Alto by San Carlo image

Alto by San Carlo

Restaurant Italian restaurant

Chic, verdant rooftop venue at Selfridges offers a seasonal menu of Italian plates & cocktails. People often mention service, staff, great, good, amazing, experience, restaurant, lovely, time, delicious,


Address

400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB, United Kingdom

Website

sancarlo.co.uk

Contact

+44 20 7318 3287

Price rating

$$$ $

Rating on Google Maps

3.90 (1.4K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Thursday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Friday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Saturday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Sunday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Monday: 12 to 11 pm
  • Tuesday: 12 to 11 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: service (18) staff (13) great (13) good (11) amazing (11) experience (9) restaurant (8) lovely (7) time (7) delicious (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Callum T. 1 year ago on Google
    Fantastic service. Fantastic food. Tapas style dishes, with plenty of variety to choose from. The food arrives as and when each dish is ready. On a sunny day the views are spectacular and if it is raining, then there is a retractable cover, which covers the majority of the seating area. Highly advised to book ahead as getting a table on the day is unlikely. Great for any occasion and with any number of guests. Highly recommended!
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sharifa S. 2 years ago on Google
    We had a reservation and were greeted well. The portions are a little on the small side for the prices however the food is good quality. Beautiful location and speedy service. Overall a nice place with good food and decent vibes.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chiara P. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautifully decorated venue, cozy and warm atmosphere, the staff is attentive and friendly and the food was very quick. I love the idea of “sharing tapas” but Italian way. The products used are high quality and fresh- couldn’t fault any dish. The aubergine parmigiana was my personal favourite, took me back to my childhood. Definitely recommended, prices are good, nothing extortionate due to location and quality.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Yasmina 2 years ago on Google
    This is my honest review of this place. So overrated, food came out so late. I ordered margarita pizza (was the best thing on the menu because it’s so basic, you can’t really get it wrong), along with carbonara pasta (most mediocre pasta I have ever had) and the beef was the cherry on top - you would expect it to be great because of the place and price, but it was quite the opposite. Had one bite of both the beef and pasta and left it.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Elle L. 1 year ago on Google
    Great food, but poor service ruined our afternoon. Cool idea, rooftop bar on the top of Selfridges accessed by an exclusive lift. Beautifully decorated although the view isn't what you might expect. Plenty of choice on the menu, including decent veggie options, and a good wine list, cocktail menu etc. The food was amazing and beautifully presented. We thought it would be a lovely treat and a special experience but we just felt unwelcome throughout our visit. All the wait staff were polite but it felt like they didn't have time for anyone, that they were being made to try and serve too many tables at once. The tables themselves are crammed in, very close to the people either side and we were sat back to back, literally touching the person on the table behind us at one point. Asked x3 times for a knife to eat with (guessing the table hadnt been fully reset) and had to work really hard to get somebody's attention to ask for the bill. Anytime we wanted to ask a simple question or ask for something that was missing, the staff were rushing off before we could even finish our sentence. The table next to us had a similar experience too. Nothing negative to say about the food, but the service ruined an expensive lunch and what should have been a special occasion. Such a shame because for that reason, I wouldn't come back, and wouldn't recommend it to others.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Reem k. 1 year ago on Google
    Good and tasty Italian food, yet I can’t say it’s the best. It is tapas, so you get to try and enjoy few dishes. Atmosphere, interior and service were great.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Yasir S. 2 years ago on Google
    We went here hoping to see the London skyline whilst we are eating you really can’t see anything. The place is nicely decorated, atmosphere is okay and the food is meh. There is nothing really special about this place unless you are going to get some cute pictures. We went during the Dior period. We got the calamari with is always good. We got the lasagne and spaghetti, wasn’t great and was really watery
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chloe H. 2 years ago on Google
