A guide to San Carlo restaurants across the UK

Swanky Knightsbridge always offers the thrill of a foreign city, even if you’re a lifelong Londoner: taking our seats in Cicchetti’s Venetian-inspired dining room felt so luxurious it made us wonder why we so often settle for bare brick, a chalkboard menu and a dangling bulb or two. Why, here you can ogle a polished marble bar, towering lilies in vases, lemons piled high in bowls, and burnished brass by the bucketload. There’s even a colourful mural across the whole of one wall. And look up: that’s your beaming reflection in the mirrored ceiling.

Found at the top of one of London's most popular department stores, Alto by San Carlo is one luxurious place for a post-shopping pitstop. The exclusive Italian restaurant boasts stylish interiors, with carefully manicured floral touches and a crisp colour scheme that transports you to the Med, along with a stunning al fresco terrace and bar that's buzzing in the warmer months.

If you're looking for an authentic Italian restaurant with a whole menu full of classic dishes, look no further. Signor Sassi's got you covered. From specials including arancini al tartufo nero (rice balls with black truffle and parmesan cheese) and the tagliolini al tartufo nero (homemade pasta with black truffle) to the classics like tricolour salad and spaghetti carbonara, you're truly spoilt for choice. What's more, the interiors make you feel like you've just stepped into a local Italian village.

Found right in the middle of Covent Garden, Cicchetti is a relaxed all-day restaurant offering a little slice of La Dolce Vita in one of London's busiest areas. The food philosophy is simple – dishes are cooked at the time of ordering using only the finest Italian produce. Oh, and the menu is updated seasonally to ensure everything tastes as fresh as possible. Order a bunch of them to share and get stuck into homemade pasta, seasonal produce and a plethora of refreshing drinks. And, thanks to its West End location, it's a top spot for pre-theatre dining. 

It’s always Fashion Week at Fumo. At least that’s how it feels: all buzz and beautiful people. Plus a smattering of tourists – it is on St Martin’s Lane, after all – looking pretty pleased with processions of chichi Italian sharing plates from this latest outpost of the San Carlo empire (Signor Sassi, Cicchetti etc).

Cicchetti (pronounced chi-ket-tee) are small snacks, designed to be shared and traditionally served in the bars of Venice. Think Italian tapas and you won't go far wrong. You might be familiar with this kind of food from London’s Polpo (and associated spin offs and imitations), but equally impressive Venetian delights are available in Manchester, at San Carlo Cicchetti.

This Italian restaurant on Piccadilly channels Venetian vibes through its relaxing interiors in dusty blue and orange hues, alongside large expanses of marble. Taking inspiration from the traditional culinary tradition, San Carlo Cicchetti serves small plates designed to share and enjoy alone.

Menus come inspired by seasonal flavours, including staple pasta and pizza dishes, with grilled goods adding an extra sense of luxury. Pair your dish with a fine wine from the long list of bottles, alongside plenty more refreshing drinks.

Fumo's chintzy interior may be what draws in the custom of footballers and Corrie stars, but here it's more so the food that deserves a song of praise. With a menu spanning breads and nibbles, fritto, carpaccio and tartare dishes, pasta, pizza, meat and fish, you're best off trying out something from each area to create a shareable spread of delicious Italian cicchetti-style dining.

The porcini pappardelle is a genuine feat (even if ours did come with a few rogue strands of spaghetti), with silky, al dente ribbons lapping up their rich, nutty sauce. Elsewhere on the menu highlights include the decently priced broad bean bruschetta, the delicate and delectable octopus salad and the Italian sausage served on a bed of plump beans.

The cocktail list is good, though at the time of launching there was a strong negroni menu courtesy of Manchester drinks maverick Jamie Jones, which seems to have been booted out by a baffling tiki menu as the summer months crept forward. 

Service is abrupt and not always as attentive as it perhaps should be, but is by no means unpleasant - if anything, the brash approach works well to break up the stuffiness of the plush space. Just don't be surprised if sometimes your dishes get forgotten or take forever to arrive, and for the smiley Italian response to simply be, 'It will come!'

Expect to pay £50-£60 for a meal for two including five to six small plates and a bottle of house plonk.

Located inside Manchester's Selfridges store, the San Carlo Bottega offers panoramic city views, where its floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the historic Corn Exchange and the pre-19th-century buildings of Shamles Square.

On the menu, cicchetti-style dishes take the forefront with Italian flavours and dishes designed for sharing throughout. A popular spot for a group dinner, it's also a great place for a quick bite to eat or a tipple or two.

If you fancy dining with the stars, look no further than San Carlo. It’s long been the favourite haunt of many a celebrity, something they’re clearly proud of as photos of famous guests adorn the walls.

The highly successful San Carlo Group started life in Birmingham back in 1992, and continues to enjoy its reputation as one of the best restaurants in the city. After two decades, the glamorous Italian establishment has become a firm favourite.