Restaurant Cent Anni opens this week, bringing contemporary Italian dining to St John’s Wood

A new Italian establishment, Cent Anni, is set to open in St John’s Wood this week, occupying the site that previously housed Café Med. The launch marks the expansion of the brand, which has one other branch in Wimbledon Village that opened in 2019, and it represents a significant change for the north London neighbourhood.

Cent Anni is owned by Raymond de Fazio, who explained, “This is a restaurant for the neighbours, but we also want to appeal to a broader London audience, whether for family gatherings, dinner with friends or colleagues, or drinks and snacks on the terrace.” The modern Italian eatery, housed in a Grade II listed building, will offer seating for 48 diners indoors and an outdoor terrace accommodating up to 60 people. Located near the famous Abbey Road zebra crossing, the venue has undergone refurbishment, now styled with a neutral colour palette, light walnut wood flooring, banquette and chair seating in olive and seaweed shades, new lighting, a working fireplace and an open kitchen. Private dining facilities are also available on the first floor, with one room seating up to 12 and another accommodating up to 30 guests.

Menu development is overseen by head chef Elton Souta da Silva, and will feature a mix of classic and contemporary Italian dishes. Starters include Calamari Fritti with lemon mayonnaise, Vitello Tonnato, Arancini Cacio e Pepe, Salmon Tartare with Sourdough Crisp and burrata with Sicilian datterini tomatoes. Pasta and risotto options range from linguine with king prawns to mascarpone, broad bean, pea and mint risotto. The entrées bring Italian authenticity, such as Veal Milanese, oven-baked cod, calves liver, sea bass and a selection of steak cuts. For dessert, there are treats like Amalfi Lemon Tart, Tiramisù and a Vanilla Panna Cotta with Blood Orange Marmalade.

The team are planning to introduce regular menu initiatives, including Pasta Monday (£14 for any pasta), Wine Wednesday (25% off bottles, excluding selected labels) and a Sunday roast featuring Italian porchetta or roast beef (£24 per person). A set lunch menu will be offered on weekdays, with two courses for £17 or three for £20. And to accompany the food, there’s a wine list that counts 50 selections starting at £27 per bottle, with 20 available by the glass.

Cent Anni will be open Monday to Saturday from noon to 10.30pm, and on Sundays from noon to 10pm.

Food Desk

Cent Anni opens on 1^st March 2026 at 21 Loudoun Road, London NW8 0NB. For further information or to book a table, visit the restaurant’s website here.