Giorgio Locatelli

With a career spanning 40 years, Giorgio Locatelli is one of the world’s most respected Italian chefs. He grew up in Northern Italy in the town of Corgeno in Lombardy, on the banks of Lake Comabbio. His uncle ran a Michelin-starred restaurant, La Cinzianella, giving him an appreciation and understanding of food from an early age.

After completing mandatory military service and working for a short spell in local restaurants in Italy and Switzerland, Giorgio went to England in 1986 to join the kitchens at The Savoy Hotel under Chef Anton Edelman. In 1990, he relocated to Paris and worked in two of the city’s legendary restaurants, Laurent and La Tour d’Argent. On his return to London a couple of years later, he opened Olivo Restaurant on Eccleston Street in Belgravia, before moving to Knightsbridge to open Zafferano in February 1995 with Claudio Pulze of A-Z Restaurants. An immediate hit, it quickly became one of the city’s most coveted and finest dining spots, earning critical acclaim and awards, including a Michelin star in 1999.

In 2002, he left Zafferano to open an independent restaurant with his English wife, Plaxy. Locanda Locatelli was located on a corner site on Seymour Street in Marylebone, on the ground floor of the luxury 5-star hotel The Churchill on Portman Square. It quickly became the benchmark for Italian cuisine in London, garnering both public and critical acclaim for its food and wine lists. In 2003, it was awarded a Michelin star, retaining it for the following 20 years.

In October 2016, Giorgio was awarded the prestigious title of Commendatore of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Commendatore dell'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana) in a ceremony presented by Pasquale Terracciano, the Italian Ambassador to London. The award is one of Italy's highest honours, recognising significant contributions to the nation. Giorgio was recognised for his promotion of Italian cuisine and culture abroad.

In January 2025, he and Plaxy closed Locanda Locatelli permanently to open a new restaurant in the prestigious National Gallery in London’s landmark Trafalgar Square. Locatelli, in partnership with Searcys, opened its doors on 10th May 2025.