London – Tucked away behind an understated entrance on Seymour Street, in London's Marylebone, Locanda Locatelli wasn't just a restaurant - it was a landmark of Italian culinary excellence that boasted a cult following from all those lucky enough to dine there.
The restaurant closed in January 2025, however there is still a final chance to taste their wine with the sale of Locanda Locatelli: Iconic Italian wines from a landmark London restaurant, which will run from 1-14 October on bonhams.com.

Mick O'Connell MW, Head of Wine UK & Continental Europe, commented: "Over more than two decades Locanda Locatelli nourished the bodies, hearts and souls of over 1 and a half million people and now its cellar is gracing us at Bonhams with a plethora of joy one last time. At a time when Italian Fine Wine indices are on the march, this cellar features benchmark names highlighting the depth and breadth of quality this most gastronomic of countries has to offer the wine sphere. The provenance of the cellar is impeccable with every iconic name of Italy represented in untouched original cases stored professionally since release. A small selection of bottles that were lovingly nurtured by the sommelier team at the restaurant begin the offering. We would like to thank Giorgio and Plaxy Locatelli for entrusting us with this treasure trove of Italian vinous culture."

Founded in 2002 by Giorgio and Plaxy Locatelli who worked front of house, the restaurant quickly built an outstanding reputation which awarded it a Michelin star in 2003, which was impressively retained for over two decades. Designed by David Collins, the restaurant decor was glamorous. Locatelli was a restaurant where you came to be wowed, while maintaining an intimate familial feel.

Locatelli inherited his passion for food from family and grew up watching his uncle run a Michelin star restaurant in Lombardia. His inquisitive mind brought him from Northen Italy to London where his love of the haute cuisine works of Auguste Lescoffier brought him to The Savoy. Next in the journey was Paris with three years working in Restaurant Laurent and La Tour d'Argent. These brigade environments gave Locatelli an understanding of the type of restaurant that he would open himself with a warmth for both staff and customer alike that leaned on the generational handing down of familial knowledge and culinary skill at the heart of Italian cuisine. Locatelli's magnum opus is Made In Italy, a book that is the benchmark text on Italian food. It provides not only incredible recipes and insight but also context in the form of stories.

At Locanda Locatelli wine was treated with the same reverence as the food. Locanda's wine list stretched over 40 pages and stood as one of the most thoughtfully curated collections in Europe. The 40 pages were, of course, mainly Italian demonstrating the depth and breadth of the country. The judges of the World's Best Wine Lists called it "extraordinary," and The Times named it one of the best in London. It was also winner of the Wine List Confidential Awards 2019, Leccio d'oro Brunello 2010, Award of excellence every year from 2008 – 2024, finalist of the AA best wine list every year from 2008 – 2024 and featured in the World's Best Wine Lists 2015 by The World of Fine Wine for it's extraordinary and diverse Italian selection. For those in the know, there was joy in discovering new and rare local gems dotted between the icons of Italy.

Highlights from the cellar include wines from Gaja, Giacosa, Conterno, Mascarello and Rinaldi from Piemonte. The northeast is represented by Quintarelli and Dal Forno. Masseto, Ornellaia, Sassicaia and Solaia bear the flag of Tuscany. An A-Z of Italian wine icons.