Italian bakery Nonna opens first UK site in Holborn

Artisanal bakery brand Nonna has opened its first UK location in Holborn, marking the start of its international expansion.

The Italian bakery, founded in Shanghai’s Former French Concession in 2022 by Sicilian entrepreneur Matteo Cicero, has grown to several sites across China. The Holborn store is its first outside Asia.

Cicero said the brand was inspired by his grandmother’s kitchen and the traditions of Sicilian home cooking. 

Cicero met his business partner, Dr Jonathan Hazon, while on holiday in Salina, Sicily. Hazon later visited Nonna’s bakeries in China before the pair decided to launch the brand in the UK. 

The new bakery will serve a range of Sicilian specialities including cornetti filled with pistachio cream or fruit custard, cannoli with ricotta and candied citrus, and brioche col tuppo with house-made gelato. Cassata Siciliana, focaccia and other regional breads will also feature on the menu.

Drinks include espresso, cappuccino, a pistachio latte, and premium teas. The interior has been designed to resemble a traditional Italian kitchen, offering space for both dine-in and takeaway customers.

Cicero said: “Nonna is a love letter to the kitchen I grew up in. Every pastry and loaf is inspired by the recipes my grandmother passed down, and it means so much to bring that heritage to London, a city that celebrates food and culture from around the world.”

Hazon added: “We want Holborn to feel like a home away from home – a place where people can slow down, connect, and enjoy simple, beautiful food.”