Before jetting off to Tuscany next week, I did the only sensible thing: booked a table at the closest thing London has to Florence — Cantinetta Antinori. Nestled in Knightsbridge like a finely aged Brunello in a wine fridge, it delivered a night so rich in Tuscan charm and elegance, I’m half convinced I’ve already started my trip. Passport not required—just an appetite and a loose waistband.
When Hospitality Feels Like Home
From the moment we stepped through the door, the team made us feel like long-lost cousins returning for a Saturday dinner. The welcome wasn’t just warm—it was golden. Everyone greeted us like regulars—even though it was our first visit. The friendly glances and soft laughter from nearby tables created an atmosphere that can only be described as genuinely heartwarming. The space? Relaxed yet refined, like a Florentine parlour dressed for modern London—with deep sapphire walls, plush coral seating, and gold flourishes that whisper quiet luxury.
Food That Whispers Tuscany in Every Bite
Let’s talk about the food. Simple, elegant, and honest—exactly what you want from a menu inspired by the rolling hills of Chianti. Every dish had intention. You could taste the story behind it. No flashy tricks. Just premium ingredients, handled with care and respect.
Highlights?
- Crudo di Ricciola Tartufato – yellowtail sashimi with truffle. Raw fish and truffle shouldn’t work. But here, it did. Like George Clooney in a leather jacket—cool, smooth, and slightly indulgent. The umami, the silkiness, the earthy lift of the truffle—it was a lesson in flavour harmony.
- Vitello Tonnato – a dish so good it made us fall silent. That’s rare. The veal was so tender it practically sighed under the fork. The tuna and caper sauce was rich, yet perfectly balanced.
- Cannelloni with White Veal Ragu – a tender tube of pasta brimming with joy, wild mushroom, and a decadent white veal ragu, finished with a generous snowfall of shaved truffle. It made me consider cancelling my Tuscany trip and just camping outside the restaurant. The cannelloni was hand-rolled, baked to golden perfection, and the filling was pure luxury—rich, savoury, and deeply comforting. This wasn’t just pasta—it was poetry.
- Sea Bream with Salmoriglio – The whole sea bream arrived as a perfectly cooked filleted fish, delicate and gleaming. It fell apart under your fork, the hallmark of precision and care in the kitchen. Without the distraction of skin, the focus remained on the purity of the fish—moist, flaky, and subtly sweet. The salmoriglio brought a refreshing lift to the dish without stealing the spotlight, allowing the sea bream’s flavour to shine with quiet confidence.
- And then… the gelato. Served with Amarena cherries and other heavenly toppings. Best gelato I’ve ever had—and I’ve had it in Italy. The texture was pure silk. The toppings? A choose-your-own-adventure for the sweet-toothed.
Add in the homemade focaccia, dipped in golden-green olive oil so good it could be bottled as a small-batch Tuscan elixir, and you’ve got a meal that’s not just food—it’s an edible postcard from Tuscany.
Wine Flight of Fancy
Our sommelier, Nicola Di Giuseppe, was a virtuoso. Like a jazz pianist who knows when to hit the soft notes, he guided us through an Antinori wine flight that felt more like a crescendo than a course pairing.
- Brut Nature Franciacorta – a crisp overture. With ultra-fine bubbles and bone-dry finesse, this sparkling stunner set the tone beautifully. Notes of green apple, lemon peel, and crushed chalk danced on the palate, leaving a mouth-watering zing. An elegant start to a glorious evening.
- Pietrabianca – tropical whispers and mineral backbone. This wine brought a seductive perfume of pears, ripe peach, and passionfruit, tied together by a cooling thread of saline minerality. A silky texture glided across the tongue, supported by precise acidity.
- Botrosecco – a hug in a glass. Velvet-lined and quietly confident, it greeted us with ripe red berries, soft leather, and a brush of Mediterranean herbs. Its tannins were gentle but firm. This was the comfort wine of the night—bold, grounded, and satisfying.
- Tignanello – the rock star. Rich, layered, unforgettable. It opened with dark cherries, cedar, tobacco, and a hint of warm spice. The texture was polished yet powerful, its finish long and graceful. A true icon that reminded us why Super Tuscans changed the game.
Every pour was a reminder that Marchesi Antinori isn’t just a winemaker—it’s a dynasty. And with Nicola’s storytelling, each bottle became a chapter in a tale of tradition, innovation, and timeless elegance.
A Toast to Tuscan Legacy
If you’ve never heard of the Antinori family, allow me to catch you up. They’ve been producing wine since 1385. That’s not a typo. That’s 26 generations of winemaking excellence. Their iconic label, Tignanello, revolutionised the wine world, putting Tuscany back on the global stage and thumbing its nose at old rules with spectacular results. This is a family who risked everything—including using their Renaissance-era palazzo as collateral—to buy back control of their brand.
Under the stewardship of Albiera, Allegra, and Alessia Antinori, the family now runs not just vineyards but also high-end restaurants, making Tuscan heritage both drinkable and edible. Their global hospitality vision is rooted in sharing the Antinori story, one glass and one plate at a time. The sisters are hands-on, creative, and deeply respectful of the family’s legacy while charting a modern path.
It’s not just a business—it’s a lifestyle. One that includes wine, food, architecture, art, and a pursuit of excellence.
London’s Tuscan Treasure
Cantinetta Antinori in Knightsbridge opened in 2023 and feels like stepping into a Florentine dream—all terracotta tones, brass flourishes, and warm light. It’s elegant without being flashy. Charming without being twee. And every inch of it whispers: “relax, you’re in good hands.”
From the service to the soundtrack, everything was perfectly tuned to help the wine shine and the food sing. Even the olive oil—from their Pèppoli estate, naturally—was a thing of beauty. You find yourself dipping the bread again and again just to prolong the experience. The attention to detail is palpable—from the way the glasses are polished to the way the plates are paced. Nothing is rushed. Everything is curated.
By the end of the meal, I didn’t just feel full. I felt connected—to a culture, a legacy, and a way of life. Tuscany may still be calling, but Cantinetta Antinori London gave me one hell of a prelude. It’s the kind of place that lingers in your senses long after you’ve left.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a suitcase to pack… and a second reservation to make. Because this isn’t just dinner. It’s a warm-up act for something magical—and who says you can’t enjoy the encore first? My only regret? Not ordering two desserts. Rookie mistake.
Visit https://cantinetta-antinori.uk/ for more information
