Just moments from the cathedral, Enoteca da Luca St Pauls is a compact, characterful wine bar that lends itself particularly well to private dining - the sort of place where atmosphere, quite handily, does a lot of the hosting for you.
As soon as you walk in, the ground floor has instant character with exposed brick walls, lined with shelves of well-thumbed bottles, giving the space an easy, old trattoria feel. A bar greets guests on arrival, while leather booths and simple bistro tables look out towards St Paul’s, creating a backdrop that feels unmistakably London. It’s warm and sociable without being overwhelming, making it a natural choice for semi-private gatherings of around 20 to 30 guests who want a bit of buzz while being able to hear each other over the chatter.
For something a little more intimate, the downstairs private dining room can be exclusively yours and seats up to 12 guests for banquet-style dining or accomodating 17 people for drinks and canapés. Panelled walls, a tapestry-style mural and shelves of vintage books give it an elegant feel, softened by a muted, creamy colour palette. This space is ideal for a celebratory dinner or a small, cosy gathering, with just enough separation from the main space to feel like your own. Larger events are equally well catered for, with the option to take over the entire venue for up to 60 seated or 70 standing guests, which feels like a bit of a rare find in this part of central London.
At an independent Italian wine bar and restaurant, of course, food and drink are a big part of the appeal. The menu is built for sharing, which works particularly well for group occasions. Dishes such as porchetta and crispy pork belly with mostarda di frutta sit alongside lighter plates like burrata alla puttanesca or sea bream carpaccio with candied orange and almonds. There’s substance too, from wild boar ragù pappardelle to truffle risotto, as well as generous specials like grilled veal chop or aubergine parmigiana. Add to that a strong, well-curated wine list and you've got it all - ask the team to help pick out the best bottles for your meal and they'll be happy to oblige!