Discover top Italian-inspired foodie spots for Ferragosto!

In Italy, 15 August is a much-anticipated and cherished public holiday known as Ferragosto.  Italians celebrate by taking the day off work, catching up with friends and family, firing up the barbeque or heading out of the cities to be by the coast or in the cool air of the mountains. 

We may not have beaches and mountains in the Royal Borough but we do have plenty of wood-fired pizza ovens, freshly-made pasta and gelato!  So why not celebrate Ferragosto with us this summer?  Here’s our guide (in no particular order) to the top places to enjoy Italian-inspired food and drink.  Buon Appetito!

Caldesi in Campagna

1. Caldesi in Campagna, Bray

The village of Bray is home to a collection of fine dining restaurants including Caldesi in Campagna where you can enjoy regional Italian dining inspired by the seasons and using the best locally-sourced ingredients. Caldesi in Campagna is the country restaurant of celebrity chef Giancarlo Caldesi, marrying typically warm Italian service with elevated regional Italian cookery from head chef Gregorio Piazza.  Look out for their regular special events, including for Ferragosto itself.  Enjoy a few hours of culinary creation on one of their popular cookery courses.

2. Sauce and Flour, Maidenhead

You’ll be glad you discovered Sauce and Flour in Maidenhead, a neighbourhood restaurant with an Italian influence.  At this popular eaterie, located near the Waterside Quarter, all food including pasta is freshly made on the premises each day.  Walk through the front door and you’ll often see different pasta shapes being created before your eyes!

Knead Neopolitan Pizza

3. Knead Neapolitan Pizza, Maidenhead

Whether you are in the mood for a classic pizza or something a little innovative, you’ll find it at Knead, a ‘planet friendly’ independent pizzeria and the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Simon and Olivia.  The pizza dough has only ever been homemade and ingredients are sourced from as many local suppliers as possible.  Their basil even grows on a basil ‘wall’ inside the restaurant!  There’s indoor and outdoor seating.  You can sip a cheeky craft beer at one of the neighbouring Hoppy Place’s outside tables whilst enjoying a Knead takeaway pizza.

4. Presto Italian Street Food, Maidenhead

Based in Maidenhead, Presto Italian Street Food serves up authentic Italian pizzas made to order every day of the week.  The Presto team put love, care and attention into every pizza they create and they use the finest Italian ingredients.  Take a seat and watch the pizza masters at work whilst you wait for your order!  The team have grown their business steadily from a (brilliant) street food stall, to a permanent pizzeria on Bridge Street, and, in summer 2024 moving into bigger, brand new premises in the heart of Maidenhead’s Waterside Quarter – their success story speaks volumes about their reputation, service and popularity!

PizzaExpress pizzaiolo in action

5. PizzaExpress, Windsor, Maidenhead and Sunningdale

Since 1965, PizzaExpress have been bringing people together to enjoy delicious pizza.  There are three restaurants to visit in the Royal Borough: Windsor (bang opposite Windsor Castle – great view!), Maidenhead and Sunningdale.  Boasting open kitchens, you can watch the pizzaiolos in action.  They are the perfect spot to stop for lunch, dinner or a light bite in-between.  Enjoy the icons you know and love like Dough Balls, American Hot or the Sloppy Giuseppe, as well as vegan or gluten-free options, and lighter dishes such as the Leggera.  Not to mention signature cocktails, unmissable desserts and the children’s Piccolo menu.  The Windsor restaurant features some wonderful royal décor too!

Piccolino

6. Piccolino, Virginia Water

Piccolino is a proud fixture of the Virginia Water dining scene.  Located on London Road, Piccolino proudly boasts an open kitchen, wine boutique, cocktail bar and a generous all-weather terrace for al fresco dining, rain or shine.  Passionate about provenance, they visit Italy’s diverse regions, meet the producers and are committed to sourcing the best quality seasonal ingredients to bring diners classic Italian dishes.  Enjoy entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays when the bar is open until late.

