What is truffle? It's the funghi we love splurging on: the mushroom-like treat that grows underground, in season between September and January. And if you're wondering where to find white or black truffle on your plate, you've come to the right place. With a plethora of innovative restaurants and fine dining haunts, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to the best truffle dishes London has to offer right now. From saucy spaghetti to crispy parmesan fries and dumplings, read on to find out how this seasonal ingredient is used in the city's top-notch eateries.
Wondering where to eat truffle in London? Nestled on the banks of the Grand Union Canal and filled with gorgeous hanging plants, Smith's Bar & Grill isn't just a beauty, it also whips up truffle beef tartare, elevated with capers, Tabasco, parsley, truffle shavings and a quail egg yolk. You can also get your hands on a tasty truffle tagliatelle, topped with shavings of parmesan, alongside asparagus with fried egg and truffle to start.
A wine bar in Battersea known for its boozy cheese boards, the plant-filled Aspen and Meursault also has a terrific truffle-laced salami if you're hoping to add a bit of luxe to your charcuterie spread. Heading here for brunch? There are also truffled eggs on toast topped with slabs of smoked salmon. These guys have won all sorts of awards for their drinks menu, sustainability and more, so you know you're in good hands here.
For the best truffle pizza in London, you can count on Pizza Pilgrims to come through with doughy delights. Their offering consists of traditional Neapolitan slices coated in a truffle ricotta base, which is loaded with mozzarella, sauteed mushrooms and parmesan. You can even swap the base out for a gluten-free option, and don't forget the moreish truffle dip for your crusts. Wondering where to get your hands on these delights? They've got venues everywhere from London Bridge to Camden and Victoria.
On the hunt for truffle fries in London? Get on down to Fitzrovia, where Vagabond Charlotte Street is slinging out just that alongside a menu of small plates, sharing boards and focaccia sandwiches. You can also get your hands on a spinach and ricotta arancini that's served with a truffle and parmesan bechamel sauce. Just make sure to pair your feast with a tipple from the extensive wine list too, at their venues in Victoria, Paddington, Battersea and beyond.
Located in the bustling heart of Soho, 40 Dean Street is a traditional, family-run Italian restaurant that's been around since 2009. The intimate space fronts a dark blue colour scheme with old-fashioned wooden benches and marble-topped tables, and their menu is to-die-for. Kick off with a fruity cocktail, before devouring a plate of ricotta ravioli, topped with a buttery sauce and fresh truffle shavings.
For some of the best truffle pasta restaurants in London, Pasta Remoli is a top-notch shout. Featuring a killer truffle and mushroom ravioli in a creamy white sauce, the venue also slings out homemade Italian desserts, scrumptious seafood and other tasty dishes. They've got locations in Ealing Broadway, Wembley Park and Bromley, so there are plenty of places to get your funghi fix.
An airy, sophisticated haunt located near St. Paul's Cathedral, Paternoster Tavern is a truffle lovers paradise. From smoked truffle mac 'n' cheese topped with arugula and parmesan salad to truffled scrambled egg and smoked salmon on sourdough toast paired with fine wines and delicious cocktails, they've got some of the best eats in town. What's more, they've got a second venue in Adam's Court as well.
Well-known restaurant Sale e Pepe in Knightsbridge isn't just bringing us one or two truffle dishes this season, they've got an entire menu dedicated to it. Their limited-edition tartufo bianco menu showcases the Piedmontese delicacy in all its Italian dishes, designed to be shared among the table.
Kick off with traditional antipasti such as beef carpaccio or burrata caprese, all served with shavings of truffle. For mains, you'll find everything from grilled USDA prime rib eye to mushroom risotto with parmesan and white truffle.
Voted the best luxury restaurant of 2023 in the British Restaurant Awards, Bocconcino is a top choice for fine dining in either Mayfair or Soho. They've got a huge number of tasty truffled treats on their menu, ranging from homemade ravioli filled with prawns, seabass and black truffle to slow-cooked beef short rib with creamed truffle potatoes. They've also got a pizza that's loaded with the good stuff, and plenty of lip-smacking cocktails to pair with your dishes.
Discover where to eat truffles in London, and make your way over to Benares in Mayfair. A Michelin-starred fine dining Indian restaurant, the venue slings out a delicious portobello mushroom and truffle griddled kebab as an appetiser, topped with just a hint of white chocolate. They've got a number of tasty kormas, biryani and more to follow, to be enjoyed in their stylish dining room with a cocktail or two to wash it all down.
