Top Best Italian Restaurants in Shoreditch

"It may have originally been the canteen to Ruth Rogers' rather well-known architect husband's company, but this is now about as far from a works canteen as it's possible to get. Set down a leafy residential street, with gardens stretching down to the Thames, the River Cafe turns out beautiful Italian food with the best produce at an eye-watering price. You get what you pay for - it's just a question of whether you can afford the price tag."

"An iconic pillar of Italian dining in London, The River Café in Hammersmith is as revered today as when Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Gray opened its doors more than 30 years ago. The menu, as it has always done, sings to the tune of the seasons and shows off the finest ingredients. Expect risotto with winter greens, dover sole whole roasted in the hot pink wood oven or buffalo ricotta-stuffed ravioli drenched in marjoram butter."

"Where: Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, Hammersmith, London W6 9HA. As long as you don't think about the bill, sitting out on the banks of the Thames enjoying the super Italian food here really is a case of 'life doesn't get much better than this'."

"A sleek, chic dining room in Islington sets the scene for Trullo’s unfussy Italian food. Dishes take the best of seasonal British produce and spin it into great antipasti, fantastic pastas, and secondi fresh from the charcoal grill. Skip the queues at Padella, the fresh pasta spot in Borough Market, and enjoy the signature beef shin pappardelle or pici cacio e pepe at a slower pace."

"Padella is truly one of London’s greatest gems, but it’s also hard to grab a seat at the best of times. If you want the same exceptional pasta, but with the ability to book a table in advance for a date, sibling restaurant Trullo is for you. The cavernous basement is deeply romantic, the upstairs feels light and familial and the food is universally spectacular."

"Sure, have beef shin pappardelle to break the fast — why not, go big. But for an easy start to the day that doesn’t require a table and cutlery, head to Trullo’s deli and shop, next door to the north London Italian restaurant. Snag one of the savoury pastries which are hearty enough for a breakfast and lunch combo."

"Restaurants Italian Seven Dials. Loud, informal, bustling and tailor-made for kids in town for a treat, Homeslice serves up ginormous 20-inch pizzas for sharing at the table – although they provide individual slices too (ideal for picky youngsters who don’t want to play ball) – and they’ll even let you have more than one choice from the toppings selection if you ask nicely. Branches in Fitzrovia, Shoreditch, City and White City."

"If it’s pizza that the kids are craving then give Homeslice a try, rather than the big chains. There’s no special menu, but given that the enormous 20 inch pizzas arrive whole at the table for sharing, that’s not really a problem. Certain pizzas can be bought by the slice, too, which is perfect for those who aren't so fond of communal eating."

"Neal’s Yard is a colorful alley in Covent Garden. It’s worth the quick visit just to take a photo. Just around the corner is Neal’s Yard Dairy, one of the best spots in the city to sample artisanal cheese."

"Dover Street, W1S 4NB, and Westbourne Grove, W11 2RHNext to the Chucs men's fashion and swimwear Dover Street shop is Chucs Restaurant & Café: a place so cosy, so intimate (16 seats at a pinch), with its teeny-tiny panelled bar, white-jacketed waiters and Dolce Vita photographs of Positano and the Amalfi Coast, that anyone who enters is instantly transported back to the Fifties, to the Italian seaside and to an arguably better world. There is simple pleasure in the food: beef carpaccio, wonderful pizza bianca with black truffle and Italian-American classics - an ace club sandwich, for example. The Chucs branch is on the posh bit of Westbourne Grove: handily, the 23 bus stops right outside, in case you're thinking of doing it on a budget."

"Restaurants Italian Notting Hill. If you own a superyacht and buy Chucs’ bespoke swimwear, you’ll love this beautifully lit, serene Italian restaurant from the fashion brand; if not, you’ll be panicking about the bill before you bite into your first crudité. Still, big bucks pay for solicitous staff and classic Italian dishes prepared with love and skill – plus the chance to shop in the adjoining boutique."

"Cafe Monico is 140 years old, talk about a London classic and a must go-to if you're in the capital. The restaurant specialises in a mix of French and Italian gastronomy (reads: the most renowned in the world), so you'll certainly be eating well. Why is it the perfect romantic restaurant?"

"Restaurants Cafés Surrey Quays. In the mornings, anything goes at this colourful, casual local diner – such as brunch burgers and smashed avocado – but the rest of the time the focus is firmly on Italy. This inviting space is the setting for top renditions of the classics – think arancini with beef ragù, the usual pizzas, more unusual pastas and humbly delicious chicken Milanese, plus desserts involving Nutella (obvs)."

