Stepping into Sale e Pepe Mare, the first thing that strikes you is the menu’s confident celebration of the sea. Much of the magic begins with the Crudo and Cicchetti. Imagine a glistening Nudo Gambero Rosso, where Mazzara del Vallo red prawns are dressed with a zesty lemon-verbena vinaigrette. For something more delicate, the Taglio di Spigola, featuring a silky seabass crowned with trout roe and a touch of espelette chilli. Bright, briny, and utterly unforgettable.

An eye-catching Caesar salad is served tableside and signature pasta dishes arrive to impress. The much-talked-about Linguine All’Aragosta appears on many of the plates. This specialty features long strands of pasta engulfing generous chunks of sweet lobster, Datterino tomatoes, and basil. It embodies everything you hope for from coastal Italian cooking: rich, vibrant, and impossibly comforting. 

Not far behind, Linguini alle Vongole e Bottarga delivers clams bathed in garlic and white wine, kissed with the savoury umami of bottarga. It’s the kind of dish that makes you close your eyes between mouthfuls. For more tableside fun, a cacio e pepe is served in a Pecorino wheel and has been certified the real deal by Italians in London. 

For some, more contemporary dishes are the way to go. New creations at Sale e Pepe Mare bring freshness and surprise. Toro Grasso, with fatty bluefin tuna on toasted brioche, combines plush texture with confit tomato and garlic, while Tagliarini al Granchio pairs sweet Dorset crab with punchy Calabrian anchovies and green parsley. This results in an alluring balance of sea and heat. 

Finally, a combination of food and scenery. A central seafood display tempts at every visit. Oysters, langoustines, and daily catches that promise a feast for the senses. It showcases the kind of freshness and authenticity found only on the Riviera.

Desserts are a must. A tiramisu is served home-style from a huge tray and is everything a tiramisu should be. The highlight was a lemon meringue tart, which had a gorgeous crust holding together the brilliantly made tart.

In Italy, a meal without the right drink simply doesn’t exist — and here, the bar is just as much a star as the kitchen.

The drinks programme at Sale e Pepe Mare encapsulates the art of coastal Italian living, featuring several exceptional wines from Italy’s most respected producers. 

The wine list sweeps across the country, from crisp northern whites born in alpine air, to the rolling Tuscan estates and the golden vineyards of the south. It’s the sort of list that invites you to linger, to ask questions, to order another glass. 

Following this comes the theatre. A Champagne trolley glides through the dining room, adding a touch of sparkle to an already buoyant scene, while the cocktail menu channels a touch of 1950s glamour. The Shaken Dirty Martini arrives icy and precise with the final shaking and pouring at the table; the Negroni, crafted with vintage spirits, carries depth and quiet drama.

When it’s finally time to slow things down, the house bar boasts one of London’s largest collections of Amaro too. 

Of course, Sale e Pepe Mare is not just about what is on your plate, but about the environment. Markus and the team have poured so much love into making this room look and feel stunning. 

A striking warm interior stops the show with rich wood panelling, plush Italian fabrics, and a striking marble bar. Complementing this, bespoke artwork and coastal hues evoke a sense of sunlit escapism. It’s warm without being heavy, and elegant without trying too hard. 

By day, the room feels bright and airy – ideal for a leisurely breakfast or espresso stop. By night, the lighting softens, the energy shifts, and the space hums with Riviera glamour. It’s the kind of place where lunch turns into cocktails, and dinner stretches happily into the small hours.

For Markus Thesleff, CEO and Founder of Thesleff Group, the opening is as personal as it is polished. Having grown up dining at the original Sale e Pepe in Knightsbridge, he has reimagined its legacy with coastal energy and contemporary glamour. The result is more than just a restaurant – it is an invitation to indulge, linger, and to embrace la dolce vita in the heart of London.

The all-new Sale e Pepe Mare brings a mood to a room that is effortlessly celebratory. There is a lightness here, a Riviera ease that makes it all too tempting to stay, slow down, and savour the feeling of the Italian coast.

To discover more, visit Sale e Pepe Mare