Rossella to open second north London site in Muswell Hill

Neighbourhood Italian restaurant Rossella is set to open its second site on 12 May 2026, bringing a new all-day destination to Muswell Hill.

The venue on St James’s Square will be led by owner Luca Meola and follows the success of his original Kentish Town restaurant. 

The space combines a traditional dining room with a separate bar for aperitivo and a deli showcasing the brand’s own produce.

Meola, a second-generation Italian, draws on a family heritage that began with a restaurant in Benevento in 1960. The new site will serve house wines sourced directly from the Meola family vineyard in Italy and limoncello made to traditional recipes.

The menu includes signature pasta dishes and a focus on seasonal mains such as veal Milanese and salmon alla puttanesca. A dedicated pizza counter will serve 48-hour slow-fermented dough, while dessert features a tiramisu trolley once owned by Meola’s grandfather.

Designed by Faber and Co, the interiors feature a retro aesthetic with distinct areas that can be reconfigured for private dining for up to 30 guests. The restaurant also plans to host pizza-making workshops and wine tastings for the local community.

The deli element will offer curated Italian hampers and the Rossella Collection, which includes in-house chilli oil and balsamic glaze.

Local partnerships include bread supplied by Dunn’s Bakery and spirits from Sacred Gin in Highgate.

Meola said: “Everything we do at Rossella comes from my family and how I grew up. Food was always about bringing people together around the table, and that’s still what drives it now.

“Muswell Hill feels like somewhere that really values that kind of place, somewhere local, relaxed and genuinely part of the neighbourhood. It’s about doing things properly and sharing those traditions.”