This November, Corinthia London will unveil Mezzogiorno by Francesco Mazzei, a vibrant new restaurant from the celebrated Italian chef. Rooted in his Calabrian heritage and drawing inspiration from rich Italian culinary traditions, Mezzogiorno transforms the hotel’s former Northall Restaurant into a characterful dining destination inspired by the Baroque palazzos of Southern Italy.
A Taste of Italy
Mazzei’s native Calabria is a land of rugged mountains, dramatic coastline, and a food culture shaped by tradition. Known for bold flavours, from fiery chillies and soppressata to rich ‘nduja and fragrant bergamot, the cuisine is simple, soulful, and passed down through generations. At Mezzogiorno, Mazzei draws on these influences, sourcing from Calabria’s producers while also embracing the breadth of Italian cooking to create a menu that is simple, yet sophisticated.
The Chef
Born and raised in Calabria, Francesco Mazzei is widely recognised as one of the most influential Italian chefs in the UK. After training in Rome and honing his craft with leading chefs around the world, he rose to prominence in London with acclaimed restaurants including L’Anima, Fiume, and Sartoria. His cookbook, Mezzogiorno pays tribute to his southern Italian roots and the family traditions that continue to shape his cooking. This same spirit of heritage and hospitality underpins his partnership with Corinthia, a family-owned brand, built on a shared belief in bringing people together around the table.
“Opening Mezzogiorno is about sharing the way we eat in Italy,” says Mazzei. “It’s generous, it’s lively, just like the South. I want people to sit down, eat, drink, laugh, and feel like they’re part of my family.”
The Menu
Inspired by Italy’s sun-drenched south, the menu will take guests on a journey across the country’s rich culinary landscape, innovating beloved regional flavours and timeless classics while using 70% seasonal British ingredients: seafood from Scotland, Westcombe ricotta, and Welsh lamb. Menu highlights include Scottish Crab with Tuscan Panzanella, Umbrian White Truffle Tortelli, the Four Pastas of Rome (Cacio e Pepe, Gricia, Carbonara, and Amatriciana), Bistecca alla Fiorentina, and Mazzei’s famous Massive Marsala Tiramisu. Guests can also expect a dedicated White Truffle menu, an Italian-led wine list, and a lively bar of aperitivi and cocktails created tableside to complete the experience, evoking the chef’s own memories of Southern Italy. Mazzei is equally committed to sustainability, favouring short supply chains, seasonal produce, and partnerships with local producers and farmers markets, ensuring freshness while reducing food miles and supporting communities.
The Design
Corinthia’s London’s former Northall Restaurant has been dramatically reimagined by award-winning design studio, Afroditi. Drawing inspiration from the stonewashed glamour of Calabria and Puglia’s Baroque palazzos, Mezzogiorno is at once opulent and welcoming. Soft and natural, intentionally faded in places, the soaring eight-metre-high space embraces a tactile colour palette of warm terracotta, pinks, and stone, layered with rich greenery and hand-painted stucco on the walls to soften the architecture. By day, sunlight floods across silky fabrics, green-veined Italian marble, and oak parquetry floors that feel like they’ve been in situ for a generation, evoking summer nostalgia; by night, the atmosphere transforms under flickering candlelight and dreamy custom-made Murano chandeliers; a romantic, transportive backdrop to Mazzei’s cuisine. The sensory dining journey begins the moment guests arrive, entering through the kitchen past lively counters of chefs at work before stepping into a space that feels both rustic and refined.
The Destination
The opening of Mezzogiorno marks an exciting new chapter in Corinthia London’s culinary story, which already features acclaimed Chef Tom Kerridge at Kerridge’s Bar & Grill, cocktails from ‘The Maestro’ Salvatore Calabrese at Velvet, outdoor oasis The Garden, and afternoon tea at the Crystal Moon Lounge. With Mazzei’s arrival, Corinthia London further establishes itself as one of the capital’s leading dining destinations.
“We wanted to work with Francesco Mazzei to create something joyful, vibrant, and rooted in family traditions; something that resonates deeply with us as a proudly family-owned hotel. We are delighted to welcome him as a new Chef Partner and look forward to guests experiencing the warmth of his Calabrian hospitality here in the heart of London,” adds Corinthia London’s General Manager, Charlotte Weatherall.
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