Looking for the best pasta near Piccadilly Circus? Step away from the billboards: Bancone Golden Square is the pick for handmade pasta without a formal dinner, Bocca di Lupo puts regional Italian cooking within easy reach of the theatres, and Bardo St James’s suits a longer evening out. All three are a short walk from the station rather than restaurants on the Circus itself.
The choice depends on the meal you want. Go to Bancone for a plate built around the pasta, Bocca di Lupo for a changing menu of Italian regional dishes, or Bardo when dinner is part of the occasion. Menus and availability can change, so check the restaurant’s own site before making a special trip for one dish.
1. Bancone Golden Square (Lower James Street)
At 8–10 Lower James Street, Bancone is the straightforward answer when fresh pasta is the whole point of your visit. The restaurant says it makes its pasta by hand every day, and its Golden Square menu offers both familiar shapes and less conventional combinations. It is an easy choice for a pasta-focused lunch or a meal before heading into Soho or the West End.
The menu checked for this guide included bucatini cacio e pepe, chilli-and-garlic spaghetti alla chitarra, and two takes on the restaurant’s signature silk handkerchiefs. That range makes it useful for a group: one person can order something simple and peppery while another tries a richer, more distinctive plate. Ask about dietary requirements rather than assuming every pasta is suitable; Bancone notes that some dishes can be made with gluten-friendly pasta, but cannot guarantee an allergen-free meal.
What to order: Silk handkerchiefs with walnut butter and confit egg yolk. The broad sheets of pasta and concentrated sauce are Bancone’s most distinctive choice on the menu reviewed. If you would rather keep it classic, choose the bucatini cacio e pepe.
2. Bocca di Lupo (Archer Street)
Head to 12 Archer Street for Bocca di Lupo, just off the busier Piccadilly Circus streets. Its restaurant site and daily menu describe a kitchen drawing from Italy’s regions and making much of its pasta in-house. This is the place on the shortlist for diners who want pasta alongside other regional dishes, rather than a pasta-only meal.
Bocca’s food menu changes frequently, which is part of its appeal but also a reason not to plan an entire evening around a fixed dish. On the menu published when this guide was written, the pasta section ranged from ricotta-and-spinach tortelloni with butter, sage and walnuts to seafood and meat-based options. Check the day’s menu before booking if a particular sauce matters to you.
What to order: Mezze maniche all’amatriciana, listed with guanciale and tomato on the menu checked for this guide. It is a concise Roman combination if you want a savoury pasta without a heavy cream sauce; if it is not on today’s menu, ask which regional pasta has taken its place.
3. Bardo St James’s (Suffolk Place)
For a longer dinner, Bardo is at 4 Suffolk Place; the restaurant’s directions put it about a 3–5 minute walk from Piccadilly Circus station. It is a different proposition from Bancone: the restaurant pairs Italian cooking with live music, and its menu also covers antipasti, seafood and main courses. Choose it when you want to make an evening of dinner, not just stop for a quick bowl.
Bardo’s online à la carte menu lists several pasta dishes, including veal-ragù maccheroni, cacio e pepe ravioli and tagliatelle with prawns and nduja. The menu is seasonal and dishes are subject to availability, so confirm the current selection when booking. This is also the most occasion-oriented setting of the three, rather than a like-for-like substitute for a casual pasta bar.
What to order: Paccheri alla Norma, listed with fried aubergine, tomato, oregano and ricotta salata on the menu reviewed. It is the vegetarian pasta to look for if you prefer a tomato-based sauce; ask for the current menu if the seasonal selection has changed.
The Shortlist
- For a pasta-first meal: Bancone Golden Square — silk handkerchiefs with walnut butter and confit egg yolk.
- For regional Italian cooking near the theatres: Bocca di Lupo — mezze maniche all’amatriciana, if it is on the day’s menu.
- For an evening out: Bardo St James’s — paccheri alla Norma, subject to the current menu.
If you are happy to walk further into the neighbouring streets, see our Soho pasta guide for more options.
Image: illustrative pasta alla Norma photograph by 8w9d via Wikimedia Commons, released under CC0. It was not photographed at any of the restaurants above.
