Michelin-starred Lita names Kostas Papathanasiou culinary director
Fresh from retaining its Michelin star, London’s Marylebone restaurant Lita has confirmed Kostas Papathanasiou as culinary director, as both kitchen and wine offering continue to evolve.
Lita has announced the appointment of Kostas Papathanasiou as its new Culinary Director, formalising a role he has been carrying out behind the scenes since November 2025.
The neighbourhood restaurant, based on Paddington Street in Marylebone, confirmed the news following the release of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026, in which Lita retained its Michelin star. The guide was announced in Dublin on 9 February.
Building on Lita’s Mediterranean identity
Papathanasiou brings more than two decades of experience from some of the world’s most highly regarded kitchens. His career has included time at The Fat Duck, The Ledbury, Jason Atherton’s The Social Company and Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm, where he served as executive chef.
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At Lita, his cooking builds on the restaurant’s established identity of modern Mediterranean cuisine, with an emphasis on seasonality, simplicity and live-fire cooking. While grounded in classical technique, the kitchen’s approach is described as instinctive and contemporary, with menus evolving to reflect Papathanasiou’s own culinary voice.
According to the restaurant, he has been working closely with the existing team since joining last November, as Lita continues to refine its offering. The retention of its Michelin star in the 2026 guide was described as recognition of the consistency and standards maintained during this period.
Thoughtful wine programme
Alongside the kitchen, Lita’s wine programme is overseen by sommelier Kristina Gladilina. The list is structured to encourage exploration, grouping wines by themes such as “Rivers, Lakes and Heights” and “Salt of the Earth”, rather than by country or region. Reds are also categorised by style, with the aim of guiding guests towards new choices.
Lita is located at 7–9 Paddington Street, London W1U 5QH.
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