Harry's Dolce Vita

Harry's Dolce Vita sits on Basil Street, a short walk from Harrods, and trades on a very particular kind of Italian glamour: Venetian-inspired interiors of dark oak panelling, brown leather banquettes, brass-framed mirrors and globe pendant lights, with framed black-and-white portraits and vintage travel posters lining the walls. The long marble-floored bar pours classic cocktails and regional Italian wines, and the kitchen runs from breakfast through to late, which makes the room feel as much a fixture of the neighbourhood as a destination for dinner.

For private events the draw is the Canaletto Room, reached through a discreet door on Hans Road and set beneath the main restaurant. It seats up to thirteen around a single table, wrapped in oak panelling, brass-framed Venetian mirrors and Murano glass lighting, with a large canal painting that gives the room its name. A dedicated events team handles each booking, from menus and place cards to seasonal flowers, and the tucked-away entrance keeps a gathering genuinely private.

The restaurant also takes larger celebrations across its main floor, where the same Dolce Vita styling carries a livelier, later-running crowd. It suits an intimate seated dinner or a birthday that wants character rather than a blank function room.