Giacco's

Oh, the appeal of an independent, local eatery. It’s the elusive dream of all Londoners to know a small place, not too crowded, with great food and friendly staff. The problem is, once word gets out, the whole city wants a piece and that is already the case with Giacco’s - a modern Italian and natural wine bar which opened in spring 2023 in Highbury.

It’s an Instagram heaven with a rich blue façade decorated with cool typography, a café curtain in the window and scallop-edged awning floating just above the heads of al fresco diners, who look effortlessly chic on minimalist furniture out front. Inside, the space is compact and stylishly pared-back, with natural tones, hanging plants and retro lighting.

Founded by a small group of friends with Italian heritage, the food menu keeps things simple with small sharing plates to start and fresh pastas for mains. A blackboard on the counter lets diners know about the daily dishes, which not only keeps things fresh but translates an intimate feel that comes through in the whole experience.

As the team are passionate about natural wine, we let them advise us on a gorgeous white pet nat, paired with Maldon rock oysters and a generous portion of soft, creamy burrata with grilled peaches, fresh green beans and toasted almonds, seasoned to perfection. Enjoying the simple pleasures is the order of the day here, and with a concentration on the best ingredients, dishes hit the spot.

Moving on, and you’ll find a curated selection of three to four pastas which change throughout the week. For us, the show stopper has to be the single, plate-filling ravioli parcel, filled with rich egg yolk, mushroom and truffle, finished with shavings of fresh black truffle atop. It’s a treat for the eyes and the taste buds; a great signature for this new opening to roll with. As a final note, the staff are fantastic – warm, enthusiastic, passionate and cool as hell, you’ll walk away wanting to copy their outfits just as much as their recipes.

Giacco’s is an independent, neighbourhood wine bar in Islington, which focuses on providing a careful selection of (mostly) Italian, low intervention wines, all sourced from other small, independent producers. Accompanying the wine is a fine selection of Italian delicacies, including charcuterie, cheeses, and more substantial dishes.

A collaboration between owners’ Leonardo and his partner Danilo, and the restaurateur Edy Piro, Giacco’s aims to be a more ‘grown-up’ eatery and watering-hole, with a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere. The interiors reflect this, with a large window letting in lots of natural light, bright wood tones, contemporary finishes, and a boast-worthy music playlist. This cosy space is ideal for an after-work tipple, or a weekend light bite with friends.

The owners are bona fide Italians, and they import the cheese and charcuterie specially from Tuscany and Trentino, ensuring truly authentic nibbles. The wines soon will also be all Italian, once the paperwork is all smoothed out. As for now, Giacco’s is more than making do with independent wine producers Tutto Wines and Vine Trail, having created a supreme selection of natural and sustainable drinks. When it comes to classic coffee, this is where co-founder Edy Piro comes in, who’s previous accomplishments include Terrone & Co coffee roasters, providing traditional Italian coffee, locally-made.

Uniquely, Giacco’s also hand-makes its own gelato, with experimental and exclusive flavours served up every day: think small batches of vegan chocolate ice cream. Other bites include creamy burrata with extra virgin olive oil and black pepper, artichoke hearts, and mortadella con pistacchio. More substantial dishes include beef ragu pappardelle, and whatever the frequent guest chefs champion in their supper clubs.

Of course, being a wine bar, it is the drinks that are the stars of the show. Expect to find a carefully curated list championing reds, whites, and everything in between. Aperitifs also include white vermouths and negronis, and soft drinks have a distinctly hip edge with their kombucha offerings. Whether you like wine or not, Giacco’s has something for everyone to enjoy.