Lupa will be opening this June
Actor Theo James and restaurateur Ed Templeton (co-founder of Carousel) are putting their stamp on their Highbury patch by teaming up to open Lupa, a neighbourhood joint inspired by traditional Roman osterias. Named after the she-wolf of Rome and led by chef Naz Hassan (ex-Pidgin), Lupa will reflect both Naz’s Italian upbringing and Ed’s time spent living in Rome, with a focus on regional specialities and crowd-pleasing faves.
The Lupa menu is set to include:
- fior di zucca, stuffed with anchovy and burrata
- carciofi alla guidia with garlicky anchovy emulsion
- carbonara
- bucatini all’amatriciana
- cacio e pepe
- slow-roasted porchetta
- abbachio alla scottadito (grilled lamb cutlets)
- carciofi alla romana (artichoke hearts stuffed with herbs and braised in white wine, olive oil and garlic)
- polpette al sugo
- pesce di giorno
- tiramisu
- bignè di San Giuseppe (choux pastry fritters with pastry cream)
- crostata del giorno with seasonal fruits
Weekend specials like lasagne al forno, patate alla romana and maritozzi will hit the menu on Sundays, and on Arsenal match days you’ll be able to grab takeaway porchetta sandwiches. The drinks list will be on theme with spritzes, Italian wines from independent producers and amaros on offer.
Speaking about the new restaurant, co-founder Ed says: “Theo and I are both Highbury locals and share an ambition to open an enduring neighbourhood classic. It’s taken eighteen months to make it happen, but we knew it was a special corner of Highbury from the start. We just needed a special chef who could help us bring the Roman dream to life. Working together with Naz, we’ve conceived a menu that’s casual, fun and delicious. We want people to enjoy it in its entirety, making sure they save room for the homemade dolci. Lupa is the kind of place we’ve always wanted to have on our doorstep. There are certain Roman dishes that people know but much is still largely to be discovered.”
Key Information
Opening date | late June 2025
Address | 73 Highbury Park, London, N5 1UA
For more information | @lupa.restaurant
