10 Best Italian restaurants in London Kensington

South Kensington has no shortage of Italian restaurants, which is hardly surprising given how popular Italian food remains. According to an international YouGov survey, Italian food was the most popular cuisine across the countries surveyed, with 91% of British respondents who had tried it saying they liked it. The strongest local options are not all trying to do the same thing. Some are long-standing family-run dining rooms with real local roots, while others are more polished neighbourhood spots suited to slower weekend lunches, smart dinners, or meals after a day around the museums. 

Staying at Fraser Suites Queens Gate puts you within easy reach of both. Fraser Suites Queens Gate offers long-stay serviced apartments in Kensington, with fully equipped kitchens, spacious living and dining areas, and layouts designed for longer visits, relocations, and extended business stays.That matters because good local dining becomes more useful the longer you stay. If you are looking for Italian restaurants near the museums, close to the station or within easy reach of the high street, these are ten places worth knowing.

Italian restaurants in South Kensington and nearby Kensington

From classic family-run dining rooms to more polished spots near Kensington High Street, South Kensington gives you plenty of choice when you want Italian food nearby. These are the restaurants most worth knowing if you are staying close to Fraser Suites Queens Gate and want somewhere genuinely useful for lunch, dinner, or an easy local favourite you can return to.

1. Il Portico

Address: 277 Kensington High Street, London W8 6NA

Average Price: Around £45–£60 per person. 

If you want one of the area’s best-known Italian names, start with Il Portico. The restaurant describes itself as London’s oldest family-run Italian restaurant and has been serving regional Italian food since the 1960s. That long history gives it a very different feel from newer openings nearby, and it remains one of the strongest picks if you want somewhere with proper local roots on Kensington High Street.

This is the kind of place that works well when you want a meal that feels established rather than fashionable. It is especially useful if you are staying in Kensington and want a classic Italian restaurant with a strong local identity.

2. Cibo

Address: 3 Russell Gardens, London W14 8EZ

Average Price: Around £30–£49 per person.

Cibo is a good choice if you want a polished Italian restaurant within easy reach of South Kensington and Kensington Olympia. Its official site is current and still lists the Russell Gardens address, and it works especially well if you want a slightly smarter dinner without going too formal.

It is one of the better options on this list for a dinner that feels a little more refined, whether that is a date night, a business meal, or simply an evening where you want something beyond a quick plate of pasta.

3. La Fortuna

Address: 32 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4HA

Average Price: Around £40 per person.

La Fortuna is one of the more appealing family-run options in Kensington, especially if you want something that feels neighbourhood-led rather than overly polished. Its own site describes it as a family-run restaurant on Kensington Church Street near Kensington Gardens, which makes it a good fit for a relaxed lunch or dinner when you want something comfortable and local. This is a useful pick if you want a meal that feels warm and familiar rather than occasion-led.

4. Locanda Ottoemezzo

Address: 2–4 Thackeray Street, London W8 5ET

Average Price: Around £50–£65 per person.

Tucked away in Kensington, Locanda Ottoemezzo works well if you want a more understated Italian meal away from the busiest main roads. The restaurant’s own site places it on Thackeray Street in the heart of Kensington, and it tends to suit slower dinners or occasions where you want something a little more composed than a quick pasta stop.

It is one of the stronger options on the list if you want somewhere quieter and a little more polished without slipping into anything overly formal.

5. Maria G’s

Address: Coe House, 2–4 Warwick Lane, Kensington, London W14 8FN

Average Price: Around £30–£45 per person

Maria G’s is one of the stronger newer neighbourhood options in this list because it is clearly set up as a local brasserie and bar rather than a tourist stop. Its Kensington page confirms the Warwick Lane address, and it works well for guests staying around Fraser Suites Queens Gate who want an Italian-leaning dinner spot that still feels tied to the area.

6. Edera

Address: 148 Holland Park Avenue, London W11 4UE

Average Price: Around £45–£60 per person.

For something more intimate just beyond Kensington towards Holland Park, Edera is worth considering. Its official site highlights Sardinian influence, warm hospitality, and a more relaxed style of dining, which gives it a slightly different tone from some of the grander or busier Italian restaurants nearby.

7. Jacuzzi

Address: 94 Kensington High Street, London W8 4SH

Average Price: Around £35–£55 per person

If you want something bigger, livelier, and more theatrical, Jacuzzi is one of the most talked-about Italian restaurants in the area. Its official site places it on Kensington High Street, and it works well if you want dinner somewhere more dramatic after a day around South Kensington or the museums.

This one is especially useful for the Kensington High Street restaurants Italian angle because it gives the article a clear, current, higher-energy option in that part of the neighbourhood.

8. Da Mario

Enjoy seasonal flavours and modern interpretation of classic dishes at Enoteca Rosso, one of the most popular Italian restaurants in Kensington. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available.

Address: 15 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4PP

Average Price: Around £25–£40 per person.

Da Mario is one of the most recognisable Italian names near South Kensington and Gloucester Road. Its current site confirms the Gloucester Road address, and it remains a strong local option if you want classic Italian food in a part of west London that attracts both residents and museum visitors.

For readers specifically searching for Italian restaurants near South Kensington, this is one of the most relevant places on the list.

9. Rocca di Papa

Address: 73 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3JS

Average Price: Around £25–£40 per person

If your search is specifically for an Italian restaurant in South Kensington, Rocca di Papa is one of the clearest fits. Its own site describes the restaurant as a local favourite on Old Brompton Road, a short walk from South Kensington station and the major museums.

It is a useful choice when you want something informal, central, and clearly tied to the South Kensington area rather than further west into Kensington proper

10. Pierino

Address: 37 Thurloe Place, South Kensington, London SW7 2HP

Average Price: Around £30–£45 per person

Pierino is another strong South Kensington option that feels more local and family-run than many of the bigger names. Its official site describes it as a family-run Italian restaurant in the heart of South Kensington, open daily and centred on classic dishes rather than trend-led presentation. 

That makes it a good final pick if you want something more relaxed and welcoming, especially for a dependable lunch or dinner close to the museums and station.

Where to Stay in Kensington for the best dining options

With serviced apartment accommodation in South Kensington, Fraser Suites Queens Gate works well for guests who want to explore the neighbourhood properly rather than rush through it. Set just a short walk from Gloucester Road Underground Station, the residence places guests within easy reach of local restaurants, shops, museums and green spaces, including the Natural History Museum, the V&A and Hyde Park.

That is especially useful on longer stays, when having strong local dining options close by makes everyday life in London much easier. Fraser Suites Queens Gate offers a selection of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom serviced apartments, each with a kitchen and comfortable living area, combining the independence of apartment living with the convenience of hotel-style services. Guests can also make use of facilities such as high-speed Wi-Fi, concierge support, a fitness suite, laundry services and co-working space.

Whether you are looking for the best Italian restaurants in South Kensington, planning dinner near Kensington High Street, or simply trying to find good local places to eat during your stay, being based nearby makes it easier to enjoy the area at its own pace.