Locatelli at the National Gallery unveils Zurbarán-inspired menu to celebrate landmark exhibition

Locatelli at the National Gallery is launching a new menu inspired by the work of 17^th-century Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán, coinciding with the opening of the artist’s first major monographic exhibition in the UK. The selection, developed by Giorgio Locatelli and his team at the restaurant’s location on Trafalgar Square, will run throughout May and has been designed to reflect the visual and thematic concerns of the exhibition, which also opens on 2^nd May and runs until 23^rd August.

The exhibition brings together nearly 50 paintings, tracing Zurbarán’s career across four decades in a presentation that moves both chronologically and thematically through his body of work. Born in Seville in 1598, the painter was among the foremost of his era, recognised for his restrained and deeply spiritual compositions, his mastery of chiaroscuro (the use of light and shadow) and his ability to render texture with exceptional precision. His output includes life-size depictions of saints, large-scale altarpieces and contemplative still lifes – works celebrated for their naturalism, directness and emotional depth.

The menu has been developed by head chef Imma Savinelli alongside Giorgio Locatelli, and draws on seasonal Italian produce to translate elements of Zurbarán’s visual language into a series of dishes. Each course has been paired with a specific theme from the exhibition, creating a connection between the dining experience and the paintings on display in the gallery’s quieter rooms.

The menu opens with an orzotto – a barley risotto – served with black ink cuttlefish ragout and parsley sauce, paired with the exhibition theme The Shadow of the Baroque. The deep black of the cuttlefish ink and the vivid green of the parsley sauce are intended to echo Zurbarán’s characteristic use of dramatic contrast between darkness and illumination.

A main course of lemon chicken with mashed potato, grilled courgettes and chicken jus is paired with Seville: Hub of the Global Trade, which references the city’s considerable wealth and international maritime connections during the painter’s lifetime. A pasta dish – orecchiette with asparagus, peas, lemon and herb-infused oil – is paired with The Fabric of Saints, a nod to Zurbarán’s celebrated ability to paint the texture of materials ranging from rough monastic wool to fine linen. To finish, a Cassata Siciliana of sweet ricotta mousse, chocolate chips, pistachio and candied fruits is paired with Real and Imagined, reflecting the opulent religious commissions that characterised the artist’s career in Seville.

The Zurbarán menu is available daily between 3 and 4.30pm, with dishes served as part of the à la carte menu or as a set menu priced at £25 for two courses and £31 for three. 

Food Desk

The Zurbarán menu is available from 2^nd until 31^st May 2026 at Locatelli in the Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. For further information or to book a table, visit the restaurant’s website here.