7. Sebastian’s Italian, Windsor

Tucked away down a little alley between Peascod Street and Windsor Royal, Sebastian’s Italian brings you the most authentic Italian cuisine from all regions of Italy.  Their chefs create mouthwatering dishes using the finest and freshest ingredients.  Pizzas are freshly cooked in a real wood-fired oven.

8. Enzo’s, Windsor

Enzo’s is a traditional Italian restaurant situated on lower Peascod Street serving authentic Italian food which is always fresh, delicious and cooked to order. They use local suppliers for their meat and vegetables.  Most of their cakes are home baked on site.  Fresh bread is baked throughout the day for guests to enjoy.   Their pizzas are made from traditional Italian dough, hand stretched and cooked to order on the stone of their authentic wood burning oven.  Their chefs prepare each dish using only “ricette della nonna” (grandmother recipes), which have been handed down through the generations.

9. Punto, Old Windsor

Punto in Old Windsor is a modern, fully licensed Italian pizzeria restaurant offering quality, freshly-prepared Italian food in a relaxed dining atmosphere which also includes a cosy conservatory.  Their extensive menu covers lunch, evening and delivery too.  They pride themselves on the freshest and highest quality ingredients including homemade dough.

10. Don Beni, Eton

Don Beni is located on Eton High Street not far from the bridge over the River Thames.  The menu is chock-full of Italian delights including starters, pizzas, pasta dishes, meat and seafood.  Oh, and Don Beni’s delicious homemade Tiramisu.

11. Storia, Maidenhead

Storia is a stylish, local independent Italian Restaurant offering fresh homemade food and exceptional service.  Choose from classic Italian fare, fresh pasta, salads, gourmet pizzas, meat and seafood dishes.

12. La Sorrentina, Sunninghill

La Sorrentina is a family-run Italian restaurant with a warm welcome located on Sunninghill’s high street.  Enjoy amazing pizzas, pasta and steak.  La Sorrentina offers the very best in home-cooked Italian cuisine.  Authentic Italian dishes are cooked to order, using only the freshest and best ingredients available. 

Fortescues of Windsor

13. Fortescues, Windsor

Fortescues of Windsor is a family-run coffee and gelato shop situated a stone’s throw from Windsor Castle, on the cobbled streets of Guildhall Island.  Fortescues serves the finest handmade Italian gelato.  Will you enjoy yours in a cone or a cup, or be swayed by their delicious waffles and crêpes and top them with your favourite gelato?  Visit them in store to pick from a huge range of delicious flavours, whether you prefer a classic taste or a more unique flavour!  Fancy a coffee with your gelato?  Then it has to be one of their famous Fortescues Affogatos!

14. Amorino Gelato, Windsor

Amorino are famous for their exquisite, rose-shaped Italian gelato in a wide range of delicious flavours.  Enjoy ice creams and sorbets, sundaes and milkshakes, gelato macarons, crêpes and waffles, hot drinks, gelato cakes and Italian pastries.

Agosti Gelato

15. Agosti Gelato, Cookham

Inspired by Italy, created in Cookham, Agosti Gelato delight in producing small batches of artisan gelato and sorbet, in the traditional Italian way, using the finest ingredients.  Their company name comes from nonno (grandpa) Gildo Agosti, who was born in a village on the shores of Lake Maggiore, in 1906.  Agosti Gelato’s milk and cream comes from local cows “the Guernsey Girls”, and all ingredients are sourced carefully, and as ethically as possible, from around the world.  Fresh gelato is then available from Cookham Dean’s weekly Metre Market or can be delivered locally or collected from Agosti Gelato's 'Lab'!  Gelato or sorbet, in your choice of flavours, can be provided for special events, served from their vintage-style gelato carts or their smaller Italian carapina cart.  Or, for smaller gatherings, Agosti Gelato can make you a delicious gelato celebration cake!

16. Italian Continental Stores, Maidenhead

Maidenhead’s Italian Continental Stores is a family-run delicatessen that has been offering Italian groceries for over 50 years!  Wander the aisles and discover row upon row of delicious Italian food and drink!