Dining alert: Campanelle's carbonara may be perilously delectable
In the heart of the City of London, a new Italian culinary gem has emerged, nestled within a Grade II-listed former London Shipping Exchange building at 19-21 Billiter Street. Known as Campanelle, this restaurant opened its doors in 2025, offering an exquisite blend of traditional Italian flavours and modern hospitality.
Campanelle's name, meaning "little bells," evokes the charm of Italian village life, and it aims to bring authentic Italian cuisine to this historic London site. The restaurant, run by restaurateur Ninai Zarach, boasts 180 covers, a wine room, an all-weather terrace, and private dining facilities, all elegantly merging to create a vibrant dining experience that complements the classical architecture of the building.
The preservation and adaptive reuse of this Victorian property, originally opened in 1865, is a testament to its resilience and the City's rich maritime trading history. During the refit, Zarach worked closely with conservation teams to ensure that the building's heritage features were respected and protected, including the 18th-century oak staircase that was carefully removed to prevent accidental damage by builders.
The restaurant's menu is a delightful journey through Italian cuisine, featuring antipasti, pasta, and dishes from the charcoal grill. A highlight on the menu is the focaccia Romana and langoustine arancini, while the Bistecca alla Fiorentina offers a taste of a large Tuscan steak dish. For those seeking a richer option, Campanelle's carbonara dish is not to be missed.
The restaurant's location, at the intersection of tradition and modernity, is further enhanced by its unique seating arrangement. Art Deco-style seating in emerald green, sea blue, and burnt orange can be found at Campanelle, with the 'outdoor' seating actually located in an atrium behind the restaurant that doubles as the lobby of some new offices.
Campanelle's open kitchen is located upstairs, which may seem strangely placed compared to the more decorative fixtures and fittings on the ground floor. However, this arrangement allows diners to enjoy the culinary spectacle as dishes are expertly prepared by Chef Fausto Rojas and his team.
For those seeking a taste of Campanelle's offerings before making a reservation, the restaurant's location at 19-21 Billiter St, EC3M 2RY can be booked by calling 0203 745 0909 or visiting the website. The restaurant also offers imaginative and confidently shaken cocktails, making it an ideal destination for a memorable dining experience.
In addition to Campanelle, Ninai Zarach is the mind behind Manicomio and Canto Corvino, further cementing her reputation as a leading figure in London's dining scene. As for the building itself, it stands as a testament to London's maritime trading past and a symbol of the City's enduring resilience and adaptability.
The London Shipping Exchange's HQ, opened in 1865, is a survivor on Billiter Street, with spandrels on its exterior that celebrate people and products brought in on ships from around the world. This historic building now serves as a contemporary cultural and culinary landmark within a historically rich environment, offering diners a unique opportunity to experience a piece of London's past while enjoying the vibrant urban life of the present.
- Campanelle, with its authentic Italian cuisine and vibrant dining experience, seamlessly merges traditional lifestyle elements such as cooking and food-and-drink with modern home-and-garden design, as evidenced by its unique seating arrangement and atrium lobby.
- The redeveloped London Shipping Exchange, now home to Campanelle, offers a harmonious blend of the past and the present, showcasing the rich history of food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and lifestyle within a contemporary food-and-beverage setting, thereby becoming a cultural and culinary landmark in the heart of the City of London.
