Ritorno – best Italian restaurant and Aperitivo bar in London

Ritorno is London’s first authentic Aperitivo bar & Italian kitchen located on the King’s road.

Monday: 12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Tuesday: 12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Wednesday: 12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Thursday: 12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Friday: 12:00 PM - 12:30 AM
Saturday: 11:00 AM - 12:30 AM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Ritorno celebrates the elegant lifestyle of Milan where gathering to enjoy great food, complemented by fine wines and cocktails in chic yet informal surroundings, is central to the city’s way of life. On the perennially fashionable King’s Road in Chelsea, it takes guests on a journey around Italy with its menu of authentic small plates and exceptional cocktails, all made with exacting attention-to-detail using the finest, freshest Italian produce. All dishes are around starter size to allow for sociable family-style sharing, with a selection also available in a larger serving suitable as a main course for one or for the table. Guests can order as few or as many dishes as they wish, from a single plate to enjoy aperitivo-style with a cocktail to a banquet with friends.

The 80-cover lounge bar provides a destination for the well-heeled to enjoy the art of aperitivo with cocktails and fine wines, complemented by mouthwatering morsels of the very best Italian produce.

Head Barman Simone Francini and Chef Filippo Salzano (C.London), have collaborated to create a unique cocktail and food pairing experience using artisanal ingredients inspired by and sourced from across the Italian peninsula and surrounding islands.

Ritorno’s cocktail list is divided into three enticing sections: Aperitivo; Regional; and Ritorno Classic. Aperitivo cocktails include a selection of Spritz with soda or Prosecco, and Gin & Tonic for which guests can choose their preferred gin from Ritorno’s impressive selection. The bar team has reinterpreted this ‘essence of the land’ using high quality, traditionally-made ingredients to develop a unique cocktail experience.

Sardegna

The intensely fragrant cocktail is inspired by the island’s lush Mediterranean flora and the words of Nobel Prize winner and Sardinian native Grazia Deledda.

It features a vodka base shaken with Mirto Silvio Carta (a traditional botanical Sardinian liquor made from Juniper berries), in-house produced spicy blueberry syrup and lavender air.

Trentino

This cocktail is light and refreshing with an apple note. Apple is widely used in the cooking of Trentino, The additional of elderflower is also used to remind you the herbs and botanicals from the mountain.

Emilia Romagna

This cocktail has gathered some of the best produces from the region. It is made with Villa Zarri, a famous Italian brandy brand in the region, along with the well-known balsamic vinegar from Modena, and the cherry from Fabbri.

Milan Mule

Is Milan’s drink of the moment, and at Ritorno this light and refreshing vodka-based drink is given a makeover with homemade clementine and cinnamon syrup, Campari bitter, and ginger beer.

Conte Negroni

• VII Hills gin,
• Cocchi vermouth Rosso,
• Campari aged in a barrel washed with marsala,
• dehydrated orange

Every cocktail will provide a different and fully immersive sensory experience with scent, style, taste and service all carefully considered.

Head Barman Paolo

And no less attention has been paid to the food offering with over 40 small plates on the menu created using the highest quality and freshest produce. All bread and pastas are made daily in-house with organic, natural flours and even the mozzarella is made using the authentic Italian method but here in the UK to ensure it’s as fresh as possible. Classic Aperitivo dishes include Tagliolini di Ragù e Polpettine di Fassona, Guancia di Manzo con Polenta Morbida and Vitello Tonnato.

We have carefully studied every cocktail and dish combination to ensure they complement and enhance one another. Just like the cocktails, we have returned to the land to source the best possible ingredients and combine them in an innovative and exciting way.

Head Chef Filippo Salzano

Inspired by mid-century modern Italian design, Ritorno’s intimate interior has been carefully curated by Milanese interior designer Ingrid Nardilli. Handselected original 1950s and 60s pieces such as a large Sputnik lamp, original appliques and Murano glass are combined with bespoke decorations to create a sophisticated mix-and-match style. Iconic features include luxury Venetian brand Rubelli’s remarkable butterfly wall-covering from Wall&Deco and a sumptuous table inlaid with varying shades of shining silk velvets from the collection of Dedar, providing a focal point for restaurant’s 12-capacity subterranean private dining space; perfect for private gatherings, celebrations and tasting experiences.

With its' superb service and impressive cocktail menu, Ritorno is leading our list of best cocktail bars in London. And from 13th November until 28th February it will transform its terrace into an Alpine wonderland - "Campari Winter Terrace".