With a dedicated menu, Westminster's Mezzogiorno takes its truffles incredibly seriously. Legendary chef Francesco Mazzei serves up carpaccio di manzo, risotto carnaroli al ferrari e tartufo bianco, costoletta di vitello and zabaione al tartufo, all garnished with freshly shaved white truffle.
Elsewhere on the menu, you'll find dishes inspired by the southern regions of Italy, from Puglia to Sicily. Think delicate seafood, hearty homemade pastas and deliciously indulgent desserts.
If you're a fan of truffle season in London, then get ready for a fab dining experience at Roka. This high-end eatery has been around for 20 years, and their Mayfair location is the third in the city. Expect only the finest Japanese plates, alongside a list of creative concoctions and vino. Kick back with the yellowtail sashimi, paired with a yuzu-truffle dressing, mizuna and pickled vegetables. What's more, they've got a robata-grilled cobia with mushrooms and truffle sauce option here too.
Offering a menu of contemporary Italian and Japanese small plates in a unique fusion, May Fair Kitchen has lots of scrumptious truffle-based eats. Tuck into sumptuous pizzas or pasta with the fancy funghi sprinkled on top, or opt for a black pepper-crusted beef covered in shaved truffle and parmesan. And for a vegetarian option? They also serve chargrilled cabbage steak with jalapeno truffle butter. The interiors here are pretty enticing too, with black marble tables and low lighting.
Decked out in purple plush seating and beautiful centrepieces, STK is one of the best truffle restaurants in London - with locations in Covent Garden and Stratford. This stylish steakhouse has made quite a name for itself across the U.S., and Londoners have grown to love it too. You can enjoy a delicious truffled mac 'n' cheese on the side of your steak, or opt for a truffle butter on your dish instead. To wash it all down? Refreshing cocktails such as the spicy mule or a peach Henny spritz.
One of the best places for truffle pasta in London, Circolo Popolare is a gorgeous trattoria based on the Sicilian coast, part of the iconic Big Mamma Group. Decked out with pretty plants and string lights, the venue whips up signature Italian eats, such as their Nothing But The Truffle pizza and spaghetti served from a pecorino wheel. While they change the menu on a regular basis here, you can always rely on them for your fix of truffle.
Truffle season has officially landed, and you know Big Mamma aren't doing things by halves. Sourcing the precious ingredient straight from the heart of Italy's Apennino region, these beauties are as fresh as it gets. We're talking earthy black Uncinatum truffles and rare white ones from Umbria - the kind of delicate, heady aroma that makes you weak at the knees before your fork even hits the plate.
This year's hero dish taking centre stage at Barbarella, Jacuzzi and Carlotta is the Tagliolini al Tartufo Bianco - ribbons of fresh pasta coated in a creamy white truffle sauce, crowned with grated seasonal white truffle. Over at Barbarella, truffle dreams continue with exclusive Parmigiano Bombs. At Ave Mario, the Carpaccino di Manzo al Tartufo makes a comeback - wafer-thin beef carpaccio with rocket, mushroom mayo, Parmigiano flakes and a generous snowfall of truffle. And for those after something seriously indulgent, the Filetto alla Rossini (served at Jacuzzi and Barbarella) delivers beef fillet layered with chicken liver parfait, creamy mash, spinach, Marsala demi-glace and - naturally - the option to crown it with black truffle.
One of the most luxurious hotels around, The Goring can be found in Belgravia. Their Michelin-starred dining room was designed by Russell Sage Studio, with decadent interiors and a menu to match - changing on a seasonal basis. Kick off with a wild garlic velouté and smoked ricotta dumplings served with winter truffle, before moving on to everything from Beef Wellington to roasted halibut or lobster omelette.
The menu at Gloria changes on a monthly basis, but you can always count on there being truffle on the menu; they source their truffles from the Appennino region of Italy, primarly using the Uncinatum black truffles, though aromatic, rare white truffles are also available in their autumn dishes.
Sample dishes include the tagliolini al tartufo bianco, featuring fresh ribbons of tagliolini pasta in a creamy white truffle sauce, with plenty of freshly grated truffle on top too. The best part? If you order a sharing dish for two, it'll be prepared for you in a pecorino wheel table-side.
This Shoreditch gem from the Big Mamma Group promises quirky interiors filled with vibrant patterns and colours, paired with authentic Italian fare, making it perfect for intimate date nights and group dinners with friends.
