October 2025 (London) - 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.
‘Mezzogiorno by Francesco Mazzei’ opening November 2025
The celebrated chef returns with a soulful, spirited Italian restaurant at Corinthia London
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.
Mezzogiorno by Francesco Mazzei will open in November 2025. Reservations open on 15 October; to book your table, visit corinthia.com/en-gb/london/restaurants-bars.
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About Corinthia London - ‘London’s Magical Grand Hotel’
On the corner of Whitehall beside the River Thames, Corinthia London is a radiant reflection of the city’s dynamic spirit. Behind its grand façade and historic surroundings is a captivating atmosphere of magical moments. While the spellbinding spa pushes the boundaries of wellness, and an array of dining venues spoil for choice, an imaginative touch delights in every detail. Corinthia London is home to 279 guestrooms, including 55 suites and seven penthouses, with spectacular views across the capital.
About Corinthia Hotels
Founded in Malta in 1968, Corinthia Hotels is a global hotel company with an expanding luxury portfolio. Corinthia has pioneered the ‘Grand Boutique’ hotel genre, blending the elegance of a grande dame with the energy of a lifestyle boutique hotel. From the original Corinthia Palace in Malta to hotels in London, New York, Brussels and Bucharest, the company is developing landmark properties in Rome, Doha, Riyadh and Dubai, alongside resorts in the Maldives and beyond. Combining Mediterranean soul with world-class culinary and wellness offerings and authentic service, Corinthia remains a leader in the hospitality sector with ambitious plans to further strengthen its position in global luxury. corinthia.com
About Afroditi
Afroditi was founded in 2002 in a garage in South London. Founder and product designer, Afroditi Krassa brought a radically new approach to hospitality design that led to the creation of some of London’s most iconic projects. From itsu to Dishoom, the holistic and conceptually driven approach has defined categories for clients spanning ultra-luxury hotels such as Mandarin Oriental, Rosewood, and One&Only, cinemas and clubs, celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal, iconic bars and leading restaurant groups. Two decades, 200 projects, and 40 design awards later, the studio operates across three continents, working with governments, developers and hospitality leaders to reimagine the way we consume hospitality experiences. Mezzogiorno creative direction, branding, and interiors by award-winning design studio, Afroditi.