Grand English glamour vs the Italian dolce vita? Why Il Pellicano's Claridge’s takeover is a sun-kissed delight
Claridge's welcomes Hotel Il Pellicano with open arms for a one week restaurant residency of laid back luxury and Tuscan charm

London’s icy winter is beginning to look that bit sunnier as fabled Italian hotel, Il Pellicano takes residency at Claridge’s. For one week in February ( 17 – 22 February) the Tuscan hotel will bring its dolce vita Italian charm to Claridge's renowned high-glamour restaurant. You'd be remiss not to book a table.
Claridge's Il Pellicano restaurant residency
The exterior of Claridge's
Celebrating its sixtieth anniversary this year, Il Pellicano was built on 1950s Hollywood charm, a secluded hideaway to enjoy refined hospitality and relaxation. Overlooking the Mediterranean sea, the hotel – once a favourite of Sofia Loren, Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Kennedy – has a timeless elegance, balanced with a contemporary spirit which is threaded through its 50 rooms and suites.
Il Pellicano's astice blu radice arancio salsa arachidi ( Blue lobster with orange root and peanut sauce)
Integrating this charm at Claridge's luxurious Mayfair address, guests will experience a fusion of flavours inspired by the Tuscan coast, within Claridge’s grand English glamour restaurant. The space underwent a refurb last April, under the guidance of Bryan O’Sullivan Studio (who also designed the new Brook Suite). Staying true to the hotel's Art Deco design codes, the new space is both grand and intimate.
Il Pellicano's bar
The menu is a blend of sophistication and nonchalance, dishes designed to be shared between intimate gatherings and relaxed conversations. Its authentic feel is thanks to Chef Michelino Gioia, and barman Federico Morosi who worked closely in pairing succulent plates with refreshing cocktails. Il Pellicano’s specialties are of course the main event, featuring an abundance of pasta and risotto to start, including Maremma-style ravioli with butter and sage, to risotto with shrimp, ginger and lime.
Il Pellicano's restaurant terrace
For the main course, veal cheek doused in potato cream, chicory and Chianti sauce is on offer, while turbot with stuffed escarole and anchovy sauce is a fresh and summery choice. Also on the menu: a lightly-poached organic egg with asparagus cream, smoked scamorza cheese and black truffle. To finish things off, it would be a sin not to indulge in an Italian favourite: the perfectly layered Tiramisu.
Claridge's Restaurant with Art Deco detailing
The bar menu is a nod to the timeless elegance of Italian cocktails. From Il Pellicano's hotel classic The Pelican Martini, to The Teller Negroni, which pays homage to photographer Juergen Teller. Each cocktail is thought out and selected to tell a story which reflects Il Pellicano’s star-studded history.
Il Pellicano's restaurant terrace
Commenting on the residency, Marie Louise Sciò, CEO and creative director at Pellicano Hotels says, ‘This residency feels particularly special, as both Claridge’s and Hotel Il Pellicano share a legacy of excellence and a passion for creating unforgettable, timeless experiences for our guests. It’s even more meaningful this year as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Il Pellicano, marking six decades of cherished memories, exceptional hospitality, and lasting connections.’
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Il Pellicano’s laidback luxury partnered with Claridge’s Art Deco character makes for an intriguing yet harmonious partnership to drift away from any winter blues.
Hotel Il Pellicano X Claridge's runs from Monday 17 to Saturday 22 February 2025. To book a table please visit www.claridges.co.uk to find out more.
Tianna Williams is Wallpaper’s staff writer. When she isn’t writing extensively across varying content pillars, ranging from design and architecture to travel and art, she also helps put together the daily newsletter. She enjoys speaking to emerging artists, designers and architects, writing about gorgeously designed houses and restaurants, and day-dreaming about her next travel destination.
-
The Sinclair name is back, attached to a pocket-sized games console with an educational edge
Grant Sinclair’s name is freighted with early computing history. Wallpaper* tapped up the British inventor to find out more about his new GamerCard console and other innovation
-
Beloved sushi restaurant Sōgo Roll Bar comes to Highland Park
The sushi hangout begins a new chapter in its second location, becoming the perfect spot for a quick grab-and-go or a relaxed tasting experience in east LA
-
Japanese designer Shinichiro Ogata's latest venture is a modern riff on the traditions of his home country
As he launches Saboe, a series of new tearooms and shops across Japan, we delve into Shinichiro Ogata's creative vision, mirrored throughout the spaces and objects, rituals and moments of his projects
-
Guests dined on Bangladeshi-inspired cuisine at the Serpentine Summer Party 2025
The party marked the 25th anniversary of the Serpentine Architecture Pavilion – and celebrated this year’s design by Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum and her Dhaka-based firm
-
Rémy Martin and Anish Kapoor: art meets cognac in London
The cognac house and the artist unveiled a limited-edition XO decanter and a new sculpture in London at a recent event at the Institute of Contemporary Arts
-
Mark your calendars for Mount Street Neighbourhood Summer Festival, a feast for the senses
The event, 12-14 June 2025, showcases the mix of food, art and community in the heart of London’s Mayfair. Here's what to expect, from afternoon tea to aperitivo, film screenings to biodynamic flowers
-
Healthy chocolate? Eat it at Makers, London’s new Lebanese chocolatier
Located in Chelsea, Makers is a new ‘healthy chocolate’ shop offering treats free of refined sugar, seed oils, wheat and dairy – and it tastes delicious
-
Sketch transforms into an English garden in celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday
The 11th edition of ‘Sketch in Bloom’ nods to the most notable works of Jane Austen with budding floral installations and a quintessentially English afternoon tea
-
At the Regent Street Sensorium, architectural jelly sculptures are designed to ignite the senses
Delve into the history of London’s Regent Street through a jellyscape, a fragrance cloud and more – plus, for the event’s final week, two new immersive workshops (ends 27 April)
-
Burns Night 2025: where to celebrate in London
It is time to raise a wee dram to Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns on Burns Night (25 January). Here is our pick of places to enjoy an evening of generous speechmaking, toasting, and drinking around London
-
Lunar New Year in London: where to celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake
Do you want a year of good fortune and happiness? Then it is time to tuck into some of London’s cult favourite hotspots, devour decadent treats, and toast the Lunar New Year, and we have you covered with our guide to all things going on in the city (from 29 January until 8 February 2025)