"From the line of massive steel tanks behind Howling Hops’ Hackney Wick bar, beers (both the brewery’s core and seasonal) are served unpasteurised straight from tank to tankard without touching a keg, can, or bottle on the way. Clearly, visitors don’t hold back — in the late evenings, the taproom erupts into a disco of sorts, with limb-throwing patrons all too willing to get involved. Until nightclubs start serving their own lemon goses and US-hopped pale ales, this is the next best thing."

"Howling Hops opened Hackney’s first brewpub, The Cock Tavern on Mare Street, back in 2011. And that’s a claim to fame if we ever heard one (the pub also went on to win an award for its pickled eggs). Their motto is ‘brew interesting beer’, and this is exactly what they do, with unfiltered, unpasteurised, vegan brews."

"Another Hackney Wick hideaway, this unique brewery serves its homemade beers straight from the tap, making it a literal taproom!. With ten beers on sale, you can also find a range of freshly made snacks, meats and coffees made in-house before your very eyes."

"A huge, horseshoe-shaped centrepiece dominates the revamped double-height taproom, with tables all around and a mezzanine level above. You can sit outdoors too, for industrial-estate vibes – it’s part of the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Team your brews (choose from Shapeshifter, Juicebox and the best-selling Basecamp) with something from resident street-food van Oh My Dog!"

"Completely unshowy and without any hint of pretention, Fourpure has been making top quality beer in the most seemingly simple of locations. It’s already gaining a wider audience and their taproom is well worth a visit. It’s also worth mentioning their excellent blog which is great reading for people who love beer and life in general."

"You’ll love Columbia Road Flower Market for the vibrancy of colour and wonderful smells that permeate the neighbourhood on Sundays. Open from 8am till 3pm be sure to get there early for the freshest flowers but also arriving late on can grab you some bargains as sellers want to move stock, especially cut flowers, but beware of all stock selling out if you plan to arrive later in the day. Located on a historic street in the East End of London, the area springs up like an oasis in the concrete desert with all manner of plants from cut flowers to small bedding plants, to small and large trees."

"Get up early for the best selection at Columbia Road Flower Market. A street bursting with plants, shrubs, bulbs and trees, this market in London is a must-visit for its super-colourful displays and fragrant blooms. You can also pick up gardening accessories in this east London hotspot, and make sure to take home some of the gorgeous cut-flowers on offer."

"When you’re looking for a floral fix, Columbia Road Flower Market makes for a great day out. Just make sure to visit on a Sunday as it’s only open then. Best shot: take your pick from any of the colourful floral displays."

"Portobello Road is the jewel in Notting Hill – the world’s largest antiques market has retained its sense of charm and friendliness, even as the surrounding area has scaled the ladder of exclusivity. The market, which wends its way along the sinuous Portobello Road is actually five interconnecting markets – with separate sections for fresh produce, clothing, second hand goods, household stuff, a flea market and antiques. The antiques section, always sizable, really comes into its own on Saturdays – cementing Portobello’s position as one of the go-to Saturday markets in London."

"Located on a colourful street in Notting Hill, Portobello Road is the world’s largest antique market. The famous market has over 1,000 traders selling a huge range of amazing antiques and collectables. And for those who aren’t interested in antiques, the market (which runs Monday to Saturday) also has a variety of other traders selling clothes, jewellery, tourist nicknacks, household goods and plenty of food."

"There are lots of colourful streets around Notting Hill which make for wonderful pictures. Your best bet is to get off at Notting Hill Gate station and then walk towards (and along) Portobello Road. Another aesthetic place in London is on the other side of the city around Hillgate Place and Campden Hill Road."

"Kind of like the Borough Street Market but with a little more room to breathe and browse, Maltby Street Market is a favourite of both locals and visitors. I know it’s naughty to have favourites, but IMHO Maltby Street is pretty much the best street food market in London – it’s not too corporate, not too slick and the food is insanely good. My biggest recommendations are the steak frites at The Beefsteaks, the ridiculously decadent cheese toasties at The Cheese Truck and gyoza at Gyoza Guys."

"Tucked between railway arches and an architectural salvage lumberyard, Bermondsey’s Maltby Street Market is a hub for those who take their food seriously. Maltby sells everything from organic vegetables to the most decadent egg waffles, and also serves as the perfect pit stop during a day out in the area—the Textile Museum and White Cube Bermondsey are within a six-minute walk. View this post on Instagram"

"Found on Bermondsey’s Ropewalk, between the railway arches and the LASSCO salvage warehouse, this heaving strip of a market started taking shape in 2009. Back then, it was just coffee kings Monmouth cupping up for a couple of hours every Saturday. Now, it’s a proper institution, and the main contender to Borough Market’s crown."