Sir Terence Conran’s celebrated Savile Row establishment has found a new home in one of London’s most cultured neighbourhoods. Sartoria Launceston Place translates the founder’s passion for Milan into an all-day dining experience that honours regional Italian cooking while embracing the easy charm of South Kensington. With a trio of accomplished chefs, a wine list spanning more than a hundred labels, and interiors that channel mid-century Milanese sophistication, the opening marks a confident evolution for this iconic name.
London’s dining scene gains a new dimension as Sartoria Launceston Place opens its doors in W8. The Evolv Collection has taken Conran’s original concept, born from his affection for Milan’s fusion of fashion, design and gastronomy and reinterpreted it for the area’s leafy streets.
Operating from breakfast through to dinner, the restaurant’s rhythm changes with the day. Morning brings an à la carte breakfast and brunch; lunch introduces piccoli piatti before the kitchen moves into evening service with refined Milanese dishes. The bar mirrors this energy throughout the day, from espresso and cornetti to aperitivo and after-dinner digestivi, with over 100 wines and a cocktail list inspired by Italy’s regional character.
The Kitchen Collective
Three accomplished chefs have shaped the menu through genuine collaboration. Marco Ruggiu heads the Launceston Place kitchen, working alongside Davide Torro from the Savile Row site and Gianmarco Cossentino from Fiume by Sartoria. Their combined approach prioritises regional Italian techniques and prime seasonal ingredients, creating dishes that feel both authentic and contemporary.
The starters set an immediate tone of quality. Insalata di Polpo arrives as a composed with tender octopus mingling with potato, celery, capers, olives and carrots in a dish that captures Mediterranean sunshine on the plate. Uovo Morbido is elevated with silky parmesan sauce and the earthy luxury of black truffle shavings.
Main courses showcase the depth of Italian regional cooking. Calamarata alla Pescatora brings the coast to Kensington, with rings of fresh pasta enveloping plump mussels, clams and red prawn. For those preferring plant-based options, Scarola Gratinata offers a delectable baked endive prepared with olives and raisins.
The Real Veal Milanese remains the signature. Designed for sharing, the golden cutlet is crisp outside, tender within, served with a bright tomato and lettuce salad.
The dolci menu is the perfect conclusion. Persimmon Panna Cotta arrives with textured granola, whilst Torta Diplomatica, the Italian classic of layered sponge, puff pastry and diplomatica cream, offers the sort of indulgence that justifies lingering over coffee.
Craft and Character in Design
The interiors tell their own story. Brand historian Ron Cregan, whose portfolio includes work with Mulberry and The Maybourne Group, was engaged to articulate the restaurant’s identity. The result channels mid-century Milanese design whilst maintaining Conran’s original aesthetic principles: precise tailoring evident in every detail, substantial textures that reward closer inspection, and a restrained glamour that never tips into ostentation.
The space deliberately avoids the formal stiffness sometimes associated with Italian fine dining. Instead, it creates an environment that encourages regular visits.Rich leather seating, warm wood tones and softly diffused lighting create rooms that suit every moment—from a solitary morning espresso to a lingering evening aperitivo.
Redefining a Modern Icon
The original Savile Row site established itself within London’s dining landscape by combining the tailoring heritage of its location with authentic Italian cooking. That restaurant fused these elements into something distinctly British in execution, Italian food interpreted through a London lens. The new site takes this foundation and adapts it for South Kensington’s particular character.
“Sir Terence Conran’s vision for Sartoria was to introduce guests to the elegant style of Milan, his favourite city. Through the delicious, authentic food and vibrant ambience, Sartoria offers a true Milanese escape in the heart of Savile Row, and it is that spirit that we now want to bring to other neighbourhoods across London.”
Martin Williams, CEO, The Evolv Collection
Each location within the expanding portfolio will develop its own distinct character, with Launceston Place conceived specifically as a neighbourhood restaurant.
All-Day Italian Rhythm
From the first espresso of the morning to the final nightcap, Sartoria Launceston Place moves with an easy Milanese rhythm. Breakfast brings the comfort of strong Italian coffee and just-baked pastries, perhaps a delicate frittata or perfectly poached eggs served with quiet confidence. By midday, light piccoli piatti and crisp salads arrive at tables where conversation flows over a glass of Verdicchio. As evening settles, the lights soften and the kitchen leans into its Milanese roots with generous plates designed to share and linger over.
The Sartoria Bar provides a constant pulse throughout the day, cappuccino in the morning, a Negroni or Americano by late afternoon. Its energy shifts subtly with the hours, encouraging guests to drop and stay a little longer than intended.
This all-day fluidity is what makes Launceston Place feel like a true neighbourhood restaurant. It’s as natural for a weekday breakfast as it is for a Saturday supper. The extensive wine list of over a hundred labels drawn from Italy’s most expressive regions, supports this ease, alongside a cocktail programme rooted in classic aperitivi and digestivi.
Set close to South Kensington’s museums and galleries, Sartoria sits comfortably within its surroundings—cosmopolitan but never self-conscious, elegant without effort.