Santa Maria Paddington — Restaurant in London

A slice of Naples in the heart of London!

Visited Santa Maria Paddington with my son and had such a fantastic experience that I just had to share it. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm service and a cosy, buzzing atmosphere that immediately transported us to a little corner of Naples.

We started with the Garlic Focaccia – simple yet sensational. The flat oven-baked pizza dough was soft and pillowy inside, with a perfectly crisp exterior, seasoned beautifully with oregano and drizzled generously with extra virgin olive oil. A great opener that set the tone for the meal.

For our mains, we both went for the Santa Margherita Classic, a true celebration of traditional Neapolitan pizza-making. The base was light and airy with that signature char from the wood-fired oven, and topped with silky Mozzarella Fiordilatte, rich tomato sauce, and a sprinkle of Parmesan, simplicity done right. I gave mine a personal twist by adding tuna and olives, which brought in a lovely briny depth that complemented the creamy cheese and sweet tomatoes beautifully.

To finish, my son delighted in his vanilla ice cream, creamy and smooth, the perfect palate cleanser. But the real showstopper for me was the Pan di Stelle dessert. Wow, what a treat! A luscious mascarpone and Nutella chocolate mousse topped with classic Pan di Stelle Italian biscuits. It was indulgent, dreamy, and absolutely divine, the perfect end to a wonderful meal.

Service was excellent throughout, friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. The staff clearly care about the food and the customer experience. The venue itself is warm and inviting, great for families or casual dining with friends.

Santa Maria truly lives up to its reputation as serving some of London’s best Neapolitan pizzas. What you get here is the real deal, the same pizza you’d find on the streets of Naples, made with authentic ingredients and cooked using traditional methods.

With locations across London – Paddington, Kew, Islington, Fulham, Ealing, and Fitzrovia.

It's well worth a visit, no matter where you are. I’ll definitely be back, and next time I’m bringing the...

This was the soft launch of the Santa Maria pizzeria, a legend that opened 15 years ago in South Ealing, where the best pizza in London was created in a very small space. Time out, which was still a very authoritative and reliable magazine, voted it the best pizza in London and I almost immediately went there, and became addicted ! It was, and still is, the best, and I became a very regular customer, going every week. They then opened a branch in Chelsea/ Fulham border, then another in Oxford street, and now in Kew Gardens and in the latest place, in Paddington at what was previously the Frontline club. Angelo and Pasquale, the original founding fathers, are still there, managing a team of happy people, with the pizzas coming out that are as outstanding as ever! We had some olives, a parmigiana that was the best I have ever had in Uk, the San Gennaro ( salsiccia and friarielli with smoked cheese) a napoletana ( capers olives anchovies on red tomato base without mozzarella ) and the prosciutto e funghi . We also had 2 tiramisu and 1 pan di stelle dessert, a new one that I had not tasted before ! It was divine! As divine as the tiramisu ! We finished with a limoncello which was delicious, like it was homemade from your grandmother. I cannot recommend this enough ! If I was a Michelin star guide I would say this is worth a trip, a deviation , a journey! This pizza is...

Authentic Neapolitan Pizza & Fantastic Service

I had an excellent experience at Santa Maria Pizzeria Napoletana. The food is truly authentic — perfectly baked Neapolitan pizzas with fresh ingredients and rich flavors. Great value for the quality you get.

A special mention to our waitress, Salima, who was outstanding. She was attentive, polite, and made sure everything was just right throughout the meal. Her warm and professional service really added to the experience.

Highly recommend for anyone looking for genuine Italian pizza and...