Last Updated on November 14, 2025
Mele e Pere: Fifteen Years of Italian Charm on Brewer Street
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
It’s hard to believe this was my first visit to Mele e Pere, a Soho fixture on Brewer Street for 15 years. Still run by the same three brothers and their friend who founded it, the restaurant captures the warmth and authenticity of a family-run trattoria from northern Italy.
Upstairs, there’s a small, light-filled bar and restaurant with views of Soho’s bustle. Head downstairs, though, and you’ll find the heart of Mele e Pere: a copper-topped vermouth bar and a surprisingly spacious dining room.
Burnt orange walls and framed Italian prints – film stars, pasta, truffles, set the scene. Low ceilings, flickering candles, and the soft hum of conversation create a cosy, inviting buzz, perfect for autumn and winter.
Being a big Negroni fan, I was keen to explore the vermouth bar, something that, perhaps unsurprisingly, since the Negroni was invented in Florence, Italians do remarkably well. Flanked by vintage-style posters and served by a confident young Italian barman, we enjoyed a couple of Mele e Pere signature Negronis.
The owners, from Tuscany, serve a rich, plummy drink made with dark, house-made vermouth infused with herbs and spices, Campari, and Tanqueray gin, garnished with an orange dried and infused with coffee from Terribe Coffee Company. The slightly bitter twist is a perfect match for the Negroni, and with smoked almonds on the side, it’s the perfect start to the evening.
The atmosphere is relaxed and sociable, the kind of place where everyone seems to be having a good time. During my visit over half-term, the room was filled with families and friends unwinding after a day out. Mele e Pere is ideal for a lively catch-up or a relaxed family dinner rather than an intimate candlelit date – a friendly Soho classic that welcomes everyone.
After our Negronis, we settled in for some comforting Italian fare. The menu strikes a perfect balance between regional classics and seasonal specials, offering dishes designed for sharing – if you’re willing!
We started with lightly battered calamari fritti, golden and tender, served with creamy lemon mayonnaise, alongside finely sliced prosciutto crudo and gnocchi fritti dusted with Grana Padano. The gnocchi were slightly chewier than we prefer, but the salty prosciutto and crisp calamari made a good beginning to the meal.
To accompany our starters, my companion chose a Villa dei Fiori Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, ripe and rustic with notes of black olive and cherry. For me, a Tuffolo Gavi from Piemonte, crisp with green apple, almond, and a clean, lemony finish.
For pasta, we opted for a butternut squash risotto laced with hazelnuts and topped with crisp cavolo nero – a warm, nutty, perfectly autumnal dish. The spaghetti alla carbonara, always one of my favourites, was outstanding: served in its pan with a whole egg yolk and plenty of Parmesan, full of flavour and wonderfully rich.
Food at Mele e Pere is plentiful, and we couldn’t resist the Brasato di Manzo, a fabulous, wonderfully tender braised beef served with soft polenta, that was the very definition of winter comfort. A side of crisp butter lettuce with a tart lemon dressing added the perfect touch of freshness.
To finish, we shared a pot of tiramisu – Italy all sewn up in one creamy, coffee-soaked spoonful.
Mele e Pere is one of those rare Soho spots where you can actually hear yourself think and your friends too. The atmosphere is warm, the Negronis are dangerously good, and it’s the perfect place for a proper catch-up or a relaxed family outing.
Lunch specials starting at around £8.50
Pre-theatre set menus (three courses with a glass of prosecco) for about £17.50–£18 per person.
À la carte options are available for those seeking more variety.
Mele e Pere
46 Brewer Street,
Soho,
London W1F 9TF
020 7096 2096
Looking for more great Italian restaurants? Check out Bottega35 for a similar vibe in Kensington
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