Lita

Luxuriating on the smart side of casual, buzzy Lita feels more like a luxe Italian farmhouse than a restaurant with its exposed beams, rough plaster walls and scuffed parquet floors. Yet the gleaming open-fire kitchen and seemingly endless number of staff give the game away – this is a no-expense-spared venue. But the owners manage to pull off the pricey/casual balance, and the place performs the role of a special-occasion neighbourhood spot to perfection. Since taking over as culinary director in November 2025, Kostas Papathanasiou – formerly executive chef at Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm – has brought a new ingenuity to the sharing-plates menu. Smash hits such as dressed lobster and tomato rösti, and a melting beef short rib with carrot, peach and olive reveal an intricacy and precision that is often thrilling, and the chef has clearly won over a lot of people: ‘outstanding food that isn’t overcomplicated but still feels refined and top-notch,' is a typical comment. There’s a pavement terrace for taking the Marylebone air, plus some alluring cocktails to sip. Mark-ups on the mainly European wine list can be high, but the sommelier gives good advice.