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Sparrow Italia brings contemporary Italian dining to Avery Row in Mayfair, occupying a three-storey townhouse close to Bond Street. The London restaurant has a polished, social character, pairing an extensive Italian-inspired menu with cocktails, intimate dining spaces and a dedicated Cigar Lounge upstairs.
Dinner is the natural focus, with pasta, seafood and substantial cuts for sharing alongside smaller plates featuring truffle, wagyu and caviar. The combination feels particularly suited to celebratory dinners, dates and evenings that continue beyond the table.
Italian Dining with a Mayfair Address
Sparrow Italia describes its approach as Italian-inspired, with familiar dishes joined by premium ingredients and influences that extend beyond traditional Italian cooking.
Its Avery Row address places it among Mayfair’s restaurants, hotels, galleries and private members’ clubs, slightly removed from the busier stretches around Bond Street and Berkeley Square. Across three floors, dining rooms, bars and the Cigar Lounge allow different parts of the evening to unfold under one roof.
A Setting Designed for the Evening
Sparrow Italia has a glamorous, evening-led atmosphere that becomes livelier as dinner progresses. Its multi-level layout creates several distinct spaces rather than one expansive dining room.
The ground floor centres on a full-height bar, while the first floor introduces another marble bar, a skylight and an indoor garden. Upstairs, a more intimate dining space is arranged around an olive tree, with drapery softening the surroundings. The overall mood lends itself particularly well to dates, celebrations and group dinners.
Italian Cooking with a Contemporary Edge
The dinner menu moves through hot and cold starters, salads and pasta before reaching larger meat, seafood and poultry dishes. Italian foundations remain clear, while premium ingredients and occasional Japanese influences give parts of the menu a contemporary direction.
To Begin
Crispy Arancini combine wild mushroom risotto, Parmigiano and truffle aioli, while Pane al Tartufo pairs grilled focaccia with truffle ricotta, honey and Périgord truffle.
Elsewhere, Grilled Octopus comes with spicy baby potatoes, garlic crema and capers, and the Braised Meatball uses A5 wagyu with arrabbiata, basil and whipped ricotta. Bluefin Tuna Otoro is served simply with lemon, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and chives, while Hamachi introduces yuzu, citrus and Italian chilli.
Wagyu Carpaccio is accompanied by pickled seasonal mushrooms, pine nuts, umami aioli and shaved black truffle. Burrata di Andria offers a more familiar combination of Umbrian olive oil, chilli flakes and balsamic honey.
Pasta and Dishes for the Table
Pasta is one of the menu’s strongest areas, with several dishes intended for sharing. Mikey’s Spicy Rigatoni alla Vodka combines Belvedere 10 vodka with Calabrian chilli, Parmesan and basil, while Cacio e Pepe pairs tagliatelle with fresh pepper, Parmigiano and Pecorino.
Richer choices include Bone Marrow cappelletti with braised beef cheeks, roasted bone marrow, horseradish and Barolo reduction, and Penne Wagyu Bolognese finished with Pecorino and Calabrian chilli flakes. Lobster Acqua Pazza brings British Isles lobster together with linguine, lemon-parsley butter and toasted breadcrumbs.
Pistachio Pesto spaghetti provides a lighter alternative with Grana Padano, rocket and crushed pistachio, while Puttanesca combines tonnarelli with tomatoes, capers, Taggiasca olives and garlic.
Meat and Seafood
The Butcher’s Reserve introduces the restaurant’s larger cuts, including Kagoshima A5 Wagyu Ribeye and a substantial Prime Fiorentina designed for sharing. Filet Mignon and a Calabrian chilli-rubbed New York strip complete the core steak selection.
Beyond beef, Grilled Branzino comes with Sicilian pistachio, fine herbs and charred lemon. Monkfish Livornese is accompanied by veraci clams, tomato, cavolo nero and fish broth, while Veal Milanese arrives with rocket, cherry tomato and aged Parmesan.
Sides include truffle mash, crispy baby potatoes with Parmigiano and rosemary, sautéed spinach, polenta and broccolini.
Something Sweet
Desserts retain the Italian focus with a few playful additions. The Sparrow Hazelnut Rocher combines crispy feuilletine, toasted hazelnut and Nutella cream, while Citrus Olive Oil Cake comes with orange marmalade and passionfruit gel. Chocolate Caprese is paired with vanilla ice cream.
Tiramisu arrives with chocolate espresso sauce and ladyfingers, while Cannoli combines mascarpone mousse, candied blood orange and pistachio. Zeppole come with whipped ricotta, Nutella ganache and caramel sauce, with Affogato, seasonal gelato and Italian cheeses rounding out the selection.
Cocktails for a Longer Evening
Sparrow Italia’s cocktail menu takes its names from Italian regions, with recipes that move well beyond familiar classics. Apulia combines gin and olive oil-washed vodka with lime, tomato and red pepper, while Abruzzo pairs blood orange gin with cascara vermouth and walnut-infused amaro.
Bolder choices include Molise, built around chilli-infused blanco tequila, watermelon, mango and yuzu, and Calabria, which combines mezcal, Cocchi Americano, Italicus and lemon with sea salt foam. Basilicata brings together Amaro Lucano, strawberry Aperol, Campari and basil. The selection gives drinks enough character to stand alongside the food, whether ordered before dinner or later in the evening.
Upstairs at the Cigar Lounge
The third-floor Cigar Lounge is one of Sparrow Italia’s clearest points of distinction. The intimate space offers a curated cigar selection with guidance from the restaurant’s Master of Havana Cigars.
Cocktails and spirits allow the evening to continue upstairs, while backgammon is also available for open play. For cigar enthusiasts in particular, the lounge adds considerably to Sparrow Italia’s appeal and sets it apart within Mayfair’s busy dining scene.
Sparrow Italia Beyond Dinner
Weekend brunch offers a more relaxed side to Sparrow Italia, served on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm. Poached Eggs on Toasted Pane Pugliese come with flaked salmon or sautéed spinach, while Scrambled Eggs are available with black truffle, classic pesto or vegan ’nduja.
Other choices include Grilled Heirloom Tomatoes and Mozzarella, Sparrow Beans with toasted focaccia, and Grilled Sirloin Steak with fried egg and crispy potatoes. Weekday dining is covered by the Executive Set Lunch, while the restaurant also accommodates private events across its three floors.
A Glamorous Addition to Mayfair
Sparrow Italia fits comfortably into Mayfair’s social dining scene. Pasta, wagyu, seafood and truffle provide many of the menu’s defining flavours, while the three-storey setting gives dinner room to develop into a longer evening.
The Cigar Lounge adds further distinction, particularly for guests who prefer to follow dinner with drinks at a slower pace. For celebrations, dates and evenings with friends, Sparrow Italia presents a polished contemporary take on Italian dining in the heart of Mayfair.
Location: 1-3 Avery Row, London W1K 4AJ
