Pasta is definitely one of those dishes that’s hard to resist, carbs and all. Die-hards like us think choosing between a salad and mac-and-cheese is a difficult decision to make.
With London teeming with choices, settling on a pasta place can be a much harder decision-making process.
So, let us put our pasta-loving palate and food-geeking experience to work for you!
Whether you’re a connoisseur or just plain hungry, go through our short list of the best places in London serving the much-loved dish. Because in the spirit of the humble pasta’s versatility, we considered varying tastes and budgets as well.
Buon Appetito!
How much does it cost to dine at a pasta place in London?
It costs around £11 to £30 to dine at a pasta place in London. The final cost depends on the restaurant, its location, and the type of pasta you’ll order.
How we chose the best pasta places in London
- Value for Money: We looked for places that balance quality with price, offering great flavors and portions at reasonable prices
- Location: We did some checking of the location and picked out pasta places within generally accessible districts.
- Menu: We paid attention to the menu for pasta variety, taste, and drink options. We also noted non-pasta options.
- Atmosphere: We observed the place’s atmosphere, taking into consideration different features, vibes, and unique points.
- Service: We’re keen on timely service, so we’ve noted hits and misses.
- Customer Review: We reached out to fellow customers and food geeks for their inputs to provide more genuine insights.
- Food Safety Ratings: We’re proud to say that all our restaurant choices have excellent food safety ratings of 5!
1. Ave Mario – Covent Garden
Address: 15 Henrietta St
Phone: 020 3659 8427
Opening hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – 12:00 PM to 3:45 PM , 4:45 PM to 10:30 PM
- Thursday to Friday – 12:00 PM to 3:45 PM , 4:45 PM to 10:45 PM
- Saturday – 11:00 PM to 3:30 PM , 5:00 PM to 10:45 PM
- Sunday – 11:00 PM to 3:30 PM , 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM
We treated ourselves to Ave Mario’s popular pasta, the La Gran carbonara. It was served inside a 4-kg pecorino wheel, along with the truffle pasta.
The wallop of flavour was really impressive, especially with the foam-topped Bellini.
The sprawling place was also something else. It has a splashy red and zebra stripe motif, gilded decor, and energetic atmosphere.
Its lively vibe perfectly matches the buzzing Covent Garden—‘gram-worthy indeed.
Despite the impeccable look and feel of the interior, the tight spaces can make moving a bit awkward. Additionally, the narrow tables contribute to the crowded atmosphere.
Nonetheless, we feel that our waiter’s attentiveness makes up for it. However, we found other customers less lucky than us.
There can be irregular service during busy nights, as we found out. Some diners had their orders mixed up, while the others next to us complained of late service.
We also chatted with fellow food enthusiasts. They also mentioned that while the food is superb, sometimes such service hits and misses happen.
Overall, we think this ristorante is perfect for date nights and BFF outings for its Instagrammable dishes and dizzying floor-to-ceiling shelf of drinks.
Atmosphere is perfect
Great food especially the beef and rocket starter. The atmosphere is perfect for a nice date. Staff were really helpful with advice regarding which dish to order which is always an added bonus. Price was reasonable so would definitely come again!
- Arsanti ., Google Review
Food was amazing!
Had by far one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in London. Visited with my long time friend I hadn’t seen for a while and Ave Mario was the best choice! The staff were so welcoming and so kind, their service was at top notch! The food was amazing too,
- Yeung Ju J., Google Review
2. The Cheese Wheel
Address: Camden Lock Market
Phone: 07965733733
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
For people on the go like us, the Cheese Wheel is heaven-sent. This little pasta stall in the middle of London whips out fettuccine made from scratch with a variety of generous topping options.
Tucked farther into Camden Market, this place nailed the flavour perfectly with its ragu. We enjoyed the sausage and pancetta toppings as well.
Vegetarian options like the sauteed wild mushroom and basil pesto were also delightful. Fellow customers making a beeline for food, just like us, agreed with us.
Digging into hot pasta while seated on the pavement truly enhances the street food experience.
On the downside, there can be quite a queue during busy times. There are also inconsistencies with the taste—sometimes it’s just right today, but the next week can be disappointing.
But given that you’d have the closest thing to authentic Italian food with the full cheese flavour—thanks to the 40kg Grana Padano wheel—without splurging, we’re all sold on the Cheese Wheel.
Food is really good
Authentic italian pasta in the middle of London. The owner is really charming, food is really good and flavorful. You can add topping of your choice.
- Milena G., Google Review
Tastes amazing!
This is a great place for fresh pasta. Cooked and cheeses up in a giant cheese wheel. The options are varied and it tastes amazing. Pasta is created fresh to order and then placed in the giant cheesy wheel.
