Barbarella Canary Wharf is an Italian restaurant and pizzeria in the heart of Canary Wharf, known for its dramatic 1970s-inspired interiors, waterside setting and playful approach to Italian dining. Opened on 20 June 2025, it is part of Big Mamma Group and was designed as a restaurant where the surroundings are almost as important as the food.
The menu ranges from Neapolitan-style pizzas and homemade pasta to seafood, steak and large sharing dishes. There is also a weekday lunch menu, group dining and private-hire options. Reviews are generally positive about the atmosphere and presentation, although opinions on food and value are more mixed. This guide covers the practical details that matter before visiting, including the Barbarella London menu, prices, reviews, location, contact number, booking rules, family policy and whether the restaurant is worth the money.
What Is Barbarella London?
Barbarella is a large Italian restaurant and pizzeria from Big Mamma Group, the company behind several highly designed Italian restaurants. Its Canary Wharf concept takes inspiration from 1970s Italian cinema, combining a retro-futuristic interior with an extensive Italian menu. The design includes a mirrored glass bar, chrome elements, silk-covered walls, bold decorative pieces and a waterside setting.
What makes Barbarella different from an ordinary Italian restaurant is the emphasis on the overall dining experience. Food is often presented theatrically, some dishes are designed for sharing, and the restaurant suits occasions where atmosphere matters. The Infatuation currently rates it 8/10 and highlights its terrace, tableside pasta presentation and suitability for birthdays and special occasions.
Where Is Barbarella Canary Wharf?
Barbarella is located at Unit 3, YY London, Mackenzie Walk, London E14 5HX, in Canary Wharf. The venue sits beside the area’s waterside spaces, making it convenient for office workers, visitors and anyone planning to combine dinner with a walk around Canary Wharf.
Its location is particularly useful for different types of visits. A weekday lunch can work well for people working nearby, while the evening atmosphere makes it more suitable for dates, celebrations and group dinners. The waterside terrace is another attraction when the weather allows. For directions, using YY London or Mackenzie Walk is more precise than searching for Canary Wharf alone, as the wider area contains many restaurants and large office developments.
What Is on the Barbarella Canary Wharf Menu?
The Barbarella Canary Wharf menu combines familiar Italian dishes with larger, more theatrical creations. The official menu highlights homemade pasta, crispy-thin Neapolitan pizzas, seafood, steak and Italian classics, while the drinks list includes cocktails, non-alcoholic creations and an extensive selection of Brunello wines.
Some of the dishes that make the menu distinctive include Lobster Spaghettoni, Mezzi Rigatoni alla Norma, a metre-long truffle spaghettoni, Cod alla Mediterranea and a 1.2kg T-bone steak. The restaurant also offers a changing pizza selection, so there is plenty of choice for both first-time visitors and repeat diners.
How Much Does Barbarella Canary Wharf Cost?
Barbarella is not a low-cost Italian restaurant, but there are several ways to make a visit more manageable. The official Pranzetto lunch set menu starts from £17, running Monday to Friday from 12pm to 3pm. For larger parties of 8 to 16, the group menu starts at £62 per person.
À la carte spending is higher and depends heavily on what you order, particularly if you add cocktails, wine, starters and desserts. The Guardian reported an à la carte cost of around £40 per person before drinks and service in its review, while Time Out currently gives the restaurant a three-out-of-four price rating.
For practical budgeting, the main options are:
- Weekday lunch: from £17 for the set menu.
- À la carte: budget more for a complete meal and drinks.
- Group dining: £62 per person for the set group menu.
- Special occasions: expect to pay more if ordering premium dishes and drinks.
What Are the Barbarella Canary Wharf Reviews Like?
Reviews of Barbarella are strongest when discussing its design, atmosphere and entertainment value. The Infatuation rates it 8/10 and praises the waterside terrace, lively setting and theatrical dishes. Its review particularly recommends the restaurant for getting dressed up, birthdays, special occasions and social meals.
Food opinions are less consistent. Time Out describes some dishes as very good and others as merely average, while The Guardian was considerably more critical of several dishes and questioned the value of some menu items. That difference is useful when deciding whether to visit: Barbarella is easier to recommend as a complete dining experience than as a restaurant focused purely on serious fine dining.
What Does Barbarella Canary Wharf Look Like?
The interior is one of the restaurant’s biggest attractions. Barbarella uses a deliberately extravagant 1970s style, with a mirrored glass bar, chrome lounge elements, silk-covered walls, jungle-inspired decoration and oversized statement pieces. The result is colourful, theatrical and designed to stand out rather than blend into the Canary Wharf surroundings.
The visual design also explains why Barbarella photos are popular among people researching the restaurant before visiting. The Infatuation highlights the foliage-filled terrace, Roman bust, large decorative pieces and striking seating areas. If you are choosing somewhere for a birthday, date or celebration, the setting provides a ready-made backdrop for photographs without feeling like a conventional formal dining room.
What Is the Barbarella Contact Number?
The current Barbarella contact number is 07360 275160. The restaurant says bookings are made through its website, while telephone and email contact are available for general enquiries.
