🇬🇧 London's Kensington Gem: Da Mario
No list of South Kensington's iconic dining spots is complete without Da Mario. While they have a Covent Garden outpost, the two locations offer completely different menus. This SK institution holds a special place in royal history—it was Princess Diana's regular pizza spot with young Princes William and Harry when they lived nearby at Kensington Palace. The restaurant proudly displays its royal connection with a "Princess Diana" engraving on the handrail and a charming wall painting of Diana making pizza with founder Mario. While the food is decent (leaning toward the saltier side of Italian home cooking), it's the Diana connection that draws crowds. Its proximity to Imperial College and Royal Albert Hall makes it perfect for pre-concert dinners. ⭐ Menu Highlights (Daily specials include Friday's squid ink pasta—check boards for risottos and other rotating dishes) Must-Tries: 1️⃣ Melanzane alla Parmigiana - Luscious layers of eggplant baked with molten cheese 2️⃣ Spaghettini Sapore Di Mare - Classic tomato-based seafood spaghetti 3️⃣ Spaghettini Vongole Veraci - Light, briny clams with garlic-parsley bianco sauce 4️⃣ Pappardelle Ragu - Hearty beef ragù for non-seafood lovers 5️⃣ Rigatoni Da Mario - Creamy, comforting pasta perfection 6️⃣ Pizzas - Authentic thin-crust (royal-approved Margherita is a safe bet) 7️⃣ Fantasia Di Mare - Tomato-rich seafood stew with garlic bread 8️⃣ Grigliata Mista Di Pesce - Carb-free grilled seafood platter 9️⃣ Desserts - Their tiramisu is legendary! Also explore daily cakes & gelato Heads up: Service can be brusque (part of the charm?), and booking is essential—queues form fast at peak times. Ideal for: ▪️ Italian comfort food seekers ▪️ Royal history enthusiasts ▪️ Pre-Royal Albert Hall dining 📍 Da Mario 15 Gloucester Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 4PP 💷 £30-40pp 🌟 Rating: 3/5 (Worth it for the experience!) #LondonEats #UKLife #LondonLiving #FoodExplorer #ItalianCuisine #RoyalLondon #HiddenGems #SouthKensington #PastaLovers #HistoricEats