    A friend and I recently visited and got to experience the winter 2021 decorations which made it feel extremely like Christmas. I first looked to book this restaurant because of the photos of the walkway. Which is just as amazing in person as photos. However people should also visit this restaurant for the food as it was delicious and so were the cocktails. The staff were super friendly and discussed cocktail options. The food was super quick. We were unfortunately too full for dessert. This restaurant is great for sharing and would recommend the burrata and the croquettes were amazing. As an added bonus during the lunch service we had a Santa and elf come round for photos. The total bill was £120 for two which included two cocktails each, a main each and sharing plates. We felt that this was extremely reasonable for the quality of the food and drinks. Would recommend to anyone looking for great food and obviously for the themed walkway for an added special visual treat. Will be back.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sanjay M. 1 year ago on Google
    Wonderful food, great views and location and when the weather is nice, its just beautiful! Service a little off in that our starters and mains came out at the same time and when we asked for the mains to be taken back and brought back later they said they bring them out as the come! Otherwise, great tasting food and lovely location.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 E. T. 9 months ago on Google
    I decided to visit this place with my husband as a little treat. We have previously tried all the popular and fancy restaurants in London. They have all been so overpriced with terrible service and even more shocking under flavoured food. Every restaurant we have been has been lacking in one area if not all. We were very worried about this place being just like the rest. Well, let’s just say this place was one of the best places we have visited in London without breaking the bank. We are truly so impressed with everything. We picked this place because of the beautiful photos we have seen of the rooftop open with the sunlight shining through. Unfortunately, all we had was grey skies and rain. However, the atmosphere changed from what I thought it was going to be a lovely summer evening, to a very cosy autumnal evening. There was a very slight breeze coming through, but they also had internal heaters on. It was the perfect temperature. The moment we got to the lift we were greeting by a lovely lady, who took our details and sent us up to the rooftop. When we entered we were greeted by another lovely lady who was very friendly, polite and helpful. The staff were amazing. I did not see one single member of staff who stood around even for 5 seconds. They were all working flat out, the restaurant wasn’t packed either. Everywhere you turned there was someone doing something. It was easy to grab staff’s attention (not like most places where they avoid eye contact at all cost). Staff were all attentive and came to us constantly clearing our plates off the table. The food was honestly one of the best we have ever had, and our standard and expectations are very high. The gentleman who took some of our orders was very funny and it was nice that we could have a laugh and a joke with him. Everything was bursting with flavour. You could taste the salt, you could taste the olive oil. We ordered about 10 dishes in total, there was not a single complaint on any of the food that we ate. Everything was just perfect. Their pistachio cake is to die for. My husband recently visited Italy and had a homemade Pistachio Cake and he said the cake from Alto was much better. Our bill came to a total of £150 with service charge, which we thought was a very good price considering how many dishes we had, how exceptionally good the food was and the staff absolutely deserve their service charge. We plan on taking our children with us next time so I hope this isn’t a one-off, and when we visit again we will have the same experience. This place just feels authentic. That’s the best way to describe it. To summarise our visit: Atmosphere: 10/10 (shame about the rain) Food: 11/10 (made me happy) Service: 11/10 (staff were amazing) Thank you for a wonderful evening!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vanessa 1 year ago on Google
    It was a nice experience, tapas style Italian food small dish. Food comes out when it is ready so be prepared for food to come out in any order. The service was very good and the food was tasty. Definitely somewhere I will be returning.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 AJ 1 year ago on Google
    10/10 for the food, I absolutely loved it! The Ravioli isn’t a large enough portion to fill you up so make sure to order more food if you’re feeling hungry. 10/10 for the venue and decor, great location and it looked great! 2/10 for customer service. The lady serving seemed like she didn’t even want to be there. Grumpy, forgot to order my drink and didn’t seem interested at all. If it wasn’t for the bad service, I would have definitely rated this place 5 stars. £30/person for a full meal.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Courtney A. 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious food, amazing service, beautiful place! We really enjoyed dinner here and I’m sure we’ll be back again at some point! After being told the food would come out when it was ready as that’s how they do it we were expecting for there to be waits between food but it all came out very close to each other and we loved every part of it! It hit about 7pm and the roof came over, there were outdoor heaters on the wall behind us so even thought it wasn’t necessarily the warmest of evenings we weren’t cold!