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This charming neighbourhood Italian restaurant can be found in Belgravia, with gorgeous, modern interiors and an all-day menu. While there's plenty of tasty eats up for grabs at dinner time, it's the brunch menu that's all about truffle. Their pizza al tartufo features mushrooms and black truffle, and you can even enjoy three courses for £45 from this selection - with cracking cocktails to match.
With venues in Piccadilly, Fitzrovia, Tower Bridge and beyond, Gaucho is a classy joint that's known for its sustainable cuts of Argentinian steak. Their interiors are always low lit and super sultry, perfect for date night, with a cracking list of wine and cocktails to boot. Order the truffle mac 'n' cheese to complement your beef perfectly, or if you're after a truffle burger in London, opt for the wagyu burger that's served with crispy fries and truffle mayonnaise.
You've heard of BYOB, but how about BYOT? From October onwards, Bocca Di Lupo in Soho is offering diners the chance to add truffle to any of the dishes on their menu. You're welcome to bring your own truffles from home, or head over the road to their sister gelateria, Gelupo, before the meal, where you can purchase fragrant white truffles. The restaurant will clean these for you before shaving them over a meal of your choosing.
If you're struggling to choose, chef and founder Jacob Kenedy has marked out several options on the menu that best suit the truffle flavour, including veal battuta; wild mushroom risotto with porcini or girolles; golden, yolk-rich tajarin- the Piedmontese name for tagliolini - tossed with butter, egg and Parmesan; or the beef steak tagliata.
Situated in Farringdon, Luca is a gorgeous Italian restaurant and the sister site to the well-known Clove Club in Shoreditch. Expect modern, stylish interiors and a menu made from seasonal British ingredients, having earned itself a Michelin star. Alongside a sumptuous four-course menu, they offer an a la carte selection that features a Scottish girolles ravioli, topped with black onion and Wiltshire truffle - yum.
Tucked behind Harrods, this stylish spot in Knightsbridge can always be counted on for stunning seasonal fare, and there are a number of sumptuous truffle dishes making their way on to the menu. First up is Harry's tagliolini, served as an antipasti with parmesan, cream and truffle. As for mains, choose between truffled chicken with a creamy mascarpone sauce or a hand-stretched pizza topped with wild mushrooms, gorgonzola, baby spinach and grated truffle.
Gourmet burger club is known for packing maximum flavour and high-quality ingredients between two buns to create a masterpiece – and they've got two new menu items that take things to the next level.
But the one we know you're interested in is the Black Forest Truffle – expect American cheese, caramelised onion, jalapeño and golden potato crisps with truffle aioli, all encased in a charcoal bun surrounding the restaurant's signature smashed aged Irish beef patty.
Corrigan's in Mayfair is one sophisticated spot, and their high-end British menu is always a treat, specialising in Game from across the UK and Ireland. They've got a number of private dining spaces, a chef's table and a main seating area that are all equally glamourous, and there are a number of different menus on offer too. Tuck into pumpkin and truffle tortellini from the a la carte offering, or choose the tasting menu for wild Shetland halibut topped with black winter truffle.
Found in the heart of Covent Garden, Luci is an elegant Italian restaurant combined with an all-day bakery and cafe. Expect high ceilings, stylish chandeliers and walls filled with Italian-inspired artwork, as well as plenty of refreshing spritz cocktails. Choose from Neapolitan pizzas topped with gorgonzola and fresh shavings of truffle, calzones filled with whipped truffle ricotta or add on summer truffle to a number of their pasta dishes.
If you thought London's obsession with Italian dining had peaked, think again, because Mayfair's Il Gattopardo is quietly (and very chicly) becoming the place for anyone with a soft spot for truffle-laden luxury. Tucked just off New Bond Street, this glamorous Italiano haven pairs old-school opulence with a playful modern spirit.
Il Gattopardo's Il Pranzo weekend sharing menu (a surprisingly accessible £58 per person) is a love letter to Italy's most decadent ingredient. Pillowy mozzarella dotted with basil pesto, golden calamari, sunrise-bright tomatoes… each plate feels like the warm-up act before the main truffle performance. The mezzi rigatoni Norma arrives with its earthy depth perfectly poised for that unmistakable shaved-truffle lift, while the Tagliata steak - pink in the middle and charred at the edges - becomes a whole different experience when kissed with its rich, truffle-friendly jus.
