If you’re on the hunt for the best bowl of pasta or Veal Milanese, the Michelin Guide has recommended several top restaurants dotted around London. And you’ll find six of them in east London.

Shad Thames near Tower Bridge, Canonbury, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch and Borough Market are home to some of the best Italian restaurants in the capital, as are Marylebone and Mayfair.

From the crisp white linen affairs, to the cosy neighbourhood trattorias and understated venues, here are the best Italian restaurants in London, as recommended by the Michelin Guide.

1 Legare, Shad Thames

A neighbourhood Italian restaurant tucked away on the charming Shad Thames cobbles in the shadow of Tower Bridge, Legare is unfussy and hip. Set up by Jay Patel (ex-Barrafina and Koya) and head chef Matt Beardmore (ex-Trullo) the restaurant has earned a Bid Gourmand for its compact menu of fresh pasta and seasonal small plates.

What Michelin said: This cosy, bijoux spot is simple in style and run with palpable pride; dishes are lovingly cooked to order and the friendly team provide attentive service.

Address: 31 Shad Thames, Tower Bridge, SE1 2YR

Website: Cardamom Building, 31 Shad Thames, Tower Bridge SE1 2YR

2 Luca, Clerkenwell

The second venture from The Clove Club team, this elegant trettoria earned its first Michelin Star this year. Pasta dishes sit side by side roast Orkney scallops, lamb with caponata, and coal-cooked aubergine with smoked datterini, chickpeas and farinata.

What Michelin said: An elegant restaurant that instantly puts you at ease on arrival, this is one of the lovelier places to enjoy Italian cooking in London.

Address: 88 St John Street, Clerkenwell EC1M 4EH

Website: luca.restaurant

3 Brutto, Clerkenwell

This Big Gourmand Florentine-style trattoria oozes charisma. It comes with nostalgic and laidback interiors and its hearty menu is divided into pastas, salads, antipasti and meaty dishes of the likes of pork and fennel sausages, beef brisket and Florentine T-bone steak.

What Michelin said: The staff are friendly, the atmosphere’s buzzing, and the great value menu of authentic Tuscan favourites offers everything from penne with tomato and vodka to some seriously-sized steaks

Address: 5-37 Greenhill Rents, Clerkenwell EC1M 6BN

Website: brutto.co.uk

4 Manteca, Shoreditch

A nose to tail restaurant with Italian flair, meat is butchered and cured in house, while the pasta is hand-rolled and bread is wood fire-baked. Come here for the likes of pig head fritti, strozzapreti with brown crab, whole wood roasted fish or pig skin ragu.

What Michelin said: The staff at this appealing, contemporary restaurant are lovely, the Italian menu offers something for everyone, prices are more than fair and the cooking is bold and satisfying.

Address: 49-51 Curtain Road, Shoreditch EC2A 3PT

Website: mantecarestaurant.co.uk

5 Trullo, Canonbury

A warm, affable trettoria receives nothing but praise for its homely, inviting atmosphere and daily changing menu that is short but well considered. The restaurant has recently expanded, opening a wine bar next door.

What Michelin said: This neighbourhood restaurant boasts a relaxed, homely atmosphere, charming service and delicious, great value Italian food. Add in moreish puddings and an all-Italian wine list and you’ll see why this is somewhere you’ll want to come back to time and time again.

Address: 300-302 St Paul’s Road, Canonbury N1 2LH

Website: trullorestaurant.com

6 Locanda Locatelli, Marylebone

An elegant restaurant with one Michelin star, Loconda Locatelli is a venue for special occasions. Youll find the likes of linguine lobster, calf’s foot salad, and roast lemon chicken on the menu, as well as a selection of vegan options.

What Michelin said: Restaurants come and go but the luxury and warmth of this long-standing Michelin-Starred favourite – along with its accomplished Italian cooking – ensure it remains as popular as ever.

Address: 8 Seymour Street, Marylebone, W1H 7JZ

Website: locandalocatelli.com

7 Murano, Mayfair

Earning her stripes in Gordon Ramsay’s kitchen, Angela Hartnett MBE opened fine-dining Murano with her former boss before buying him out.  With in four months of opening, Murano won a Michelin Star and four AA Rosettes followed.

What Michelin said: Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-Starred flagship in the heart of Mayfair bears witness to the passion for Italian cooking inspired in her by her mother and grandmother.

Address: 20 Queen Street Mayfair, W1J 5PP

Website: muranolondon.com

8 Padella, Borough Market

Another unfussy but stylish restaurant, Bib Gourmand Padella is an unpretentious pasta bar by the guys behind Trullo. Come here for handmade pastas and a good selection of sauces, such as ravioli with Delica pumpkin and Westcombe ricotta and sage butter, or tagliarini with Dorset crab, lemon and chilli. No bookings, and there’s also another location in Shoreditch.

What Michelin said: Sauces and fillings are inspired by the owners’ trips to Italy, and prices are extremely pleasing to the pocket. Fast and friendly service completes the picture.

Address: 6 Southwark Street, Borough Market, Southwark SE1 1TQ

Website: padella.co

9 River Café, Hammersmith

An iconic west London haunt, River Café has been serving earthy yet refined dishes since 1987. From its humble beginnings as an architecture firm canteen, the restaurant now plates up the likes of chargrilled Cornish monkfish and Longhorn beef sirloin which come with a sizeable price tag. The venue also has a terrace which overlooks the Thames.

What Michelin said: The simple, produce-led cooking is thoroughly Italian in spirit and delivers on authentic Italian flavours thanks to the quality of the base ingredients. The atmosphere is as good as ever and it remains one of London’s best restaurants for celebrity-spotting.

Address: Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, Hammersmith and Fulham W6 9HA

Website: rivercafe.co.uk

For more information visit https://guide.michelin.com/gb/en/best-of/the-best-italian-restaurants-in-london