Franco’s on Jermyn Street has been feeding the suited and booted patrons of St James’s for more than 80 years – and now, the Italian institution is getting yet another makeover, with a fresh new bar opening on Tuesday, September 1.
The restaurant dates back to 1945, making it one of the earliest surviving Italian restaurants in London. Its current incarnation, however, owes a lot to a major zhuzh two decades ago when Franco’s was acquired by the Hambro family, the owners of nearby seafood restaurant Wiltons. It was refurbished and relaunched in 2005 with chef Francesco Mazzei heading up the kitchen before he went on to open L’Anima and lead the kitchens at restaurants including Sartoria.
Current head chef Stefano Turconi followed soon after, joining Franco’s in 2007 before working his way up to head chef. He’s now created a dedicated menu for the new bar, which is designed for everything from morning coffee to a light lunch, aperitivo and drinks into the late evening.
On the small plates menu, diners will find a Franco’s lobster roll with pickled fennel and basil mayonnaise, and Cornish tuna tartare with burrata cream, tomato and tropea onion. “One of my favourite additions is the Sea Urchin on Toast with avocado and lime,” Turconi said in a statement. “A simple dish that celebrates exceptional produce with bold, fresh flavours.”
There are new additions to the main restaurant menu, too, including decadent potato gnocchi with porcini mushrooms, Tuscan cabbage and truffled pecorino, and roasted venison loin with celeriac purée, Scottish girolles, blackberry and juniper jus.
The new cocktail list is inspired by Italian aperitivo culture and will feature signature drinks such as the Zest, made with limoncello, citrus vodka, lemon and mint; Tarts and Flowers, starring vodka, amaretto, maraschino cherry and roasted almond; and an Apple Sour Spritz made with apple whiskey, lemon and prosecco. They’ll sit alongside head sommelier Paolo Pellegrino’s Italian-focused wine list.
“The new bar allows us to showcase an exciting cocktail programme alongside our Italian-focused wine list,” Pellegrino said. “Every drink has been carefully created to reflect the quality and hospitality our guests expect from Franco’s, while celebrating the spirit of Italian aperitivo culture.”
Conrad Alexander Design (Wiltons, Pop Brixton) is overseeing the latest makeover, following the refurbishment of the main Franco’s restaurant in 2019 and its private dining room in 2023. The bar will have light oak flooring, antique mirror panels and bespoke wallpaper inspired by classical Italian art, with a suspended chrome and glass gantry overhead.
“Our ambition was to enhance rather than reinvent the space,” founder Conrad Alexander said. “Every material and design detail has been carefully considered to create a bar that feels elegant, welcoming and entirely at home within Franco’s, respecting the restaurant’s rich heritage while introducing a lighter, more contemporary feel.”
Franco’s new bar opens on September 1, 2026 at 61 Jermyn Street, St James’s, SW1Y 6LX