There are also several practical policies worth knowing. Barbarella is cashless, although credit and debit cards are accepted. Children and babies are welcome, dogs are allowed, and vegetarian and vegan dishes are marked on the menu. Gluten-low dishes are also identified, but the restaurant does not offer gluten-free pasta or pizza. Guests with allergies should speak to the restaurant team before ordering.
How Far in Advance Can You Book Barbarella?
Standard reservations open 30 days in advance at 9am. Bookings are available for lunch and dinner for parties of up to seven, while some tables are kept for walk-ins. If a particular time does not appear in the online booking system, the restaurant says that slot is fully booked.
Larger groups have a different booking window. Parties of 8 to 16 people can book 37 days in advance at 9am, with the £62-per-person group menu applying to these reservations. Private hire is also available for groups of 17 or more, with three private or semi-private spaces offered for different types of events.
Are Children Allowed at Barbarella Canary Wharf?
Yes. Children and babies are welcome at Barbarella, and high chairs can be provided when needed. This makes the restaurant suitable for family meals as well as the dates, business dinners and celebrations for which its stylish setting is particularly well suited.
Families should consider the atmosphere when choosing a booking time. Barbarella is lively and social rather than quiet and traditional, which can be enjoyable for children who like energetic surroundings. A lunchtime booking may be the better option for families who want a more relaxed experience, while evening visits are likely to feel busier and more animated.
When Did Barbarella Open in Canary Wharf?
Barbarella opened on Friday, 20 June 2025 at YY Building, 30 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. It was Big Mamma Group’s latest London opening and continued the company’s approach of creating highly distinctive Italian restaurants rather than conventional trattorias.
The opening concept was built around visual impact and theatrical dining. Before launch, coverage highlighted the mirrored bar, chrome lounge, silk-covered walls, one-metre-long pasta and 1.2kg T-bone steak. Those features remain central to the restaurant’s identity, helping it attract diners who want somewhere memorable rather than simply somewhere convenient to eat.
Has Jamie’s Italian Reopened?
Yes, Jamie’s Italian has returned to London, but it is important to keep the two restaurants separate. Barbarella is a Big Mamma Group restaurant in Canary Wharf, with its own menu, management, booking system and identity. It is not a reopened Jamie’s Italian location.
The comparison can be confusing because both names are associated with Italian dining in London. However, someone choosing Barbarella is choosing a much more theatrical restaurant concept, with retro-futuristic interiors, oversized dishes and a strong emphasis on atmosphere. It should therefore be judged on its own food, service, setting and value rather than as an alternative branch of Jamie’s Italian.
Is Barbarella Canary Wharf Worth Visiting?
Barbarella is worth considering if you want Italian food combined with a memorable setting. Its strongest advantages are the striking interior, waterside location, broad menu, family-friendly policy, lunch option and ability to accommodate larger celebrations. It also works particularly well for people who enjoy restaurants that provide entertainment and visual drama alongside their meal.
The main drawback is value. Some professional reviews have found the food enjoyable but inconsistent, while The Guardian was particularly critical of several dishes and felt the pricing could be difficult to justify. If your priority is simply finding inexpensive, traditional Italian cooking, Barbarella may not be the strongest choice. If you want a stylish Canary Wharf restaurant for a date, birthday, business meal or group occasion, its overall experience makes a much stronger case.
(FAQs)
How far in advance can you book Barbarella?
Standard bookings open 30 days in advance at 9am. Groups of 8 to 16 can book 37 days ahead at 9am. Walk-ins are also accepted when tables are available.
Are children allowed at Barbarella Canary Wharf?
Yes. Children and babies are welcome, and high chairs are available on request.
When did Barbarella open in Canary Wharf?
Barbarella opened on 20 June 2025 at YY Building on Mackenzie Walk in Canary Wharf.
Has Jamie’s Italian reopened?
Yes, Jamie’s Italian has returned to London, but it is a separate restaurant brand and is not the same venue as Barbarella Canary Wharf.
What is on the Barbarella Canary Wharf menu?
The menu features homemade pasta, Neapolitan-style pizza, seafood, steak, desserts and drinks. Popular signature choices include Lobster Spaghettoni, metre-long truffle spaghettoni, Cod alla Mediterranea and a 1.2kg T-bone steak.
Conclusion
Barbarella is best understood as an experience-led Italian restaurant, where the food, design and atmosphere are intended to work together. Its strongest points are the dramatic 1970s-inspired interior, waterside Canary Wharf location, broad menu and suitability for dates, celebrations, business meals and groups. The weekday lunch menu also gives visitors a more affordable way to experience the restaurant than a full evening meal.
The food is the one area where expectations should remain realistic. Reviews range from very positive to distinctly critical, so Barbarella is not necessarily the right choice if your only goal is exceptional Italian cooking at the lowest possible price. For atmosphere, presentation and a memorable occasion, however, it is a strong Canary Wharf option. If you want a restaurant that feels like an event rather than simply a place to eat, Barbarella is worth putting on your list.
