and thousands of bottles on the shelves. Flowers hang from the ceiling at this vibrant restaurant. Expect the outrageous cuisine that Big Mamma Group is known for, including pasta to share, with plenty of cocktails and drinks choices, too.

Luca holds one Michelin star and is a venture from the team behind The Clove Club. There's an elegant terrace for private dining that really feels romantic, but the contemporary restaurant and bar area will also impress your date. The restaurant offers a choice of menus showcasing innovative Italian dishes made with quality seasonal produce.

A culinary institution in Highbury, Trullo is a favourite for sophisticated Italian cuisine. The crisp and contemporary dining room has a cosy ambience and lots of light flooding in. The pasta is made by hand, and sustainable ingredients are used. Expect a changing menu of classic pasta dishes, grilled dishes, antipasti, and wines from across Italy.

Michelin-starred restaurant The River Café is an airy and idyllic riverside venue that's ideal for romantic meals. Indoor and outdoor tables are available, and the restaurant has a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Menus change daily, featuring authentic dishes made with fine ingredients. The signature chocolate cake here is notorious.

Dine in glamorous and sophisticated surroundings in Covent Garden with a meal at Margot. It's one of the most popular romantic Italian restaurants central London has to offer. The slick and refined venue is ideal for intimate dining. The traditional menu includes antipasti, pasta, and meat and cheeseboards to share. An award-winning wine list is also on offer.

Enjoy a refined Italian meal in airy contemporary surroundings at Piccolino. These attractive venues have terraces for al fresco dining plus interiors that feel classy and refined – great for making your loved one feel special. You can also have private dining here. The menu features classic and sophisticated dishes like risotto, pasta, pizza, and steak.

With roomy curved banquettes to nestle into and atmospheric lighting, Michelin-starred restaurant Locanda Locatelli creates an intimate and romantic mood. Private and semi-private spaces are also available. This restaurant serves wow-factor Italian food made with fresh and authentic ingredients. The menus change regularly, but fresh pasta dishes are always included.

Bursting with green leaves in the dining space, Como Garden is elegant and refined, really bringing the feel of an Italian garden to life. With low lighting, too, it's a fitting backdrop for a romantic meal. Dishes are all small or medium-sized, designed to be shared between you. Alternatively, opt for a convenient set menu.

Elegant and upscale Italian dishes are served at Theo Randall at the InterContinental. A variety of menus are offered to suit all sorts of dining needs, including à la carte for a relaxed traditional meal. The soft colour palette and luxe furnishings make this venue feel special. You can make a meal even more intimate with private dining.

Located in Finchley Road, Terra Terra is recognised for its cosy and moodily-lit interior, as well as the covered terrace that's brimming with lush greenery. The unpretentious food here is inspired by the Veneto region of Italy. Dishes are seasonal, and there are plenty of sharing plates and meat and cheese boards to bring you closer together.

Award-winning restaurant Brutto serves cuisine from Florence in a classic and homey setting with an intimate atmosphere. Soft lighting, background music, and friendly service create the right vibe here. The frequently changing menu follows the traditional Italian format and includes plant-based dishes. Complete the experience here with classic cocktails from the bar.

La Goccia provides an attractive setting for a romantic meal. The space is filled with botanicals and has a bar crafted from individually cast bronze leaves. Outdoor seating and private dining are available, too. Visit for seasonal menus that follow the slow food ethos, as well as organic and sustainable wines sourced from Italy.

Conchiglia is full of rustic charm. This Fitzrovia restaurant serves Neapolitan home cooking in a tasteful space with plants, candlelight, and homey decor. The food is well-presented, too – recipes are indulgent and make use of luxury ingredients to make every meal special. Drinks include cocktails and a curated Italian wine list.

The cosy wood-panelled booths at Basil & Grape make it a suitable spot for a romantic Italian meal. In a venue with a relaxed atmosphere, diners can sample Italian wines, original cocktail creations, and dishes that are great to share, like Roman-style pinsa and sharing boards of meats and cheeses. Wine tastings take place here, too.

Bardo St James's has a lavish and opulent appearance with low lighting, rich colours, and dramatic decorating touches. All these details give it a timeless and romantic style. Live music makes an experience here more memorable, plus there are private dining facilities for added intimacy. The frequently-changing menu features traditional Italian dishes.

Opened in 2022, Amalfi Ristorante is a contemporary restaurant that brings strong Mediterranean vibes. You'll soon be whisked off to the Italian coast when you enter this space. Leafy foliage, tiled walls, and bursts of colour give it a charming appearance. The menu at this colourful restaurant includes favourites like pasta, pizza, and burgers. Private dining is also offered.

Try Il Pampero for a luxury Italian meal with a romantic feel. The classic surroundings with crisp tablecloths make the venue feel comfortable, with spacious booths to get cosy in together. Italian cuisine is served throughout the day here; the main menu includes sophisticated dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients such as pasta recipes.

A local restaurant in North London, Osteria Tufo is all about southern Italian cooking with a menu that's completely free from pizza. Classic dishes are served alongside an extensive choice of Italian wine. The restaurant's compact size and easygoing atmosphere make it intimate and romantic. Al fresco tables are also available on the terrace.

Try Maremma for a romantic meal in Brixton. Named after an unspoilt part of Tuscany, the restaurant is bright and rustic, with lots of cosy tables for two. Seasonal menus are served here, with pasta made fresh on the premises every day. Classic cocktails and lesser-known wines from Italy are available to complete your experience.

Located in the famous Savile Row, Sartoria is a grand Italian restaurant with a smart and timeless style. There are comfortable chairs to relax in and dramatic pillars that lend the dining room character. This modern restaurant specialises in Calabrian cooking, including gourmet pasta dishes. Seasonal cocktails are served here too.

Piazza Italiana is a timeless and grand restaurant that creates an elegant and romantic atmosphere. The impressive architecture here is Grade II-listed. Seasonal and authentic regional recipes from all over Italy are served here, showcasing the diversity of regional cooking. Cocktails and wine are available, too.