Stumbling upon its essentially elegant wood and glass entrance on a casual weekend walk will be enough for you to be persuaded by Lita Marylebone’s vibrant offering. Situated a short stroll from Baker Street on a lively red-brick road in London’s West End, the modern bistro’s softly glowing atmosphere spills outdoors come the night, allowing passersby to catch a glimpse into its incessant comings and goings and, more often than not, luring them in. Named after a diminutive for abuela (‘grandmother’ in Spanish), Lita Marylebone draws on the intimacy of family life to craft a Mediterranean-inspired dining experience with conviviality at its core. Still, if its animated ambiance can be sneakily caught even from the outside, it’s the food and the energy you can savor within it that will keep you coming back — mark my words.

The brainchild of Canadian-born restaurateur Daniel Koukarskikh and Irish Head Chef Luke Ahearne, Lita Marylebone opened just over a year ago, but its combination of masterfully revisited Southern European staples and cosmopolitan savoir-faire has already proved winning. From the Cantabrian-topped, garlicky pan con tomate (‘bread with tomatoes’), an afternoon snack or merenda already impressed in the memory of most Andalucian and Italian people, to the pleasantly savory salad of culatello ham, walnuts, ricotta, and radicchio, the earthy, comforting Aylesbury duck ragu strozzapreti, and the many artistically presented, exquisite crudo (‘raw fish’) dishes, the hotspot knows how to assemble seemingly simple ingredients into layered-in-flavors, harmonious masterpieces that unfold at every bite.

In February, only 11 months since launching, the eatery was awarded its first Michelin Star, an accolade that, reflecting the high degree of sophistication achieved by both its gastronomic offering alone and the wider guest experience, makes Lita Marylebone one of the best London restaurants to try this year.

When I arrive at 6:30 PM on a Tuesday evening, dinner service is already in full swing. Seated on a sage green velvet stool at the terracotta travertine bar counter opposite its entrance, I can see the whole of Lita Marylebone’s staff abuzz with activity. Before me, cocktails are being mixed and wine glasses poured. All around, a fantastical, at times humorous, selection of artworks — including British painter Jack Penny‘s whimsical depiction of the chaoticness of hospitality life, All Fours (2023), part of his Fast Food series, and Russian artist Zarina Groevaya‘s bespoke contribution to the restaurant’s eight-cover private dining room, a pink-drenched, playfully cartoony rendition of its culinary feasts — contrast the otherwise neutral, sandy color scheme of the space.