Chef Dara Klein’s long-awaited restaurant Tiella brings heartfelt Italian cooking to Columbia Road. Tiella is a deeply personal project, shaped by Dara’s Pugliese roots, her childhood in Emilia-Romagna, and a family history steeped in hospitality. Alongside restaurateur Ry Jessup, she’s created a space that feels both intimate and characterful.
Set within a restored 175-year-old Victorian pub, Tiella blends trattoria warmth with pub heritage. Expect terracotta tones, reclaimed wood, antique finds and family heirlooms, plus Victorian tiling that nods to the building’s past. A 15-seat bar leads into a 30-cover dining room with an open kitchen, while a sunny terrace offers aperitivo vibes in warmer months. For drinks, prop up the bar or explore a wine list curated with Dara’s father, Richard Klein of Artigiano Imports, championing slow wines and collectible bottles. There’s also craft beer on tap and a short, seasonal cocktail list.
The menu celebrates regional, homestyle Italian cooking – rustic, generous and rooted in exceptional produce. Dara sources pasta from Sardinia and seasonal vegetables from New Covent Garden Market, crafting dishes that honour tradition. Expect stuzzichini like panelle with caper mayo, antipasti such as puntarelle alla Romana, and primi including passatelli in brodo or orecchiette with cime di rapa. Secondi might feature chicken Milanese or classic polpette, while dolci brings indulgence with bay leaf panna cotta and Torta Caprese.
Tiella is more than a restaurant – it’s a love letter to family, memory and Italian culinary heritage, served with London flair.
Whether you’re here for a glass of slow wine at the bar or a full trattoria feast, Tiella promises warmth, character and cooking that comes straight from the heart.