Nolita

You know that feeling when you’re craving a meal in a small, super-cosy trattoria; food cooked with love, but served with a creativity that goes a little beyond what your whiskered nonna in Naples might make? Just step through the door at Nolita and you immediately know you’ve come to the right place.

Nolita is an intimate, atmospheric restaurant with an earthy and warm interior. Your eye is drawn to the beautiful details: the carefully chosen wallpapers, the stylish artworks and the open wine shelf that serves as an impressive focal point.

Even on an ordinary Wednesday evening the vibe was lively: the restaurant was full, a sure sign of established popularity. The atmosphere felt warm, the service relaxed and attentive – the staff clearly had great energy. Candles were refreshed at the table during the evening, and the team immediately checked in about the comfort of a visiting dog, even offered him tartare (though on this occasion the dog had already eaten). Candles were replenished throughout the night and the team checked in at just the right moments.

At the back of the restaurant there’s a long table seating around 12 – ideal for a group dinner or an intimate private gathering. This table runs right in front of the restaurant’s impressive wine display.

Wine takes centre stage here. The wine list itself is thick and diverse, and on Thursdays the restaurateur chooses a ‘wine of the week’, which the team gets to taste – a lovely detail that builds community and sharpens their expertise. The selection feels clearly curated with passion, including some rarer picks, such as Slovak and Greek wines.

Nolita’s core ethos is rooted in local produce and zero waste (much like the owners’ other spot, Nolla). Ingredients come from around Finland, and the creative use of sourdough cropped up in nearly every dish throughout the evening.

The sourdough bread baked at the restaurant is a standout, a real crowd-pleaser that many guests buy to take home. Strong recommendation. 

So what about the most important part, the food? It doesn’t disappoint. The menu changes with the seasons and always stays interesting. Portions aren’t large, so plan on a full dinner: starter, secondi, main and dessert.

Portions aren’t large, so plan on a full dinner: starter, secondi, main and dessert

On my visit, I began with the Finnish fish called made and sourdough velouté – deeply flavoured, nicely balanced with the sourdough element. For secondi, the pumpkin agnolotti featured pasta made half with sourdough, a fun and successful innovation.

For the main course, the locally sourced pepper steak was perfectly tender and full of flavour. The fries were beautifully crisp and finished the dish perfectly. Others at the table enjoyed organic lamb skewers (fantastically tasty and balanced) and pea hummus with oyster mushrooms – which became the evening’s favourite. The hummus was made from a local grower’s peas, since chickpeas don’t grow in Finland. It was something you could happily scoop up by the bowlful with the house sourdough.

For the dessert the coffee and meringue with sourdough ice cream was one of the night’s surprises. It contains no chocolate – as chocolate isn’t sourced from Finland – instead leaning on sourdough and THIC™ crumble. Excellent.

Also deserving of praise is the apple pie with apple ice cream, a house classic that’s always on the menu. The recipe comes from a staff member’s relative and is absolutely worth trying.

Nolita earns a full five stars. Everything just works.

Atmosphere Warm and welcoming in the compact dining room.

Food Creative, high-quality fare with Italian flair but rooted in local ingredients and zero-waste thinking.

Drinks An impressively broad wine list and knowledgeable team.

Time Out tip Dogs are genuinely welcome and warmly accommodated.