- Rob C., Google Review
3. Al Dente – South Kensington
Address: 65 Old Brompton Rd, South Kensington
Opening hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 12:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 AM to 11:30 PM
Al Dente serves handmade pasta with flavours from different regions in Italy. Naturally, this got pasta aficionados like us curious.
We decided to pop in at the last minute, and we’re happy they were able to graciously accommodate us even without reservations. We liked the place’s simple yet cosy minimalist interiors and jazzy vibes.
The purist in us was relieved that their pasta lived up to their name, along with such variety—I counted 15 pasta dishes all in all. And that’s for a little over £10 per dish!
The flavours of the sauce did not disappoint as well. The ravioli’s buttermilk sauce was just creamy with an exquisite hint of sage.
The spaghetti had the right mix of tomato sour and sweet, plus a little garlicky. Other customers we interviewed sang our praises!
However, we experienced some service mishaps on one occasion. It took 30 minutes for the starters to be served. One customer we talked to didn’t have the mains either after 45 minutes!
But if you’re like us and you’re looking for a place where you can focus on the food while relaxing, this ristorante deserves your attention.
Truly excellent pasta
Delightful and cozy Italian restaurant with an open kitchen. Very friendly and attentive staff and truly excellent pasta. Highly recommended!
- Roland H., Google Review
Would love to visit again
One of the best pasta restaurants I’ve ever been. Carbonara is reallyyyyy good. The pesto one we ordered was delicious too. Would love to visit again to try other dishes!
- Ivy L., Google Review
4. Brutto
Address: 35-37 Greenhill Rents, Clerkenwell
Phone: 020 7625 7071
Business hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday – 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
If you’re craving penne with mouth-watering flavours, Brutto is the place to go—just like we did. It’s also just a five-minute walk to Farringdon station.
We weren’t disappointed by this simple trattoria that’s big on servings, flavour, and warm chatter. That’s right, the place is always packed with a lively atmosphere.
At nighttime, it can be romantic with dim lighting and candlelit tables.
Not only this, we found everything fairly priced, from the melt-in-your-mouth Tuscan beef shin to the rabbit pappardelle. And get this, part with your £5 for an excellent Negroni!
Brutto’s Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand award can vouch for that!
However, their limited menu choices can be a bit of a downer, with the menu being seasonally adjusted.
There were also some service flaws. One of the customers we interviewed hurried to finish their meal while another was transferred to another table in the middle of eating.
We learnt these seem to happen on several occasions for walk-ins, especially on busy days.
Still, we highly recommend reserving a table here for their vodka-spiked penne!
Warm and cozy!
This place is a gem! The Italian vibes hit you the minute you walk in – such a warm and cozy atmosphere. The staff? Superstars! Friendly, helpful, and efficient. There are also restaurant dogs walking around and looking for food, adding to…
- Kate D., Google Review
Food was fab!
Really lovely place to come for a date. Was served by a lovely girl called Georgie who was attentive and gave us great recommendations! All the food was fab and really enjoyed the atmosphere of dim lighting..
- Jas S., Google Reviews
5. Lina Stores Italian Restaurant & Deli – King’s Cross
Address: 20 Stable St.
Phone: 020 8103 4787
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 11:30 PM (last seating, 10:30 PM)
- Saturday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM (last seating, 10:30 PM)
75 years after its Soho debut, old-timer Lina Store’s latest addition sits right in a historic building behind Granary Square. This time, they went mint-green retro for the interior’s accent, which we think is just adorably nostalgic.
The food we tried hit the right notes, from the breakfast sourdough and espresso to the lunch antipasti and dinner spicy crab pasta. Pasta aficionados like us quiver at the array of staples like taglioni and pici.
What we loved most, though, was their extensive menu for the gluten-intolerant and vegans. Plus, they serve halal.
However, for such experienced restaurateurs, we can hardly believe service lapses. This includes inattentive staff, bland food, and delayed serving.
Many other food geeks we talked to had similar experiences as well. One customer we interviewed mentioned being short of shooed while having dessert.
But we think that in busy places like this, such unfortunate things happen. So, we’re all thumbs up for Lina Store’s dizzying choices of tasty Italian food and one-of-a-kind ambience.
Service is excellent!
We had a lovely dinner here! Food delicious and such kind service from Dylan – lovely atmosphere too and pretty decor!
- Ekta B., Google Review
Really good Italian food
The Place is so nice, Giuseppe is always ready to find a place in this good and busy restaurant and with a smile. The team is fast, efficient and kind. Dylan was our waiter and it was a pleasure. Food is really good Italian food.
- Patrizia Antonacci C., Google Review
