Nipotina: The Italian Neighbourhood Restaurant Mayfair Has Been Waiting For

There are restaurants that you book for an occasion, and then there are the ones you find yourself drifting back to time and time again. Mayfair’s Nipotina belongs firmly to the latter. Tucked away in one of London’s most polished postcodes, this neighbourhood Italian is fast becoming the city’s worst-kept secret. Think soulful cooking, considered cocktails, and an atmosphere that feels more like stepping into a friend’s home than a polished dining room.

The brainchild of restaurateur Samyukta Nair, Nipotina is helmed in the kitchen by Turin-born Chef Somaia Hammad, who brings with her the flavours, traditions, and memories of the Italian grandmothers who inspired the menu. The result is food that’s heartfelt, generous, and unpretentious—regional classics that taste like they’ve been passed down through the family rather than pulled from a glossy cookbook.

This season, Nipotina is leaning into its identity as Mayfair’s ‘home away from home’ with a series of events and menus designed to make the end of summer unforgettable. From the clink of glasses during Aperitivo Hour to the warm brass notes of live jazz filling the room, the restaurant feels like an extended invitation to linger.

Take Negroni Week, for example. Instead of trotting out the familiar, Nipotina has spun three playful riffs on the classic:

• Negramaro – a smoky, peated twist with Campari, Gil Torbato Peated and Mancino Rosso.

• Rosso Fumo – laced with tequila, chocolate bitters and a touch of fire.

• Negroni Fantastico – an uplifting hit of Bergamotto alongside the traditional Campari, Beefeater and Mancino Rosso.

At £12 each, they’re dangerously easy to order in sequence. For those who prefer theatre in their glass, there’s the Clay Pot Negroni—a rich, sophisticated serve infused with Earl Grey, poured straight from its earthen vessel.

The Italians do casual drinking better than anyone, and Nipotina makes a compelling case for the Mayfair set to follow suit. Running Monday to Saturday, 3pm–7pm, the Aperitivo Hour is built for spontaneity. Cocktails—Aperol Spritz, Bellinis, Palomas—come at £14 each or two for £25, accompanied by a complimentary spread of Italian snacks.

The supporting menu reads like an ode to the art of grazing: zucchini fritti, plump arancini (with molten mozzarella and either spinach or fiery ’nduja), and Tagliere Misto, a curated board of salumi and cheeses that could easily stand in for dinner. It’s the kind of ritual that turns post-work drinks into late-night dinners without anyone noticing the time.

If food and drink are Nipotina’s heart, then music is fast becoming its soul. Throughout September and October, every other Wednesday welcomes Royal Drifters, a guitar-and-sax duo with just the right blend of polish and looseness. Their sound—rich, velvety guitar lines entwined with sultry sax—slips into the room like another layer of atmosphere. Paired with wood-fired seafood, crisp pizzas and glasses of northern Italian wine, the evenings feel like something lifted straight from a Milanese lounge.

For those who want to deepen their relationship with Italian food and drink, the Nipotina Wine Club is a monthly ticket worth booking in advance. Each evening (£85pp) is structured around a seasonal four-course menu with wine pairings selected by in-house sommelier Antonio.

September explores the drama of volcanic wines, bold expressions born from fiery terroir, while October shifts north for a truffle-laced feast in Piemonte, with noble reds—Barolo and Barbaresco—taking centre stage. It’s as much about the storytelling as the sipping, a chance to be guided through Italy’s landscapes without ever leaving Mayfair.

What makes Nipotina stand out isn’t just the quality of the food or the precision of the cocktails—it’s the sense of belonging it cultivates. There’s polish, yes, but also heart. It’s the kind of restaurant that invites you back not because you need an excuse, but because it’s the place you want to be.

Whether it’s a long lunch, a lingering aperitivo, or a late-night dinner with jazz in the background, Nipotina has positioned itself as Mayfair’s answer to the neighbourhood restaurant—a spot where everyone, eventually, becomes a regular.

Nipotina is open Monday to Saturday for lunch, aperitivo, dinner and cocktails. To book, visit nipotinaristorante.com.