Osteria Vibrato

Australian-born restaurateur Charlie Mellor returned to the London restaurant scene in 2026 with Osteria Vibrato, a compact Italian restaurant that deftly channels the spirit of the trattoria through the lens of central London. On Soho's Greek Street, the 45-cover restaurant has been cleverly designed to appeal to a broad Soho crowd spanning theatregoers, office workers, locals and tourists alike.

Best known for his cult East London restaurant The Laughing Heart, Mellor has built his reputation on creating restaurants with strong identities and a loyal following. Osteria Vibrato - the name nods to his former career as an opera singer - continues that approach, albeit in a more classic and accessible register.

The menu takes inspiration from across Italy rather than focusing on a single region, combining familiar comfort and understated technique with careful sourcing. Antipasti and primi include seafood fritto misto; cotechino with plum mostarda and crushed swede; shaved artichokes with pecorino romano and olive oil; and tagliatelle with white courtyard ragù. Larger dishes such as pumpkin stuffed with rice and chestnuts with Parmigiano fondue or grilled sole with Pantelleria capers reinforce the restaurant's emphasis on generosity and nostalgia over fine-dining theatrics. One side of the menu is written in English, the other in Italian.

Wine is central to Mellor's restaurants and Osteria Vibrato is no exception. The 300-bin list focuses on natural, biodynamic and low-intervention producers, with a strong Italian backbone alongside a notable French presence that includes grower champagne. While the list contains the occasional rarity from Mellor's personal cellar, the overall approach favours drinkability and accessibility rather than obscurity.

Atmosphere is another major part of the appeal. Staff in crisp white jackets move through a softly lit dining room lined with rosewood veneer panels, leather banquettes and lime-plastered walls, while candlelight and an eclectic soundtrack help give the restaurant an easy, late-night Soho energy. The result feels polished without becoming self-conscious.