All'Antico Vinaio opens first UK store in London, with freebies for early guests

All'Antico Vinaio, the Florence-born sandwich chain famous for paninis the size of your face, opens its first UK store in London's Soho at 61 Old Compton Street on Sept. 20, 2025. The opening will offer the first 500 guests a free schiacciata, a traditional Florentine flatbread.

The London store marks AV's 48th site globally and its entry into its seventh country. The brand has grown from a tiny Florence shop to a worldwide phenomenon that has gained traction in the United States and beyond, with 10 more stores planned to open by the end of the year, including additional outlets in the UK. "I'm truly honored to open our first location in the UK, especially in such an important city like London. This marks a crucial milestone in All'Antico Vinaio's growth, and we hope to replicate the success we've had in the US. This is the seventh country where we're opening AV, driven by our passion for sharing a piece of Italian culinary tradition with the world."

The London menu will echo AV's Florentine heritage with signature sandwiches such as La Favolosa, La Schiacciata del Boss, and La Toscana. A La Favolosa panini is made with Sbriciolona salami, pecorino cream, artichoke spread and lightly spicy fried eggplant. The dish has earned recognition from food outlets; Saveur named La Favolosa among the world's top five sandwiches, underscoring the brand's cross-cultural appeal. In 2014, the Florence site was the most-reviewed restaurant in the world on TripAdvisor, underscoring the chain's early global popularity.

The UK opening broadens AV's international footprint, reinforcing its strategy of entering high-traffic urban hubs with high-visibility storefronts. The company emphasizes sharing Italian culinary tradition with diners around the world as it pushes into its seventh country. The Soho location will be part of a broader rollout; the company has not disclosed exact dates for all remaining openings, but officials have said more stores are planned by year-end, including additional locations in the UK and other markets.

The expansion into the UK comes as part of a broader push by the brand to scale internationally, maintaining a focus on large, hand-made paninis and a strong narrative around Italian artisanal cooking. For customers in London and beyond, the release signals AV's intent to translate its Florence roots into a European footprint while continuing its growth in the United States and other regions.