Top Best Italian Restaurants in South Bank

"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."

"The River Cafe is an institution and one of the best restaurants in London. Set against the backdrop of the Thames, it has one of the most coveted terraces as it is, and having been shut for months, it's already booked out for quite some time. You may have to wait to get a table, but it'll be worth it for Ruth Rogers' famously excellent Italian cooking."

"Read the full review: The River CaféThames Wharf, Rainville Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 9HAA true classic, River Café still pulls in the crowds more than 30 years after its debut. Eye-watering prices may be off-putting, but that seductive riverside terrace and the decadent likes of the chocolate nemesis make it all worth it."

"Trullo’s elegant dining room and simple, seasonal food, marks it out both as one London’s best Italian restaurants and one of the city’s finest neighbourhood restaurants. Dark wood, low lighting, white table cloths, and just-put-it-on-the-plate plating characterise it as decidedly anti-Instagram. Trullo’s spiritual parents are the two most important restaurants of a generation: the River Cafe and St. John, so dishes marry Italian traditions with British (and Italian) ingredients — fashioned into delicious antipasti, fresh pastas and secondi, dishes which often do a little time on the charcoal grill."

"Highbury Corner restaurant Trullo is a real gem, displaying with prominence the from-the-heart style of cooking that Italy is known for. In fact, you'll probably see the chef (glass of wine in hand) carefully dishing up plates of food at the open kitchen as you tuck into specialities including meat and fish from the charcoal grill and gutsy freshly-made pastas. Expect to pay around £10 for starters and £20 for mains."

"Steeped in fine Italian traditions, Trullo will make you forget you’re in North London and think you’ve been whisked away to Italy. It’s well-known for its delicious pasta dishes and is easily one of the best Italian restaurants in Islington. The settings are light and bright, providing the perfect spot to dine in, whether you’re enjoying a lite lunch or heading there for dinner with a date."

"London may not seem like one of those cities that are synonymous with great pizza, but Homeslice seeks to change that. Serving up a selection of hearty pies (or slices!), Homeslice also offers vegan opions. The Covent Garden (Neal's Yard) location in particular is close to great shopping, so after a day of retail therapy, stop in for a delicious slice."

"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."

"Proving pizza can be just as delicious without the cheese is Homeslice, one of London’s best pizza joints. Plant-based options include a mushroom number with chilli flakes and a soy truffle glaze, plus the ‘Ndontja, topped with tenderstem broccoli, vegan mozzarella and vegan ‘Nduja. Various locations.homeslicepizza.co.uk"

"In a nutshell: All day Italian with a destination bar Where is it?. 9 Seymour Street, London W1H 5BT Why should you care?. This new Covent Garden Italian sees top chef Paul Robinson inspired by Northern Italy, from the nduja pizzas for breakfast through to hand rolled pasta for dinner."

"This is the first restaurant in London to use purified seawater instead of salt, 'O Ver claims its dough is lighter and actually good for you... What to expect: Originally a street stall in Naples, 'O Ver, meaning "truth" in the local dialect, prides itself on authenticity. What 'O Ver boasts in height (four-meter ceilings) it lacks in capacity."

"Head down to fire and stone, whether you are in a large or regular group, and you can have some delicious pizzas. Just a stone's throw from Covent Garden's theatres, they have an impressive menu, including pizzas from cities all over the world: from Casablanca to Mumbai."

"Fire and Stone has loads of vegetarian dishes for any discerning non-meat eater. Their pasta and salad dishes are an obvious choice, but feast on one of their global pizzas – inspired by cities from around the globe – and you're in for a real treat."

"A wild green space in the heart of King’s Cross, run by the London Wildlife Trust as an urban nature reserve for birds, butterflies, bats and a wide variety of plant life. Come here for peaceful walks in the wetlands, woodlands and meadow, but for an extra dose of tranquillity, spend some time on the newly added floating platform – part island/part hideaway – which offers close up views of both the canal and the park. The park is temporarily closed, but will re-open in Spring 2019."

"Made up of two lakes surrounded by marshland and filled with all manner of toads, frogs, newts, birds and dragon flies, try one of the many organised activities such as pond dipping, bird watching, close-up observation and sketching of pond invertebrates. For those who want to help the environment, get involved in the Wednesday and Saturday conservation workshops. Thames Park, John Harrison Way, SE10 OQZ, greenwichecologypark.com"

"It's not often can you have pancakes under the same roof as a spa offering manicures, blow-dries, express glow facials and massages. But that’s exactly that kind of luxury treatment on offer at London’s recently-opened Linnaean. As well as offering some of the finest beauty treatments in the capital (it’s interiors alone are enough to have your Instagram feed sorted for weeks), Linnaean’s restaurant offers a plant-rich menu including a variety of vegan and gluten-free pancakes."

"South London’s answer to Instagrammable restaurants is Linnaean: a health-focused café, apothecary and beauty salon named after Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. Located in the heart of London’s Embassy Gardens, Linnaean is a beautiful space, with a very Instagram-friendly flower ceiling, hanging lights and pastel pink bar seats, alongside an equally pretty – and delicious – food offering. Afterwards, pop into the salon for a treatment for a long-awaited self-care day."

"One of London's prettiest restaurants, The Linnaean Cafe is a pastel-hued, floral-clad beauty in Battersea. With biodynamic wines and a range of brunch, lunch and dinner menus filled with mouthwatering vegan dishes, this place is sure to please."

"Scottish skincare brand ishga, which draws on natural ingredients from the Hebridean islands such as hand-harvested seaweed, has launched a three-month residency at the Bamford Wellness Spa in Knightsbridge with two deeply nourishing 90-minute holistic treatments. Go for the ishga Immune Boosting Ritual to revitalise the body after a year of WFH. The treatment begins with a hydrating sea salt and oil scrub, followed by either a 60-minute full-body massage, hot stone massage or ishga hot poultice massage."

"The Berkeley Hotel‘s latest show-stopping suite is the Opus Suite, designed by Andre Fu. With over 3,000 square feet of space and 270 degree views of Hyde Park and Knightsbridge, the Opus suite is truly spectacular. The beautifully designed room feels stylish and homely and you’ll want to linger all day in the living salon next to the fire place."

"A luxury hotel spa that's home to a magnificent rooftop pool. The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7RL. Tube: Hyde Park Corner Station , Knightsbridge Station"