Theo James’ new restaurant Lupa brings a style of Rome to the center of Highbury

Carousel co-owner Ed Templeton is one massive title behind this new Roman-style restaurant in north London; one other is White Lotus star Theo James. The pair turned pals after their actor wives met whereas strolling on Highbury Fields throughout lockdown, and so they each agreed they needed someplace informal, however of excellent high quality, to eat on their doorstep.

Wallpaper* dines at Lupa, London

The temper: a neighborhood osteria price travelling for

Templeton has designed the window-wrapped nook website himself, with enter from his spouse Georgia Maguire and James’s spouse Ruth Kearney. The unique Victorian options of the previous store have been complemented by up to date fittings, whereas the comfortable dimensions of the 28-cover area imply that seating is on benches handcrafted by carpenter Herb Palmer up the highway in Walthamstow. Templeton’s buddy, ceramist Valentine Benoist, has designed vases to sit down atop every candlelit desk, whereas lime-washed partitions and terracotta tones reference the Roman theme. Service, in the meantime, is as relaxed because the low-lit vibe.

‘It’s a tiny spot,’ Templeton says. ‘It’s actually, actually small. The benches felt like one of the simplest ways to form of maximise covers and make it as snug as potential. And all of us preferred the concept of getting the form of café with half-curtains that imply all you possibly can see from the skin is the tops of heads and the sparkle of candlelight. We’ve gone for an ochre form of color outdoors, which hopefully is paying homage to the Campo de’ Fiori in Rome. However let’s see the way it stands up on a moist November night time in Highbury.’

‘We needed that vibrant feeling of a again avenue trattoria while making it up to date sufficient that it wasn’t too conventional; it was about discovering that steadiness between modernity and informality with the usage of lighting, artwork and music,’ provides Ruth Kearney. ‘We wish each visitor who sits down to instantly really feel like they’re in a spot that cares concerning the particulars.’

The meals: when in Rome…

Templeton lived within the Italian capital in his early 20s and has enlisted Milan-raised chef Naz Hassan (Pidgin’s former head chef) to create a menu of crowd-pleasing classics alongside Roman-inspired seasonal specials. Count on a brief menu lengthy on massive flavours: carbonara or cacio e pepe made with hand-rolled pasta, lamb cutlets crisped up on the grill, and veg-forward dishes equivalent to carciofi alla romana (artichoke hearts filled with herbs and braised in white wine, olive oil and garlic). Heading to Arsenal? There’ll be thick-cut porchetta sandwiches to remove on match days.

Lupa is positioned at 73 Highbury Park, London N5 1UA, UK.