Neighbourhood Italian restaurant Rossella will open its second North London site in Muswell Hill this May, building on the success of its much-loved Kentish Town restaurant with a new space bringing together a restaurant, bar and deli under one roof.
Led by owner Luca Meola, Rossella has built a loyal local following for its seasonal Italian cooking, relaxed, family-led hospitality, and sense of community. A Londoner and second-generation Italian, Luca draws on his heritage to shape a restaurant that is as much about storytelling and tradition as it is about the food on the plate.
That heritage begins with the Meola family in Benevento, Italy, where the first Rossella restaurant opened in 1960. Luca’s father later moved to London in 1978, opening a trattoria and establishing the family’s presence in the UK. In 2012, Luca continued that tradition when he opened Rossella in Kentish Town, creating a neighbourhood restaurant built around simple Italian cooking, quality ingredients, and wines from the family vineyard in Benevento.
The new Muswell Hill site, located on St James’s Square (107 Muswell Hill Road, N10 3HS), reflects a natural expansion of the brand into another North London neighbourhood with a strong local identity. Designed as an all-day destination, the space will include a full restaurant, a separate bar for aperitivo and cocktails, serving a menu of small plates and pizzas, and a deli element showcasing Rossella’s own products and curated Italian hampers.
The menu in Muswell Hill will stay true to Rossella’s ethos while introducing a more expansive à la carte menu with a stronger emphasis on generous mains. Alongside signature pasta dishes such as Tagliatelle Ragù di Agnello, a slow braised lamb ragù, and Spaghetti allo Scoglio, seafood in a Napoli sauce, the menu places greater focus on seasonal main dishes, including Veal Milanese, Bistecca Tagliata, sliced steak served with a rocket and parmesan salad, and Salmone alla Puttanesca, creating a more rounded, bistro-style menu. Antipasti include Bruschetta di Pomodoro made with ciabatta from local Muswell Hill institution Dunn’s Bakery and bestselling Mozzarella Fritta. Alongside this, a pizza counter set beside the bar will form a natural focal point within the room, where chefs will prepare pizzas and bake Rossella’s 48-hour slow-fermented dough to order, including options such as the Friarielli, topped with Sicilian pork and fennel sausage, sautéed friarielli and red chilli.
Dessert will bring a theatrical touch, with Rossella’s homemade Tiramisu served tableside via the ‘Tiramisu Trolley’ – an adapted vintage drinks trolley once owned by Luca’s grandfather, adding both a sense of occasion and a personal connection to the family story behind the restaurant.
That sense of heritage continues through Rossella’s drinks and deli offering. House wines are sourced directly from the Meola family vineyard in Benevento, while Limoncello and Meloncello are made on the Amalfi Coast using the family’s traditional recipes. Alongside these, the Rossella Collection includes in-house chilli oil and balsamic glaze, as well as olive oil, all available to enjoy in the restaurant or purchase to take home. Rossella’s deli, already established in Kentish Town and online, will extend into Muswell Hill through a curated in-restaurant deli offering.
The drinks list will feature Italian classics and signatures including Limoncello Spritz, Negronis made with Sacred Vermouth – distilled locally in Highgate – and Espresso Martinis, served in vintage glassware, alongside a curated wine list balancing the family wines with a broader Italian selection.
The interiors, designed by Faber & Co, have been conceived to feel as though the space has evolved organically over time, with layered details, rich colours and a retro aesthetic that gives the restaurant warmth and character. Distinct restaurant and bar areas sit alongside one another, creating a space that can shift from daytime dining and family occasions to evening drinks and gatherings. The bar can also be reconfigured as a private dining area for up to 30 guests.
As with Kentish Town, Rossella Muswell Hill is intended to feel embedded in its neighbourhood. The restaurant will be both family-friendly and dog-friendly, with a children’s menu and plans for child-led pizza-making workshops, alongside a programme of wine tastings and other events.
