Best Kensington Pizza: 2026 Guide with Walking Times from the Forum

Guests ask for pizza after the museums more than any other dinner. These five kitchens were still open in August 2026, with real addresses and walking times from Holiday Inn London – Kensington Forum at 97 Cromwell Road. We dropped listings we could not pin to a street.

Last verified: 20 August 2026.

1. Franco Manca — South Kensington

Best for: Sourdough after the museums, the shortest walk Address: 91 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3LD Walk from the hotel: ~7 minutes Source: francomanca.co.uk/restaurants/south-kensington

Slow-proved sourdough, Neapolitan-style, on the museum side of Old Brompton Road. The no. 2 (tomato, mozzarella, basil) is the test pizza; extras sit on the board. Compact room — expect a wait at 13:00 on a Saturday. No bookings at most branches; turn up.

2. Pierino

Best for: A sit-down Italian, not a slice-and-go Address: 37 Thurloe Place, London SW7 Walk from the hotel: ~8 minutes Source: pierinorestaurant.com · open Monday–Sunday 12:00–22:00

Family-run room between South Kensington station and the museums. Wood-fired pizzas plus pasta. The Margherita with buffalo mozzarella is the order if you are judging the dough. TripAdvisor reviews through July 2026 still treat it as a South Ken staple.

3. Pizzetta Pizza

Best for: A smaller pizza, fast, near the station Address: 22 Bute Street, London SW7 3EX Walk from the hotel: ~8 minutes Source: pizzettapizza.com

Roman-style, personal-sized pies on a side street off Old Brompton Road. Prosciutto and rocket is the usual recommendation. Useful when Franco Manca's queue is out the door and you want to sit down.

4. Bella Italia — South Kensington

Best for: Families, a kids' menu, known quantities Address: 60 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DY Walk from the hotel: ~7 minutes Source: bellaitalia.co.uk/restaurants/london/south-kensington

Chain Italian on the same stretch as Franco Manca. Not the artisan pick — it is the table that takes a high chair without a fuss. Pizza and pasta, bookings available.

5. Arancina — Notting Hill

Best for: Roman pizza alla pala and arancini, if you will go as far as Notting Hill Gate Address: 19 Pembridge Road, London W11 3HG Walk from the hotel: ~20 minutes, or Circle/District from Gloucester Road to Notting Hill Gate then 3 minutes Source: arancina.co.uk · Monday–Friday listed noon–22:30

Sicilian/Roman, not Neapolitan. The pala (long rectangular) pizzas and the arancini are why people make the extra walk. Combine with Portobello if you are already in W11.

Also open, further north: Portobello Ristorante Pizzeria, 7 Ladbroke Road, W11 3PA — southern Italian, Monday–Thursday & Sunday 12:00–23:00, Friday–Saturday until 23:30. About 25 minutes on foot, or the same tube hop as Arancina.

What we did not list

Farina, Mamma Mia, Cinquecento and Zia Lucia appeared on older versions of this page without a Kensington street address we could confirm in August 2026. If you have a current address, email the desk and we will add it.

From the hotel

Restaurant	Walk	Book?
Franco Manca, 91 Old Brompton Road	~7 min	Usually walk-in
Bella Italia, 60 Old Brompton Road	~7 min	Yes
Pierino, 37 Thurloe Place	~8 min	Phone / walk-in
Pizzetta Pizza, 22 Bute Street	~8 min	Walk-in
Arancina, 19 Pembridge Road	~20 min / tube	Walk-in

Museum day plan: NHM or V&A until 16:30, Franco Manca or Pierino by 17:30, walk back along Cromwell Road. If you are going to Winter Wonderland, eat first — food queues inside are the slow part of the night.

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