Review: Pollini at Ladbroke Hall
Stepping into Pollini at Ladbroke Hall feels less like entering a restaurant and more like crossing the threshold into a curated world where architecture, art, and Italian gastronomy are choreographed into one immersive experience. Housed within the restored 1903 Edwardian landmark that once served as the showroom of the Sunbeam Talbot Motor Company, Ladbroke Hall has transformed into a cultural hub—home to exhibitions, live music, contemporary art, and now one of London’s most compelling Italian dining destinations.
Photography: Stevie Campbell
Design: Architecture as Performance
Pollini occupies the grand central lobby, framed by soaring arched ceilings, decorative columns, and vast arched windows—historical bones that remain beautifully legible beneath the restaurant’s contemporary intervention. The interior, conceived by Milano‑based Vincenzo De Cotiis Architects, creates a dialogue between sculptural modernity and Beaux‑Arts heritage. Reflective mirror panelling, polished tabletops, and classic dining chairs work in contrast with the all‑white architectural backdrop.
Photography: Stevie Campbell
The visual centrepiece is unmistakable: Nacho Carbonell’s dramatic mesh chandelier, suspended like an illuminated organic form above the space. It’s not just lighting—it’s a spatial experience that anchors the room with theatrical presence.
What surrounds you is not mere décor but a constellation of art: pieces from Carpenters Workshop Gallery artists, including Christopher Le Brun and Nacho Carbonell, each adding layers of texture and cultural resonance to the dining room.
Pollini is design‑led in the best sense: elegantly disciplined, quietly expressive, and visually unforgettable.
Chef Emanuele Pollini
Cuisine: Ingredient‑Led, Italian, and Effortlessly Confident
Led by Chef Emanuele Pollini, formerly awarded Best Italian Chef by Gambero Rosso, the kitchen brings a refined, ingredient‑centric approach inspired by Italy’s Emilia‑Romagna region. The menu is seasonal and expressive, celebrated for purity of flavour and delicate presentation—qualities that have earned the restaurant critical acclaim and a MICHELIN designation for “good cooking” with standout homemade pastas.
The offering is broad yet thoughtful, spanning stuzzichini, antipasti, primi, and secondi, with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten‑free options also available. The menu evolves weekly, reflecting seasonality and the Chef’s ongoing creative exploration.
Top left clockwise: Calamaretti e Carciofi / Graziella’s Salad / Tagliatelle al Cinghiale / Mortadella e Tartufo Nero
My Experience: A Curated, Hyper‑Flavourful Tasting
For my visit, the team crafted a sampling menu—designed not as a traditional tasting but as a survey of Pollini’s current culinary voice. The result was a parade of dishes that each held their own.
From the first bite to the last, flavour was the through‑line. The dishes displayed the same disciplined elegance as the setting: balanced, ingredient‑forward, and executed with an understated confidence that allowed textures, aromatics, and acidity to shine.
Paired with the architectural drama of Ladbroke Hall, the experience was lifted into something atmospheric and transportive. It’s the rare restaurant where the environment and the cuisine share equal billing—and both deliver.
The Verdict
Pollini at Ladbroke Hall is more than a restaurant—it’s a destination. The landmark architecture, the sculptural interiors, the art‑driven surroundings, and the expressiveness of Chef Pollini’s cuisine culminate in an experience that feels deeply considered yet effortlessly enjoyable.
In short: flavour, design, and atmosphere in perfect alignment—the kind of place you walk out of knowing you’ve discovered something special.