Arenella at the Chapel Bar review: simple Italian cooking, deliciously served
Relaxed dining on a sun-soaked London terrace

Named after the region just outside Sicily, the newly-opened Arenella brings refined Italian flavours to a cosy roof terrace at Islington’s Chapel Bar.
The bottomless lunch boasts unlimited Prosecco, Aperol spritz, vino blanco or elderflower spritz all served up by a friendly group of waiters who are always on hand for a speedy top up.
The vino blanco paired nicely with a starter of steamed mussels, fergola and lemon. The mussels were cooked to perfection and combined nicely with al dente fregola pasta and a citrusy sauce. My dining companion opted for a glass of Prosecco and crispy calamari fritti, which came with a similarly tort lemon and garlic mayonnaise.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A main course of nduja tortellini and red pesto followed the mussels. The nduja was delicious if a little less spicy than expected, and was offset well by the tomato and basil pesto. The lemon and ricotta ravioli was also excellent and came with a deliciously buttery sauce and a dusting of parmesan.
No gluttonous lunch would be complete without an unnecessary dessert following a superbly filling two courses. The white chocolate and Campari cannoli was perfect - and about the right size after the filling starter and main course. Meanwhile, the mini chocolate hazelnut donuts, accompanied by a healthy scoop of ice cream, is possibly a little too large - though it was also delightful and disappeared from the bowl post haste.
After three excellent courses, all that is left is to bask in the sunshine over one last refreshing drink, before departing to peruse the nearby Chapel Market. Arenella says that at its heart is a “philosophy of simple southern Italian cooking” and on this count, it certainly delivers.
£35 all in for the starter, main and bottomless drinks. Desserts cost £6 each on top; thechapelbar.co.uk
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Hotel La Duna Bianca: all-inclusive indulgence in northern Sardinia
The Week Recommends Set among the sand dunes of Badesi, this sprawling retreat is less a resort and more a self-contained luxury village
-
Marfa, Texas: Big skies, fine art, and great eating
Feature A cozy neighborhood spot, a James Beard semifinalists, and more
-
Best Caribbean restaurants in London
The Week Recommends From bold flavours to twists on tradition, these restaurants serve up a rich tapestry of food culture from across the West Indies
-
The battle to be named the world's oldest restaurant
Under The Radar Two Madrid restaurants dispute the historical record but could both of their claims be cooked?
-
Some of the best music and singing holidays in 2025
The Week Recommends From singing lessons in the Peak District to two-week courses at Chetham's Piano Summer School
-
Critics' choice: Restaurants that write their own rules
Feature A low-light dining experience, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, and Hawaiian cuisine with a twist
-
Summertime eating is good at these 7 restaurants across the country
The Week Recommends Patios and big flavors are in season
-
Critics' choice: Steak houses that break from tradition
Feature Eight hours of slow-roasting prime rib, a 41-ounce steak, and a former Catholic school chapel turned steakhouse