The first outpost of Bancone, opened in 2018, which has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand for seven years.
Running chef
There is a head chef overseeing operations, as mentioned in customer reviews, but no specific name is provided in the search results.
Insights
ThaiSeafoodSeafoodCocktail Bar
Last updated: 1/14/2026, 11:34:16 AM
Key Information
Bancone Covent Garden is an award-winning Italian restaurant specializing in fresh, handmade pasta. The name 'Bancone' means 'bar' or 'counter,' reflecting its lively, informal atmosphere with counter seating that allows diners to watch chefs prepare food. It is known for offering great value in its prime Covent Garden location.
Customer Perception
Customers generally praise Bancone for its fantastic Italian food, particularly the fresh, handmade pasta, and the incredible value for money. The lively atmosphere and the unique experience of watching chefs at the open kitchen counter are frequently highlighted. Signature dishes like the 'silk handkerchiefs with walnut butter and confit egg yolk' and 'fried artichoke' receive high acclaim. While overwhelmingly positive, some reviews mention dishes can be salty (e.g., carbonara), portions might be considered small by some, and there are occasional minor criticisms regarding restroom cleanliness or isolated service hiccups. It's important to note that many dishes contain nuts, and customers with allergies are advised to inform staff.
Additional Details
Bancone has multiple locations across London, including Covent Garden, Golden Square (Soho), Borough Yards, and Kensington. The Covent Garden branch is located at 39 William IV Street.
Accommodates nut allergies (inform staff, as many dishes contain nuts)
Best Times to Visit
Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends, as the restaurant often has long lines at opening. For walk-in customers, arriving early is advised to secure a table or counter seat.
Awards & Recognition
MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand • 2025
Voted one of London's Best Italian Pasta Restaurants
Bancone delivered one of the most memorable meals I’ve ever had, including what may be the best pasta dish of my life. The handkerchief pasta was nothing short of extraordinary—rich, creamy, buttery, and so aromatic that you could smell it the moment it arrived at the table. Every bite was perfectly balanced and showcased just how incredible a simple dish can be when executed flawlessly.
The rest of the menu was equally impressive, with fresh pasta, outstanding ingredients, and warm, attentive service. Bancone strikes the perfect balance between comfort and refinement.
The restaurant itself is quite small and understandably very popular, so I highly recommend making a reservation in advance. If you’re in London and love pasta, this is a restaurant you simply cannot miss.
Bancone Covent Garden is one of those places that keeps delivering. The food, service, and location are all excellent. My only criticism is the seating. I’m not a fan of the fixed high stools, and many of the tables are shared with other parties. Most of the time that’s not an issue, but occasionally you end up next to people who are quite loud, which can affect the experience. Thankfully, the staff were very accommodating and happily found us a lower, regular table when we asked. We started with the olives, fried artichokes, sourdough bread, and endives, our Bancone favourites, and they were all as good as ever. For the mains, everyone ordered a different pasta dish, and every single one was outstanding. The cocktails were excellent, and the wine list offered plenty of great choices. Despite the seating, it’s a restaurant we always enjoy coming back to.
I ordered the spicy pork ragu while my wife ordered the silk handkerchief with truffles. Definitely one of the better / best pastas I’ve had albeit quite pricey.
My wife didn’t particularly think it was value for money due to the lack of proteins and small portion size, which I had to agree on as it wasn’t very cheap. Not the place to be if you’re looking for value! My suggestion is don’t think about the price and go try it!
Service was ok.
Atmosphere was pretty hip and lively. Not the place to be if you want to sit down and enjoy a romantic meal. Just come in, eat, enjoy the pasta and get out.
I visited on Sunday evening and booked in advance. It had been highly recommended on social media and in the reviews, so I was excited to try it. Our waiter, Anika, was absolutely amazing and very friendly. She explained the menu to me and my friend, shared her favourites, and we went with her recommendations. We ordered the silk handkerchief carbonara and the walnut butter with truffle, and both were incredible. We also loved being able to watch the food being made.
The only part of the visit I wasn’t happy with was the host. She showed us to our seats and then walked off without offering to take our coats, even though we were on stools with nowhere to put them. We also noticed she took coats for other guests, which didn’t feel great and didn’t give us a warm welcome.
The rest of the staff were amazing. A lovely gentleman noticed us holding our coats and kindly took them for us, and he later came back to offer dessert and returned our coats before we left and we really appreciated that.
Overall, the staff were wonderful and the experience was great, but the host could have been friendlier and less standoffish. I’ve still given 5 stars because of Anika and the lovely gentleman who helped us — I didn’t catch his name, but he really made up for the poor welcome.
I’ve started coming here every time I visit London, and everything I’ve tried has always been delicious. This time, I accidentally ordered something that normally wouldn’t really suit my taste, just because of my own preference, but even then it was really delicious. The staff are also incredibly attentive and friendly; they always make sure you’re enjoying your food and really care about your experience. The menu has changed since the last time I was here, but thankfully the fior di latte dessert is still on the menu, and I definitely recommend trying it. The fried artichoke is still on the menu too, and I can easily say it’s by far the best fried artichoke I’ve had anywhere.
