Cantinetta Antinori

The Antinori wine business is one of the oldest family businesses in the world, and that gives you some idea of the tradition and heritage you’re stepping into when you cross the threshold into Cantinetta Antinori. Knightsbridge can be a tad soulless, but the family has done a tremendous job in carving this tiny corner of west London into a welcoming slice of Tuscany. Although glamorous and upmarket, Cantinetta Antinori still feels homely and warm. The royal blue fleur de lis wallpaper and dark timber has a cosseting effect, shielding you from busy Knightsbridge just beyond, as staff in cream waistcoats attend to your every need.

The menu is classic, sticking to tried and tested principles of Italian dining that will leave visitors feeling safe and secure. Yes, there’s a burrata with rocket among the antipasti, plenty of focaccia and olive oil, familiar pasta dishes and plates of salumi. Cantinetta’s focus is on high quality produce and there can be no question of that - the aforementioned olive oil is rich and grassy, and we could happily spend an afternoon with that and a bowl of focaccia. Such is the greatness of simple Italian food.

There are some excellent things worth searching out on the menu, chief among them a plate of sublime cured Wagyu ribeye. At £20 for five slices it’s not cheap, but it’s uniquely delicious - something that can’t be said for most of the Wagyu on offer across London.

That Wagyu is the most surprising thing on the menu though, and the rest is typically well executed for a steep price, though not unusually steep in this part of town. Pappardelle with veal ragu is everything it should be - the pasta has the slightest bite to it, and the ragu is rich, meaty and sticky. There’s beautiful beef carpaccio which disappears all too quickly among slivers of Parmigiano. The only misstep was a veal fillet escalope, which felt somewhat bullied by an astringent lemon sauce. On all other fronts though, Cantinetta Antinori will deliver what most visitors in Knightsbridge are looking for - superb attentive service and well executed classic Italian cooking, not to mention an extraordinary wine list populated by one of the world’s pre-eminent wine making families.

Cantinetta Antinori has already taken its vision of Tuscan hospitality to Zurich, Vienna and Monaco, and now the UK capital is lucky enough to benefit, too.

Initially established in 1957, the original Cantinetta Antinori is based on the ground floor of the historic 15th century Palazzo Antinori in Florence. The London site draws influence from this, with an air of elegance reminiscent of aristocratic Old Florence. Taking over a three-storey building on Harriet Street, its design comes courtesy of architects Humbert & Poyet and ArchFlorence, who worked with Tuscan artisans on features such as wood boiserie on the walls and brass leaves which adorn the counter.

Cantinetta Antinori offers an all-day traditional Tuscan menu, complemented by fine wines and live jazz music in the evenings. Stand-out dishes include prosciutto di Wagyu, a favourite of Riccardo Giraudi’s, and handmade cacio e pepe; crispy octopus with potato cream; and tiramisù served tableside - just like your Nonna would have made. 

Of course, the wine list is just as important as the food and spans a range of exclusive vintages which come from the Antinori's own family estates. For those who aren't quite as well versed in vino, though, the knowledgeable sommelier team is on hand to guide guests through choices and offer bespoke wine pairings from the extensive cellar.

Whether you fancy whiling the day away with a glass of wine and selecton of charcuterie, enjoying an espresso Italian style, or making use of the private dining room which can host parties of up to 10 people, Cantinetta Antinori is at your service. Plus, when the sun shines, there's nothing sweeter than an aperitivo out on the terrace. Bellissima!