  • 5/5 Elina M. 1 year ago on Google
    Visited this hidden place in Selfridges and was so pleasantly surprised, with a delicious food they have. Wry surprised why this place quite a low rating but don’t be put off by it, try it and you’ll very probably surprised like I was. The only difference to other restaurants they serve food as it’s ready, so if you order two mains it will come at different time most likely but their food is designed to share even if you order 3 main dishes to share these will arrive at different times. Do this is something to be aware of and if this is 🅾k for you everything else is just an enjoyment, from the delicious food to service. Unfortunately we forgotten to take pictures of the food we had, as it was so delicious 🤤 and it was gone very quickly, only a picture of the pistachio cake was taken. To my surprise Bolognaise was delicious, I’m not the one who normally ordered it but let me telly you it was delicious. Carbonara was a little bit greasy due to the bacon 🥓 pancetta that they used perhaps, but it was still very nice. They have a huge spacing like a terrace and like a restaurant, all on rooftop but very conveniently could be closed to prevent a draft perhaps on a chillier days - all for your comport ! Loved this place a new discovery and will definitely be back.

  • 5/5 Elmina H. 7 months ago on Google
    The atmosphere is great and vibrant. The restaurant is always busy, so please book online, but the service is friendly and efficient. The staff is happy to make recommendations, and they're always willing to go the extra mile to make sure you have a great experience. Staff are kind and helpful. Overall, is a great option for anyone looking for delicious, authentic Italian food, drink, sweets. The food is fresh, the flavors are amazing, and the service is top-notch. I highly recommend it!

  • 5/5 Verona S. 5 months ago on Google
    Sokoli? GET HIM A PROMOTION! I’ve been here before, but this time was a completely different experience. His service was exceptional!! All his recommendations on the menu were excellent, especially the mini burgers and lasagne! He was so friendly and super attentive. His knowledge on the menu and wine list was amazing. We enjoyed our meal so much last night and could see he was a favourite with other diners too. Will definitely be back and hopefully he’s working then too! I have added a few photos, definitely recommend trying Alto by San Carlo out, we would give it a 10/10. Everything tasted amazing! No faults

  • 5/5 Patrícia D. 4 months ago on Google
    ALTO by San Carlo continues to shine with a resounding five stars. The dining experience is consistently exceptional, and during the summer, it reaches new heights with a fantastic atmosphere. The combination of exquisite cuisine and top-notch service makes it a perennial favorite. A must-visit destination that truly captures the essence of dining at its finest.

  • 5/5 Zarina A. 8 months ago on Google
    I had an amazing time at Alto! The food was a delightful explosion of flavors, beautifully presented. The staff was incredibly attentive and made the evening even more enjoyable. Don’t miss out on their desserts – they’re heavenly. A must-visit for a memorable dining experience!

  • 5/5 Will E. 7 months ago on Google
    Really nice restaurant, lovely decor and relaxing atmosphere. Food was very good and I liked how the carbonara was authentic, there was a bone in the tuna dish but this was dealt with. Very good value for money and the staff were friendly and very attentive, highly recommend.

  • 5/5 MC SID O. 9 months ago on Google
    Great ambiance , lovely staff .. fairly prompt with a witty sense of humor .. my dad asked our hostess who had a thick perhaps italian accent "when do you guys shut ?" She looked at her wrist without a watch on it and said " Five minutes!" Really broke the ice and set the mood! Food was as expected - good Wine we ordered was at the correct temperature.. and the dessert was superb

  • 5/5 dahran m. 6 months ago on Google
    Visited with my sister in law - had the most amazing time. Food and ambience were great, and definitely worth the price. Our waiter SOKOL made our visit unforgettable with his humour and warmth. Highly recommended!


Call +44 20 7318 3287 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible lift
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✗ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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